What is it?
The largest SUV in the Ford lineup, the Expedition gets a complete redesign for the 2025 model year. Not only does it get all-new styling inside and out, but the 2025 Ford Expedition benefits from new features, improved performance, and a range of tech advancements. For almost 30 years, the Expedition has proven to be an excellent choice for those who need the capability of a full-size SUV, and the new 2025 model continues to set the bar high.

Built for Families
“For Expedition customers, family is at the center of everything they do,” said Trevor Scott, general manager of Ford Utilities. “We spent more than 1,100 hours talking with customers about their everyday lives. And with those insights we’ve rethought and redesigned Expedition to help customers make the most of their precious time with family and to make life easier – before, during and after every trip they make.”

New Look
The fifth-generation Expedition gets an all-new exterior design, giving the big SUV a thoroughly modern look. Up front is a wider grille accentuated by LED running lights that highlight the edges. The LED headlights integrate into the grille, and EXPEDITION is spelled out in large font across the front of the hood.

Rear View
At the rear are all-new LED taillights and a two-tone style that hints at one of the Expedition’s newest features – the split tailgate.

Model Lineup
The 2025 Ford Expedition is available in four trim levels: Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch. All but the Tremor are also available in the extended-length Max version. The base-level Active comes standard with rear-wheel drive – all other trims get four-wheel drive standard. Base prices range from around $62,000 for the rear-wheel drive Active to almost $90,000 for the King Ranch Max.

Built in Kentucky
The new Ford Expedition is produced at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY. The plant has been in operation since 1969, and it also produces the Super Duty pickup and the Expedition’s luxury sibling, the Lincoln Navigator. I had a chance to tour the plant, and it is an impressive facility, able to build the different models on the same line.

First Expedition Tremor
One of the new additions for the 2025 model year is the off-road-ready Expedition Tremor. Tremor stands out from the rest of the lineup with a unique grille featuring auxiliary lights in the center, fog lamps, and tow hooks, while Bronze highlights further differentiate the Tremor. More than just a styling exercise, Tremor is properly set up for off-road duty with a larger radiator, skid plates, electronic locking rear axle, modified suspension, increased ground clearance, terrain management system with rock crawl mode, and 33-inch all-terrain tires.

Inner Space
The 2025 Expedition’s cabin gets a complete makeover with a clean, high-tech look. The new dashboard features a 13.2-inch center touchscreen, but more noticeable is the 24-inch panoramic driver’s display. Positioned near the base of the windshield, the new screen acts almost like a head-up display, viewable while keeping eyes on the road. The steering wheel is oddly shaped with a flat top and bottom, but the design is meant to allow easier viewing of the new screen. The display also has a customizable widget that can show either trip information or the weather. At first I thought the multiple screens would be distracting, but I think the new setup works quite well.

Infotainment
Ford has also updated the infotainment system with the new Google-based Ford Digital Experience. The popular Google Maps is the native navigation system, and Google Assistant – one of the best natural voice interfaces on the market – comes standard on the Expedition. Almost all physical controls are eliminated, with the volume knob being the notable and welcome exception. All other functions are accessed via the touchscreen or by voice command. While I prefer buttons and knobs, the Ford system is rather intuitive, and I had little difficulty navigating the menus. For those who prefer a more familiar interface, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard with a wireless connection.

Added Features
One of the advantages of the Google-based system is the ability to bring in new apps from the Google Play Store. You can download popular features like Waze or Spotify, which are integrated into the system, and even games like Ford’s exclusive Asphalt Nitro 2 are available. Some games can be played by multiple passengers using their smartphones as a controller, but you have to be parked to play.

Center Console
Adding to the cabin’s functionality is the large center console with plenty of storage space in the bin under the armrest, as well as cupholders and a wireless phone charger. But push the button on the front of the console, and it slides rearward, putting additional cupholders in reach of the rear seat passengers while revealing a hidden storage space underneath. This is an ideal space for securing valuables – once the console is in its forward position, it completely hides the space and can’t be accessed unless the vehicle is powered up.

Front Seats
Most of my time in the new Expedition was in the Platinum version, featuring stylish seats trimmed in Black Onyx perforated leather. With multiple adjustments and good padding, the seats were quite comfortable, even after several hours behind the wheel. Heating and ventilation add to the premium experience, as do the seat massagers.

Second Row
While a three-person bench seat is available in the second row, my Expedition featured dual captain’s chairs, which are just as stylish and comfortable as those in the front row. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom, easily fitting full-size adults. Heated seats, separate rear-seat climate controls, and the panoramic sunroof add to the pleasant experience.

Third Row
I was surprised at the spaciousness of the Expedition’s third row, which is reasonably comfortable. Second-row seats easily fold up and out of the way for easy access to the third row, and while it may be a bit cramped for three passengers, there’s still decent headroom and legroom. USB ports and cupholders are a nice addition, and the second-row seats slide forward to provide a bit more space for taller passengers.

Cargo Space
Ford brought some interesting innovations to the cargo space of the Expedition, starting with the split tailgate. The top section of the hatch opens like a typical SUV, but the lower section folds down into a tailgate that can handle up to 500 pounds. With the third row in use, there’s still a sizable 21.6 cubic feet of space – 36.1 cubic feet in the Expedition Max. Fold the third-row seats via the buttons in the cargo area, and the space expands to 60.8 and 75.4 cubic feet, respectively. The third row of seats is a 40/20/40 split, so it’s possible to carry longer items with the center seat folded while still being able to use the other seats.

Innovative Cargo Management
Adding considerable versatility to the Expedition’s cargo space is the available Cargo Tailgate Manager. The rigid panel can act as a cargo shelf, table, or seat back, which makes sitting on the tailgate much more comfortable.

Under the Hood
The Expedition features the same powertrain options as the previous version, but that’s not a bad thing. The standard engine on all but the Tremor is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. A high-output version putting out 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque is standard on the Tremor, optional on the Platinum.

Fuel Economy
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2025 Ford Expedition is rated at 16 mpg city / 24 mpg hwy / 19 mpg combined with 2WD. Figures with 4WD drop slightly to 15 / 22 / 18, respectively. During my drive in the Expedition Platinum 4WD, the trip computer indicated 20 mpg in mostly highway driving.

On The Road
After a tour of the Kentucky Truck factory where the 2025 Ford Expedition is built, I headed out on the roads outside Louisville, Ky. My test vehicle had the high-output V6 engine, and there was never a lack of power. Acceleration was strong, whether getting around slower cars on a two-lane road or easily getting up to freeway speed. Power is easy to modulate, and with good visibility, guiding the big SUV through small towns and suburbs is no problem. Handling is reasonably good with nice steering response, but this is a 5600-pound SUV, so it’s not going to be sporty.

Blue Cruise
The new Expedition is available with the latest version (version 1.4) of Blue Cruise, Ford’s advanced hands-free driver assistance system. Once on the freeway, I set the adaptive cruise at 70 mph, and immediately, the driver’s display showed that Blue Cruise was active, and I could take my hands off the wheel. Greatly improved over previous versions I’ve tried, Blue Cruise navigated 85 miles of curves in the road, changing lanes to pass slower vehicles, and even managed a construction area without my having to take the wheel. It’s important to note that you still have to pay attention to the road, and the system will shut off if you don’t.

Off-road
The long drive east of Louisville took me to the Interlake State Recreation Area in Indiana, where Ford set up an off-road course to test the new Expedition Tremor. The recent rains made for a rather muddy trek with plenty of steep climbs and deep water features, but the Tremor was unfazed. While the ride is a bit rough on the rocky surfaces, the Expedition delivered excellent traction, showing it is perfectly capable of handling some very rugged terrain.

Trailer Towing
The Expedition can tow up to 9,600 pounds – 7,000 pounds without a weight distribution hitch – and it brings Ford’s advanced trailer towing tech that takes considerable stress out of this sometimes-challenging task. Using the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, I was able to line up the Expedition with a trailer, then hold in the button and watch as the big SUV backed itself up and steered automatically to stop with the ball directly below the hitch for easy hookup. Once connected, multiple cameras provide peace of mind while towing and the Pro Trail Backup Assist makes it simple to reverse the trailer using a dial in the center console to steer.

Rating: 9.0
The 2025 Ford Expedition brings plenty of improvements over the previous version. Not only does it have a modern, stylish look, but it also has a high-tech cabin with multiple display screens to improve the day-to-day driving experience. With a spacious, comfortable interior, innovative cargo space, and a range of high-tech advancements, the Ford Expedition is an ideal option for daily family needs as well as adventures off the beaten path.