Her + His Car Reviews
2018 Ford Expedition Platinum 4x4 8-Seater
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $78,500 | $78,500 |
| Performance | |
| The stately 2018 Expedition has a commanding force and presence about it. Driven by a 3.5-liter Ecoboost twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 400 horsepower - four-hundred! - this large eight-seater SUV drives smoothly and handles well, albeit there is some elasticity in the responsiveness. We found acceleration to be smooth and powerful and braking to be exact. We found the drive to be animated, and the noisy in the vehicle louder than most. | A really great car to drive with strong handling, seven second to 60 acceleration, and a driving position that really makes you feel you are driving a much smaller vehicle--important if you are new to SUVs. There really isn't much to pick apart in terms of performance. Ford's got this one done right hands down. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 17 city miles / 22 highway miles and the overall mileage averages to 19 | 17 city, 22 highway, and 19 overall. The range of the Expedition is anywhere from 396 and 513 miles, depending on equipment and which model and engine you select. |
| The Car | |
| The redesign on this 2018 Ford Expedition jumps it to the front of the class. While the front exterior looks like a younger brother of the Land Rover family, this new 2018 has design, power, sleekness and space all rolled into one. It's seamless 10-speed automatic transmission moves well. Note this large SUV has 5 LATCH car seats connectors - so it stands as the mother in this category. Speaking of looks, the interior has much of the experience in roominess and comfort as the F-15 truck. We really like that it is a true-three row SUV, and all are spacious, with lots more packing room. Extended leg room, too. The second and third rows provide some nice collapsibility for varying configurations. We also note that it is easy for passengers to get to - and into - the third-row seat with the "Tip and Slide" functionality of the second row. A much-improved experience over other companies that 'claim' they have a third row. Also, the second-row seats can be switched out to captain's chairs if that is buyer's preference. Ford upgraded the infotainment system, too, making the Sync3 a better user interface in many respects. |
It had been a while since I had driven a Ford Expedition, and I must say that the newest version, which had an extensive redo, is a revelation. About everything has been changed or upgraded in the newest version of the Expedition, pulling it ahead of many of its competitors. I thoroughly enjoyed it! From the much-improved driving position, to the outstanding performance of its twin turbocharged, 400 horsepower V-6, to the sumptuous interior, and the sensation of driving a much smaller vehicle than it actually is, the Expedition heads to the top of the list of large SUVs. And it looks really terrific, especially in the Platinum version, which includes an interior that could easily pass for a luxury car. For the second row, you can get either a 40/20/40-split folding bench or twin captain's chairs, which lets you get to the third-row seating area easier. But you will only be able to hold seven passengers with the captain's chairs. Well done, Ford! |
| Safety | |
| The tech features of this model include the extensive Roadside Assistant Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Front parking sensors, Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection and Auto Baking. Leather-wrapped, adjustable steering Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning, a 360-degree (fantastic) Rear Camera, Active Park Assist. Hands-Free driving Bluetooth®, and Voice Recognition so both hands are on the wheel. Blind Spot Monitoring. Hands free power liftgate in the rear of vehicle. | Pretty much the standard package of safety stuff. |
| Technology | |
| Suspended on 22" Polished Aluminum Wheels, this new Ford Expedition has features galore! The Push-button Starter, Remote Starter and Keyless Entry. We especially like the ease in getting in and out of this hauler with the retractable and integrated running board on either side. The Panoramic - mega sized sunroof, 12 speaker premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control for personalize comfort. Sirius® XM radio, HD Radio, AM, FM, CD, DVD entertainment. Multiple USB ports and we especially like the new and improved Sync3 infotainment system with Ford Pass (performs checking fuel amount left and unlocking vehicle). Included is a Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Heated and ventilated front seats. LOVED the massage that I got while in the driver's seat. The second raw seats are also heated. Power tilt and telescoping leather wrapper steering and heated steering wheel. |
Equipment on the Ford Expedition includes seating for eight passengers, running boards, roof rack rails, rear parking sensors, push-button ignition, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, heated side mirrors, air-conditioning, a six-way power driver seat (with manual recline), power-adjustable pedals, a sliding and reclining 40/20/40-split second-row seat, and a "one-touch" 60/40-split fold-flat third-row seat. Leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Ford's Sync voice-control system, second-row USB charging ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a nine-speaker sound system with CD player, satellite radio, USB interface, auxiliary jack and rear audio controls. Stand-alone options include roof rail crossbars, a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, a heavy-duty trailer tow package, and a suite of driver assistance features (adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and intervention, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, auto high beams and automatic wipers). An FX4 4x4 Off-Road package adds trail-ready components such as all-terrain tires, off-road shocks, a 3.73 limited-slip rear axle and skid plates. The Limited top line features add 20-inch wheels, front parking sensors, roof rack rails, retractable running boards, heated second-row seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a premium Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker audio system with HD radio. You also have the choice of springing for the two optional packages, 301A and 302A. The 301A package includes the panoramic sunroof, navigation and the driver assistance features listed above, while the 302A package adds on 22-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, LED headlights and fog lights, a 360-degree view parking camera, and an automated parking system. The Platinum gets as standard equipment all of the Limited features and those of the 302A package, plus the interior wood accents, enhanced front seats with massage function, upgraded leather for the steering wheel, leather door trim and active noise cancellation. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| There are many things to love about the Ford 2018 Expedition, including style, design, roominess and comfort features. Oh yea, power and control on the road, too. Plus, reliability is a big and long-lasting feature that you get when you buy one. The price makes most take note. Gone are the good-old-value-Ford-days. Also included in this premium model at almost eight grand is an 4X4 Off-Road package that includes trail-ready components like all-terrain tires, off-road shocks, a 3.73 limited-slip rear axle and skid plates. Nice touch. |
A classy looking product in any version, the Expedition looks sleeker and more expensive thanks to the redesign. And as mentioned earlier, the interior is just phenomenal. Buttery soft diamond patterned leather, legible, easy to use controls, lots of stretch-out room and other good things come with the newest version of the Expedition. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 year/36,000 miles Bumper to Bumper, 5 year/60,000 miles Powertrain, 5 year, 60,000 miles Roadside Assistance | 3 years/36,000 miles |
