2019 Ford Expedition Platinum Review

Ford F-Series trucks have been the best-selling vehicles in North America for decades. The rise in popularity of crew-cab variants has made them more practical as family transport, too, but for many families, something a little more car (or SUV)-like is still required. Is an SUV based on F-150 running gear the answer? By the time it was replaced for the 2018 model year, the previous-generation Ford Expedition was more than a decade old and struggling to compete with its body-on-frame rivals from Chevrolet and GMC.

The new model, however, has been a smash hit, especially in the US, where retail sales were up 35% in 2018 as the Expedition increased its market share by 5.6%. The factory in Louisville, Kentucky, will increase production by 20% this summer to meet demand.

2019 Ford Explorer pricing

Our test vehicle was an Expedition Platinum, priced at $86,849 once you take $5,050 worth of options into account. The Platinum is the highest of three available grades: XLT, Limited, and Platinum. The range starts at $52,130 for the XLT and tops out at $76,060 for the long-wheelbase Platinum Max. All have turbocharged, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engines and Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission. Canadian Expeditions are 4WD, but RWD is standard in the US – 4WD is a US$3,150 option.

Ford Expedition’s 3-Row SUV Styling

The new Expedition’s full-size SUV styling is light years (well, a decade) away from its predecessor’s. To this observer, it’s neat, modern, and about as sleek as a three-row, truck-based SUV is ever going to be. There’s an appropriate mix of cues from other Ford SUVs and trucks. Power retractable running boards keep the lines clean on the move. There are LED head, fog, and taillamps, and a mix of satin and bright metal accents add a touch of bling. The test vehicle looked sharp in the optional Ruby Red tinted clear metallic paint (C$450/US$370) with 22in polished alloy wheels.

2019 Ford Expedition Interior, Cargo Space, and Equipment

For buyers looking for a luxurious, 8-seater SUV, the Expedition has an attractive sister vehicle in the form of the new Lincoln Navigator. But in the Platinum grade, at least, the Expedition will still give more prestigious nameplates a run for their money. The dashboard design shows some similarity with F-Series trucks, but the interior has some plush wood and leather trim and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system that wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury car.

The connectivity options are right up to date, too, with myriad USB sockets, a 4G wifi modem and wireless charging. Ford’s Sync 3 touchscreen interface is proven and easy to use. The physical switches are mostly solid; perhaps not everyone will like the chunky rotary dial for the transmission, but we did. 

The only cabin let-downs were a fiddly electric parking brake switch that’s buried down by your left knee (we’re not convinced of the merits of EPBs, anyway) and a single column stalk on the left side of the steering wheel, when we would have expected wiper controls to be on the right.

Seating and cargo space

It’s easy for the driver to get comfortable and the view ahead and behind is good, but we were almost undone by the sizeable blind spot, despite looking over our shoulder when pulling out. The Expedition comes with a standard blind-spot information system (and rear cross-traffic alert); we recommend using it.

Captain’s chairs in the 2nd row

Passenger accommodation in this particular Expedition was reduced from eight to seven seats by the C$800 (US$740) addition of second-row captain’s chairs. They’re powered, heated, and comfortable. Three-zone climate control should keep everyone happy, but the second-row blower is noisy.

Legroom is excellent throughout the cabin – Ford claims the interior space is class-leading – including in the third row of seats, which are also power-adjustable. It’s roomy back there, thanks in part to the Expedition’s independent rear suspension, and the second row’s tilt-and-slide feature makes it easy to get in and out of the back.

Unfortunately, with the third row in place, the otherwise satisfactory cargo space all but disappears – we struggled even to accommodate ski equipment for six. You certainly won’t be going on an expedition with an Expedition full of people unless you’re towing a trailer (more on that in a minute). As ever, if outright space is all that matters, you need a van, not an SUV.

Ford Expedition towing capacity and off-road capability

Part of the Expedition’s appeal is that it retains some of the versatility of a pickup truck –utility that more car-like, unibody SUVs will struggle to match. 4WD models come with a switchable low range, a 3.31 final drive ratio and have a towing capacity of 2,948kg (6,500 lb).

Upgrade to heavy-duty trailer tow package

Our Expedition also had the optional (C$1,400/US$1,570) heavy-duty trailer tow package, which includes a beefed-up radiator, the clever Pro Trailer Backup Assist, a 3.73-ratio electronic limited-slip differential, and an integrated trailer brake controller. The net result is a claimed best-in-class towing capacity of 4,173kg (9,200 lb – the 4×2 drivetrain gets 9,300 lb).

Elements of the towing package also form part of an FX4 off-road package (C$2,000/US$1,650 – only available on XLT) that additionally includes off-road shocks, 18in all-terrain tires, underbody fuel-tank protection, and skid plates.

2019 Ford Expedition 3.5L EcoBoost Power and Performance

The 3.5L EcoBoost motor is familiar to other Ford SUVs and trucks and continues to do good service in the Expedition. In the Platinum it’s offered with 400 HP (lesser grades get 375) and 480 lb-ft of torque (470). In a further carryover from the F-150, the V6 is paired with the latest 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s a terrific combination that shifts smoothly, provides ample oomph for overtaking and is whisper-quiet in the cruise.

Fuel economy

We got fuel consumption of 14L/100km (16.3mpg), a little more than the claimed combined figure of 12.5 L/100km (18.8mpg). But to be frank, nobody buys an Expedition to save fuel. It’s more than 5m (16.4ft) long, 2m (6.5ft) wide and weighs 2.5 tons, but even so, its consumption isn’t much worse than many of the car-derived, three-row SUVs that sell in far greater numbers.

Expedition Driving Impressions: How does Ford’s 8-Passenger SUV handle?

You’ll enjoy cruising quietly in the Expedition Platinum’s comfy cabin. For a truck-based vehicle, it also steers pretty nicely, and the body roll is very well controlled, thanks to the all-independent suspension and adaptive damping. 

But while there’s no harshness, it does still ride more like a truck than a car. Even fully laden, the body control is very relaxed, so it takes a couple of bounces to recover from longer peaks and depressions while the hefty 22-inch rims thump across sharper bumps and holes. Once again, however, we think that Expedition buyers are likely looking for qualities other than a car-like driving experience.

Takeaway: Is the 2019 Expedition Platinum worth it?

Ford’s domination of the full-size pickup market wasn’t matched by its offering in the full-size-pickup-derived SUV market for years. That’s all changed with the new Expedition. Buyers are sure to be attracted by the frame and drivetrain commonality with the F-150, but Ford has been smart enough to make the Expedition an attractive vehicle in its own right. It’s less of a truck to drive than you might expect, it’s beautiful inside (at least in the swanky Platinum trim), it comes with the latest connectivity and driver-assistance tech, and, suitably specced, it’ll check the heavy towing and off-roading boxes, too.

2019 Ford Expedition Platinum Specs