2013 Ford Expedition and Expedition EL Preview

Introduction

The Expedition is Ford's full-size SUV. It is also offered in a longer-wheelbase version, the Expedition EL. The Expedition, which replaced the Ford Bronco in 1997, is Ford's largest truck-based SUV and shares a platform and design with the Ford F-150 pickup truck. It is built for rugged use and for heavy-duty towing. Main competitors include the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada. This may be the last year for the current Expedition platform, and a new one is likely to be introduced for the 2014 model year. Properly equipped, the Expedition can tow up to 9,200 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,690 pounds. The Expedition seats eight, and is available in six trim levels: XLT, EL XLT, Limited, EL Limited, King Ranch, and EL King Ranch. All trim levels are available with rear-wheel drive (2WD), or 4-wheel drive (4WD) with low-range gearing.

Exterior Features

Colors for the 2013 Expedition include white, black, silver, grey, Autumn Red, Ruby Red, Kodiak Brown, Blue Jeans, and Green Gem. The Expedition has a 119-inch wheelbase; the Expedition EL has a 131-inch wheelbase. Wheels are available in various designs, ranging from 17 to 20 inches. Standard features include automatic headlights, roof rack, privacy glass, running boards, front and rear wipers, and rear defogger. Many exterior upgrades are offered at the upper trim levels, including a heavy-duty tow package, premium headlights, contrasting body trim, power liftgate, rearview camera, upgraded wheels, and upgraded tires.

Interior Features

The Expedition XLT trim comes with cloth upholstery, cruise control, air conditioning, second- and third-row bench seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 6-speaker sound system, and rear audio controls. The Limited trim includes dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery and leather-wrapped shift knob, fully powered driver's seat with memory, power-folding third-row seats, upgraded audio, power-folding mirrors, heated second-row seats, and wood accents on the steering wheel. The King Ranch trim adds premium Western-style upholstery and more wood grain trim. With rear seats folded, a total of 108.3 cubic feet of space is available in the 2013 Expedition. The Expedition EL provides a maximum 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

Optional Features

Many of the standard features on the Expedition Limited and/or King Ranch trims are available as options on the XLT trim, usually as packages. The XLT 201A package comprises many of the Limited features; the 202A package adds more of them, including the tow package, heated and cooled front seats, and power lumbar adjustment to the passenger seat. The 203A package includes a sunroof and navigation system. Options on the upper trim levels include a power sunroof and power running boards.

Under the Hood

The 2013 Expedition's standard engine is a 5.4-liter V-8 flex-fuel unit that delivers 320 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Fuel Economy

EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 Ford Expedition are:

• Expedition 2WD: 14/20/16 mpg (city/highway/combined)
• Expedition 4WD: 13/18/15 mpg

Safety

Standard safety features on the 2013 Ford Expedition include anti-lock disc brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front-seat side air bags and full-length side curtain air bags. Ford's proprietary MyKey system allows the owner to program a maximum speed and stereo volume for other drivers. A rearview camera and parking sensors are optional. In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2013 Expedition received an overall rating of 4 stars (out of 5 stars); 4 stars for front crash protection, and 5 stars for side-impact crash protection.

Technology

The Control Trac 4WD system allows the Ford Expedition to be operated in "two high" rear-wheel drive, conventional "four high" or "four low" for off-road conditions only, or all-wheel drive, in which all of the engine's torque goes to the rear wheels unless traction loss is anticipated or detected--in which case as much as 100 percent of torque can go to the front wheels. The Expedition also offers an optional voice-activated Navigation System with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link that includes traffic updates and the latest local fuel prices. Outside mirrors feature a convex spotter to provide blind spot alerts.