The 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor is an all-new version of Ford's largest SUV, made for families who want off-road capability without sacrificing interior room, cargo space, or comfort. It reflects the growing demand for vehicles that can handle rugged terrain while serving as family shuttles and road trip haulers. If you want a three-row, full-size SUV that can carry passengers and gear into remote areas and look the part while doing it, the 2025 Expedition Tremor checks all the boxes.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Ford's decision to add the Tremor to the Expedition lineup signals a step up in capability compared to the more mild-mannered Timberline trim level it offered previously.
Drawing from its extensive experience building off-road-capable pickup trucks and SUVs, Ford equips the Expedition Tremor with numerous enhancements, including an off-road suspension, beefy all-terrain tires, and trail-focused driver-assistance systems. With impressive ground clearance, hearty skid plates, and a powerhouse V6 engine, the new Tremor is a welcome addition to Ford's off-road vehicle portfolio.
The 2025 Expedition lineup includes four trim levels: Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch. The base prices start at $63,995 and range up to $85,650, including the $1,995 destination charge. Ford also sells an extended-length Expedition Max that is slightly more expensive, but this review concerns the standard-length Expedition Tremor.
Read our full preview of the 2025 Ford Expedition for more background and details.
For this 2025 Expedition review, Ford provided a test vehicle equipped with Tremor trim and no options. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) was $83,025, including the $1,995 destination charge to ship the SUV to your local dealership from the Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Ford has redesigned the 2025 Expedition, but it looks similar enough to the previous-generation model that you might not notice. Closer inspection reveals new front and rear styling themes, redesigned wheels, and, on higher trim levels, Electric Spice or Sinister Bronze exterior detailing.
Tremors have a rugged look, thanks to a higher-riding off-road suspension and 33-inch all-terrain tires mounted to exclusive 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Tremor's Electric Spice accent colors continue, and the front seats feature TREMOR embroidered on the front seatback cushions.
In addition to a redesigned dashboard with a new Ford Digital Experience infotainment and instrumentation system, the 2025 Expedition offers an available power-adjustable center console. With the push of a button, the roomy console slides rearward up to eight inches, creating space in the front for storing a bag or valuables. It also makes the rear cupholders and the controls for the rear climate and audio systems readily accessible to second-row passengers.
As you expect of a full-size SUV, the 2025 Expedition Tremor emphasizes interior room, utility, and practicality. It carries up to eight passengers, and Ford configures the cabin to make the most of the space. Every seat is wide, accommodating, and comfortable, even for adults riding in the third row.
Cargo space is impressive, measuring 21.6 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 60.8 cu-ft behind the second row, and a maximum of 108.5 cu-ft. New for 2025, the third-row seat is split 40/20/40, allowing the center section to fold independently to transport long items without fully compromising rear passenger capacity.
Another notable change to the 2025 Expedition is the innovative Split Gate design at the back of the SUV. It combines a traditional liftgate with the benefits of a truck tailgate. The upper portion opens upward like most SUVs, while the lower section folds down as a tailgate that supports up to 500 pounds. You can use it for seating or create a two-level table, priming the Expedition for weekend tailgating.
After the sun goes down, the Expedition remains the party's centerpiece thanks to its available exterior zone lighting. Using the infotainment system, you can control four lighting areas around the vehicle to illuminate the SUV's surroundings, a welcome feature when tailgating, camping, and more. The cargo area also includes power outlets for running accessories or charging equipment.
An available hands-free access feature automatically opens the Split Gate when the user stands near the rear of the vehicle with the key fob. That improves convenience during loading, but watch where you stand if you have the key in your pocket, because the upper portion could swing up when you're not expecting it to.
Ford has reworked the Expedition's infotainment setup for 2025. The new Ford Digital Experience equips the SUV with a 13.2-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard and a wide 24-inch digital instrumentation panel.
Instead of placing the larger display behind the steering wheel, Ford positions it higher and closer to the windshield to keep key driving data within the driver's forward view. This unusual layout eliminates needing a separate head-up display but requires a flattened, compact steering wheel design that looks unconventional but quickly feels normal.
The technology includes Google Built-in and Alexa Built-in, and provides access to Google Maps, Google Play Store, and Google Assistant. The Alexa and Google digital voice assistant systems support a wide range of commands, allowing drivers to control navigation, climate settings, media, phone functions, and even compatible smart home devices without touching a screen. During testing, the Google Assistant proved responsive and versatile, even handling casual inquiries, like trivia or local information, with ease.
A Ford Connectivity Package of connected services extends the tech's functionality. In addition to the Google-based services, the connectivity package provides access to a Wi-Fi hotspot that can support up to 10 devices and work at a distance of about 50 feet from the vehicle. You can take advantage of a complimentary one-year subscription to Ford Connectivity and decide to subscribe later, or make a one-time payment for lifetime access when you take delivery of a 2025 Expedition.
You can also provide your own entertainment via the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration system. Also, for rear passengers, Ford offers adjustable mounts for the front seatbacks, providing a convenient spot for passengers to hang and use their devices, including smartphones and tablet computers. This approach replaces the now-antiquated rear-seat entertainment systems that once were a staple of big SUVs. So you can finally ditch those DVDs.
Regarding safety, Ford equips the 2025 Expedition with Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0. It is a robust collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and the highlights include blind-spot warning with trailer coverage, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. However, the headline-grabber is the availability of Ford's BlueCruise 1.4 hands-free driving system.
The updated version of BlueCruise in the 2025 Expedition offers a more refined hands-free driving experience than the previous iterations, providing smoother performance and longer stretches of hands-free operation. At the same time, as I discovered during my testing, the driver must maintain vigilance because BlueCruise can suddenly require you to take over the driving almost without notice.
New features of BlueCruise 1.4 include Lane Change Assist, which enables lane changes with a tap of the turn signal, and In-Lane Repositioning, which adjusts the vehicle's position within the lane to maintain distance from nearby traffic, like when you pass a big semi. In extended highway use, I found the system performed reliably as intended.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Driving the 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor demonstrated that Ford is serious about the full-size SUV's off-road credentials. On a demanding off-road test track made more difficult by recent rain, the SUV proved surprisingly capable for a vehicle of its size, delivering confident power, impressive traction, and enough ride and handling refinement to make driving it on pavement feel comfortable and composed.
Under the hood, the Tremor uses Ford's high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, which generates 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission delivers the power through a standard four-wheel-drive (4WD) system. The engine's low-end torque was immediately noticeable on steep inclines covered with mud and loose rocks, pulling the vehicle through sections that would have challenged lesser SUVs.
Ford's Terrain Management system includes multiple drive modes tailored for different surfaces, including a new Rock mode. The standard electronic locking rear differential came in handy when grip was uneven, and the rectangular-shaped steering wheel, unusual at first glance, actually improved steering feedback and made it easier to track wheel position over rocky ground.
The Tremor rides on 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires that provide ample grip, while the model's 10.6 inches of ground clearance helps it clear obstacles that might snag other full-size SUVs. Ford also reworked the suspension for off-road performance, adding special shocks and revised tuning. The severity of the off-road test route made me glad the Tremor has robust skid plates to protect key underbody components, including the front axle, transfer case, and fuel tank.
On the most technical parts of the test course, Ford Trail Control, essentially an off-road cruise control system, helped maintain a steady pace over the rutted paths. In addition, the Trail 1-Pedal Drive technology allowed me to manage acceleration and braking with a single foot, proving especially useful when crawling over rocks and roots. The Trail Turn Assist system was helpful when rounding forested trail switchbacks. It reduces the SUV's turning radius by braking the inside rear wheel, making it easier to maneuver a long vehicle like the Expedition on tight trails.
In addition to carrying lots of people and cargo, the 2025 Expedition can tow plenty of weight. It can handle up to 7,000 pounds without a load-leveling bar and up to 9,600 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch when properly equipped. In addition, the SUV offers a Pro Trailer Hitch Assist system that aligns and positions the hitch to the trailer using rear cameras and sensors. Once set up, the Expedition's Pro Trailer Backup Assist allows drivers to guide a trailer by turning a knob. It takes a little learning, but it makes the task much easier when mastered.
As for fuel economy, a 2025 Expedition equipped with 4WD is EPA-rated at 18 mpg in combined driving. I observed 16 mpg in the Expedition Tremor, including a wide variety of testing situations.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Overall, the 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor's off-road package felt cohesive and well thought out. Unlike some other "off-road" packages I've sampled recently, the Tremor is more than just a rugged trim level. Its meaningful enhancements are the real deal. Not only is the Tremor equipped to handle rough terrain, but it also remains comfortable and composed on the highway. And frankly, that's where it will likely spend most of its time.
The Tremor faces several similarly capable competitors. The list of rivals includes the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon AT4, Jeep Wagoneer Overland, and Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro. Nevertheless, if you want a full-size SUV designed to meet the everyday demands of busy households while offering the flexibility to get dirty when the mood strikes, the new 2025 Expedition Tremor delivers.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack is currently the host of the Sports Byline Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other outlets.
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