’18 Ford Expedition

Ford says its all-new ’18 Expedition is primed and ready to take advantage of a growing appetite for fullsize SUVs (see related story: The upgraded engine feels up to the task, with the extra torque providing good pull from a standstill and the added power sufficient to comfortably maintain cruising speed. The new automatic is smooth and quick-shifting, readily jumping as many as a half dozen gears to match the engine’s sweet spot when extra power is demanded.

The body-on-frame Expedition retains 4-wheel independent suspension, an innovation introduced more than 15 years ago that improves ride and handling, aids off-road wheel articulation and provides class-leading passenger legroom.

On-road balance and control is a high point as we pilot the big rig through winding roads in the foothills, the electrically assisted power steering helping lighten the load without making the truck feel disconnected. Brakes are particularly responsive. The ride is steady and quiet.

Off-road, the Expedition is relatively easy to thread through a hilly and twisty gravel route, and is particularly impressive tackling steep downhill grades with Hill Descent Control activated and handling all the braking to limit speed between 2 mph (3 km/h) and 20 mph (32 km/h). In addition to HDC, the FX4 Off-Road package includes electronically locking differentials and a front skid plate.

Connectivity Showcase; Fighting for SUV Share

Inside, the Expedition is all about creature comfort for up to eight passengers, with sliding second-row seats for legroom flexibility, 15 cupholders, two USB ports in each row and Wi-Fi connectivity for up to 10 devices.

Drivers will note the elimination of a center shift lever, replaced by a rotary shift knob and the Terrain Management Control knob allowing easy selection of powertrain assistance depending on conditions. We deliberately tested the electronic shifter’s ability to automatically switch to Park as we attempted to step out of the driver’s seat with the vehicle still in Drive. Thankfully, yes, it works.

All-new layout replaces console shifter with rotary dial.

The new Expedition launches into a challenging market. As much as Ford’s F-150 is the perennial truck sales leader, the Dearborn automaker’s Expedition can’t make a dent in the annual deliveries of body-on-frame fullsize SUV competition from General Motors.

After hitting a high-water mark of 233,125 deliveries in 1999, Expedition sales steadily declined, dipping to just 31,655 units in 2009, WardsAuto data shows. The numbers improved to nearly 60,000 last year, but GM’s combination of Chevrolet Suburban/Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL totaled more than a quarter of a million sales during the same period.

“New competition came in, gas prices started rising, the segment shrunk and we lost share,” says a matter-of-fact Joe McCarty, Expedition brand manager.

While midsize CUVs are all the rage, Ford research indicates Millennials starting families and Baby Boomers seeking taller ride height are gravitating back to traditional SUVs. McCarty says the all-new Expedition’s improved and best-in-class fuel economy, torque, towing and second- and third-row legroom give it a strong position in that growing market.

“Ford is projecting this segment to grow for the foreseeable future,” McCarty says. “We’re projecting both growth in this segment and growth in our share of this segment.”

[email protected] @bobgritzinger

'18 Ford Expedition Limited 4X4 Specifications

">Expedition Ready for Big Role).