The high-output EcoBoost V6 gives the Expedition decent punch, but the ride lacks polish.
Cabin space, layout, and family-friendly features are smartly executed.
Tremor trim is the better driver with its off-road suspension and more forgiving ride.

I’ll admit, the 2025 Ford Expedition caught me off guard, not in how it looks, but in realizing just how long it’s been around. Launched back in 1997, the Expedition is now in its fifth generation, and it’s very clear Ford wasn’t going to do things in half measures when they updated the SUV. The reality is that there’s too much money to be made in the segment, and Ford knows how to make money with big vehicles.

2025 Ford Expedition | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

That said, I didn’t fully buy Ford’s claim that this SUV helped “invent” the full-size three-row game. The Suburban (aka Suburban Carryall) has been hauling families and gear for nearly a century, while the 4-door Tahoe and Yukon have been around for 30 years. But I digress.

Properly handsome

Visually, the updates are subtle but effective. The front fascia is brawnier, more truck-like, and on the Platinum tester, it looks properly upscale, and even more so on the King Ranch. But if you’re shopping for the best-looking one, the Tremor is where it’s at. From a design and execution standpoint, this generation of Expedition is Ford’s best to date. It’s just a shame the drive doesn’t live up to everything else, or so it seemed at first.

Highs and lows

From the driver’s seat, there’s a lot to like. A 24-inch digital instrument panel and 13.2-inch centre touchscreen lead the tech charge. While Sync 4 runs smoothly, the redundancy of some screen information between the two displays is distracting. For example, Navigation routes are displayed in the lower 13.2-inch screen; however, the turn-by-turn instructions appear on the right-hand end of the narrower upper 24-inch screen. This situation illustrates that we’ve reached the point where screens are being added for the sake of more screens, rather than for improved functionality – this is not solely a Ford issue.

Storage is plentiful, the Ultimate Package’s luxury leather seats are comfortable and rich-looking, and the fit and finish throughout the cabin are a step above what Ford used to provide. That said, the new “bow tie” steering wheel? Not sure what’s going on there. It appears disappointingly low-end with some of the least intuitive controls—such as those for the mirrors and steering wheel adjustment—that I’ve encountered in a while.

One genuinely clever feature is the split tailgate and the multi-use parcel shelf behind it. The shelf, which can support 35 lbs, paired with the power outlets in the back, makes for a solid camping or tailgating rig. Additionally, the lower gate can support up to 500 lbs and serve as a seat when combined with the same shelf, which can be flipped into a seatback.

The third row is genuinely usable, with decent legroom and headroom—three kids can easily sit back there. The second row tilts forward even with a child seat installed. Where room for people is concerned, the Expedition has everyone covered, even more so in the extended MAX version.

EcoBoost V6 with V8 sound

All Expedition trims come standard with Ford’s 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. Lower trims get 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, while the higher-output version in the Platinum (and others) bumps that up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft. In this massive SUV—tipping the scales well over 5,500 lbs—the power difference will be barely noticeable. It’s not exactly quick, but it’ll move when you need it to, and the 10-speed automatic does a good job staying smooth and mostly invisible in everyday driving.

Fuel economy? No comment. The test route was busy as we were bouncing between off-road events, photo ops, and a special unveiling. This wasn’t the setting for noting any fuel data.

Driving impressions are… mixed. Ford says it retuned the suspension for comfort as well as new chassis mounting points to better absorb vibration and harshness. And while I can appreciate the effort, especially after the last-gen’s harshness, something’s still off. On this Platinum trim with 24-inch wheels, the ride is overly firm, unforgiving in some instances, and transmits more graininess through the steering than I’d expect. No matter the surface—country road, highway—it doesn’t settle the way a six-figure SUV should. Brake feel is good, steering is nicely weighted, and the engine sounds surprisingly V8-like under load. At idle? Kinda diesel-like, actually. But in motion, it sounds great.

I had the opportunity to briefly drive a Tremor for just over 30 minutes, and it performed far better. The Platinum suffered from occasional severe vibrations felt through the steering wheel, whereas the Tremor did not. The latter was also far smoother, with only minimal noise produced from the aggressive 33-inch General Grabber tires.

Money and positioning

Pricing? Prepare yourself. The base Active trim starts at just over $81,000. The tested Platinum ($95,050), fitted with the Ultimate Package, comes in around $113,000. Want the extended Max version? Add $3,500. And if you’re eyeing the rugged Tremor, it starts around $103,000. The King Ranch tops things off at nearly $107,000. Thinking this is close to Navigator territory? Not anymore, as the Lincoln starts at an eye-watering $126,000

Where does the Expedition land? Against the likes of the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, Nissan Armada, and Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, it does well in design, tech, and interior layout. I’m still partial to the GM full-size SUVs overall—they’re more comfortable day-to-day.

But here’s the twist: if you’re looking for the best Expedition to live with, I think the Tremor might be the one. Its off-road suspension and higher-sidewall tires smooth out the harshness I felt in the Platinum. One point, however, the Tremor is not available in MAX form. Steering and fuel economy might take a hit, but in a nearly six-thousand-pound SUV, priorities are different.

In the end, the 2025 Ford Expedition is bold, tech-forward, and brimming with space and features. I just wish the drive was as polished as everything else.