CARGAZING Expedition gets a boost Turbocharged V6 replaces V8 in full-size Ford SUV

By Derek Price Putting the EcoBoost engine CARGAZING.COM into it and adding the high-end Platinum trim level just makes it ig SUVs and V8 engines more appealing for 2015. go together like peanut butter and jelly, but Ford is rocking the sport-utility Bworld by eliminating the V8 from What was tested? its full-size Expedition for 2015. 2015 Platinum Taking its place is a heck of a 4 × 4 ($61,670). Options: None. powerplant: the 3.5-liter EcoBoost Price as tested (including $1,195 V6 that delivers a whole lot more destination charge): $62,865 power while burning less fuel. Wheelbase: 119 in. The turbocharged V6 has been Length: 206 in. a sales success in Ford’s F-150 pickups, and now it gets a chance Width: 91.8 in. to power the big-boy Expedition Height: 77.2 in. with its massive, body-on-frame Engine: 3.5-liter twin- SUV heft. turbocharged V6 (365 horse- And it does a spectacular job. power, 420 lbs.-ft.) I just spent a week driving the : Six-speed 2015 Expedition and was pleasant- automatic ly surprised at just how well the Estimated Mileage: 18 city, boosted V6 could accelerate onto PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORD freeway on-ramps. The power was The Ford Expedition has been powered by a V8 ever since it was launched in 1996. For 2015, Ford is 22 highway effortless, ample and — dare I say making a huge change by dropping the V8 in favor of a more powerful turbocharged V6. RATINGS it — even better than the offerings which gives the driver a noticeably Style: 5 from its competitors at General different response in corners. Performance: 8 Motors. With 365 horsepower and Other than the new engine, the Price: 6 420 pound-feet of torque, it’s both biggest news for the Expedition in Handling: 7 refined and muscular enough to 2015 is the addition of the upscale Ride: 9 pull 9,200 pounds. Platinum package. It starts around Its low loading height gives it $60,000 and includes heated and Comfort: 9 another leg up on the competi- cooled seats, a power liftgate, Quality: 7 tion. Thanks to its independent power running boards and blind Overall: 7 rear suspension, the Expedition’s spot sensors that are really useful floor is lower than the GMC in a vehicle this big. It makes the Video review Yukon and Chevy Tahoe. Expedition feel more similar to its 2015 Ford Expedition Granted, the recently over- cousin, the Lincoln Navigator, bit.ly/15expedition hauled Tahoe and Yukon shine and has some of the most com- more brightly in other areas, like fortable front seats of any SUV. cabin refinement and more up-to- Overall, the Expedition has date styling. The Expedition still always been a great way for families looks in some ways like a relic of to travel if you need a lot of space, the 1990s, both inside and out. power and capability for towing Its driving feel is throughly and off-roading. People who don’t modern, though, especially if you need that extra truck-like dimen- Why buy it? get the adjustable suspension on sion would be better off with one of high-end 4 × 4 models. It lets you the many excellent vehi- The EcoBoost engine is a nice Another change for the Expedition is the addition of an upscale use a switch on the steering wheel cles on the market today, but improvement over the outgoing Platinum package for 2015. It turns the Expedition into a luxury to choose between comfort, nor- there’s still a place in America for V8, and the Platinum trim provides truck that rivals its cousin, the Lincoln Navigator. mal and sport modes, each of traditional SUVs like this one. a new option for luxury buyers. CARGAZING

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORD The Ford Expedition has been powered by a V8 ever since it was launched in 1996. For 2015, Ford is making a huge change by dropping the V8 in favor of a more powerful turbocharged V6. Expedition gets a boost Turbocharged V6 replaces V8 in full-size Ford SUV By Derek Price CARGAZING.COM ig SUVs and V8 engines go together like peanut butter and jelly, but Ford is rocking the sport-utility world by Beliminating the V8 from its full-size Expedition for 2015. Taking its place is a heck of a Its driving feel is throughly powerplant: the 3.5-liter EcoBoost modern, though, especially if you V6 that delivers a whole lot more get the adjustable suspension on power while burning less fuel. high-end 4 × 4 models. It lets you The turbocharged V6 has been use a switch on the steering wheel a sales success in Ford’s F-150 to choose between comfort, nor- pickups, and now it gets a chance mal and sport modes, each of to power the big-boy Expedition which gives the driver a noticeably with its massive, body-on-frame different response in corners. SUV heft. Other than the new engine, the And it does a spectacular job. biggest news for the Expedition in I just spent a week driving the 2015 is the addition of the upscale 2015 Expedition and was pleas- Platinum package. It starts around antly surprised at just how well $60,000 and includes heated and the boosted V6 could accelerate cooled seats, a power liftgate, onto freeway on-ramps. The power running boards and blind power was effortless, ample spot sensors that are really useful and — dare I say it — even better in a vehicle this big. It makes the than the offerings from its com- Expedition feel more similar to its petitors at General Motors. With cousin, the Lincoln Navigator, and 365 horsepower and 420 pound- has some of the most comfortable feet of torque, it’s both refined front seats of any SUV. and muscular enough to pull 9,200 Overall, the Expedition has pounds. always been a great way for fami- Its low loading height gives it lies to travel if you need a lot of another leg up on the competi- space, power and capability for tion. Thanks to its independent towing and off-roading. People rear suspension, the Expedition’s who don’t need that extra truck- floor is lower than the GMC like dimension would be better off Yukon and Chevy Tahoe. with one of the many excellent Granted, the recently over- crossover vehicles on the market hauled Tahoe and Yukon shine today, but there’s still a place in more brightly in other areas, like America for traditional SUVs like cabin refinement and more this one. up-to-date styling. The Putting the EcoBoost engine Expedition still looks in some into it and adding the high-end ways like a relic of the 1990s, both Another change for the Expedition is the addition of an upscale Platinum package for 2015. It turns the Platinum trim level just makes it inside and out. Expedition into a luxury truck that rivals its cousin, the Lincoln Navigator. more appealing for 2015.

A CLOSER LOOK

AT A GLANCE: FACTS, FIGURES AND RATINGS What was tested? RATINGS Video review Why buy it? 2015 Ford Expedition Platinum 4 × 4 ($61,670). Options: None. Style: 5 2015 Ford Expedition The EcoBoost engine is a Price as tested (including $1,195 destination charge): $62,865 Performance: 8 bit.ly/15expedition nice improvement over the Wheelbase: 119 in. Price: 6 outgoing V8, and the Length: 206 in. Handling: 7 Platinum trim provides a Width: 91.8 in. Ride: 9 new option for luxury Height: 77.2 in. Comfort: 9 buyers. Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (365 horsepower, Quality: 7 420 lbs.-ft.) Overall: 7 Transmission: Six-speed automatic Estimated Mileage: 18 city, 22 highway