Living Large with the Ford Expedition
February 28, 2003
It is mid-morning in Dearborn, Mich., and more than a few automotive journalists are fighting the affects of jet lag as they listen attentively to Ford executives sing the praises of the all-new 2003 Expedition. I dutifully took both notes and photos of chassis parts, power folding seats and safety devices, but if you asked me what I remembered most about the presentations, the word “large” would come to mind.
Itís not simply the size of the Ford Expedition that leaves me thinking large, it is the marketing pep talk delivered by Jim Padilla, Ford’s Group vice president. Padilla described the Expedition buyer as someone who ìlives largeî in most consumer measurements, owning a large home, raising a large family and buying a large SUV. This was not a speech that Bill Ford could borrow to deliver to the Sierra Club.
Although the new Expedition is indeed a “full-size” SUV in both government rating and the amount of parking space it requires, it is also the most modern and drivable big rig in the stable of current offerings. And this is one of those cases where the term “all-new” can be applied with a straight face.
Although the exterior styling is conservative and connects easily with the past, the new interior and chassis both help distance the Expedition from Ford’s F Series pickup. The changes are reasonably dramatic, even when viewed as product displays in a static presentation. The real benefits of the new model changes are found after spending some seat time behind the wheel.
Our test vehicle was equipped with running boards and assist grips to help everyone under six feet tall climb aboard. Once inside, the new dashboard layout has a few hints of the VW and Audi design language that Ford designer J. Mays has applied to new products over the past few years. It is also very different than the Lincoln Navigator and marks an end to component sharing in areas that customers see and touch.
Underneath the sheet metal is where the substantial changes took place. A new hydro-formed frame and independent suspension deliver substantial benefits to this big SUV. The all-important center of gravity height is lowered and the solid rear axle is eliminated, a combination that pays off in safe, stable handling at highway speeds. If you manage to flip over the 2003 Expedition, youíll have to work at it.
I didnít try any cute dog tricks like lay-down or roll over during my week of testing, but I did push this big rig around enough to become impressed with its abilities. Many buyers are impressed with the long list of safety devices that are available in today’s new offerings. While it may be comforting to know that air bags, side curtains and head bolsters are all standing by to help you survive the big crash, it’s also nice to drive a vehicle this big that could avoid an accident.
The benefits of independent rear suspension are well known to sports car drivers but have won little favor with buyers of trucks and SUVs who have to haul heavy loads. Ford claims an 8,900-pound towing capacity for the new Expedition when properly equipped with heavy-duty towing equipment. That seems to me, enough to take the boat and nine family members to the lake for a day’s water skiing.
Another major benefit of rear independent suspension is packaging space. Without a big axle in the back, the third row seat folds neatly into the floor to make room for serious loads. That task was accomplished manually in our test vehicle without breaking into a sweat, but is available on some models with power assist as a novel option.
I have to confess that “living large” is not my cup of tea in the motoring world, but I do understand why a vehicle of this size appeals to many families. If station wagon chores are all you ask of a vehicle, there are wagon and minivan alternatives that will help both your budget and the environment. If you really need to haul some weight around, then this is the best vehicle Iíve found so far to live that large lifestyle.
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