Reviewed: The Ford Expedition Platinum – Just About the Perfect Roadtripper

by Greg Karpinski

If your idea of the perfect road trip involves massive comfort, effortless power and technology that actually makes long hours behind the wheel easier, the Ford Expedition makes a compelling argument right out of the gate.  This is a full-size SUV that feels engineered for covering serious distance quietly, quickly and with zero drama, while still delivering the kind of performance and luxury that make you want to keep driving.  It isn’t without a few head-scratching design decisions, but when taken as a whole, the Expedition comes dangerously close to being the ultimate road-tripping machine.

The Fine Print: Ford heard Greg’s disparaging comments on the Expedition at the New York Auto Show, but they think it’s pretty good, so they send us one to enjoy for the week with a full tank of gas to see if it could change his mind. 

The heavily-redesigned for 2025 Ford Expedition wears its size confidently and, make no mistake, this thing is big.  It stretches roughly 210 inches long, sits about 80 inches wide, stands over 78 inches tall and rides on a massive 122.5-inch wheelbase, which immediately explains the interior space and highway composure.  Those proportions give the Expedition real presence on the road, but Ford has done a nice job tightening up the design so it doesn’t feel cartoonishly large.  The front end looks modern and upscale with a strong grille and integrated lighting signature on our Platinum tester and the overall profile feels clean and purposeful rather than slab-sided.  Our tester’s Stealth Performance Package brought a set of excellent 22-inch Magnetite painted wheels which perfectly fill the wheel wells and give the Expedition a far more aggressive stance than the standard setup.

The Stealth Performance Package also adds a heavy dose of gloss black exterior trim and, for the most part, it works in a militaristic meets soccer practice vibe.  The blacked-out accents pair well with the wheels and help the Expedition look more athletic and less-rental speech Suburban shuttle, in sharp contrast to other vehicles with black packages (cough cough, Grand Highlander Nightshade, cough).  That said, there’s no getting around the gloss black panel on the tailgate, which remains the one styling misstep in an otherwise really handsome design.  It looks tacked on, should absolutely be body-colored and draws attention for all the wrong reasons, especially on cars with lighter exterior colors, like our Glacier Grey tester.  Thankfully, everything else out back redeems it, including the split folding tailgate, which is both clever and genuinely useful.  Ford even took the additional step of tucking the rear wiper up underneath the rear spoiler, keeping the lines on this big bruiser clean.  Overall, the Expedition’s exterior strikes a strong balance between upscale and rugged and, aside from that one questionable design decision, it’s one of the better-looking full-size SUVs on the road today.

Stepping inside the Expedition, the payoff for those big exterior dimensions is immediate.  Up front, there’s an abundance of space with roughly 43.9 inches of front legroom, wide seats and a commanding seating position that makes long stings behind the wheel effortless.  The second row is just as generous at about 41.5 inches of legroom and even the third row remains genuinely adult-friendly with about 37 inches to stretch out – something not every full-size SUV can honestly claim.  Cargo space is equally impressive, with around 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to roughly 70 cubes behind the second row and well over 100 cubes with both rows folded flat.  The new split folding tailgate is a standout feature here, making loading heavy gear easier and doubling as a handy bench or table when you’re parked for tailgate or camping activities.

Comfort is where the Expedition Platinum really leans into its road-trip mission.  The front seats are excellent, offering heating, ventilation and long-distance support while the second-row captain’s chairs are arguably the most comfortable in the segment, with easy access to the third row and power operation for folding and sliding.  Climate control is tri-zone and highly effective, the heated steering squircle is a must-have in colder climates and overall refinement is high, even if you can still find some harder plastics that feel more F150 than luxury flagship.  Still, the seating, ride comfort and sheer ease of use make this an SUV you want to spend hours in, not just tolerate.

Technology is both abundant and mostly well executed.  A large 13.2-inch central touchscreen dominates the dash, paired with a panoramic 24-inch digital gauge cluster and, while the stacked screen layout isn’t our favorite from a design standpoint since we appreciate integrated design over tacked on screens, it works extremely well in practice, with the panoramic screen nearly doubling as a heads-up display with a clear view thanks to that oddly shaped steering squircle.  The Ford Digital Experience system is quick, intuitive and packed with features, including a crisp 360-degree camera system, configurable drive modes and handy extras like the trick exterior zone lighting for campsites or late night loading.  BlueCruise hands-free driving continues to impress on long highway stretches, reducing fatigue and making the Expedition feel purpose-built for covering serious distance.  Add in the 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, which delivers rich, room-filling audio, and you’ve got a tech suite that’s not just impressive on paper but genuinely enhances every mile.

Under the hood of the Expedition Platinum with the Stealth Performance Package is Ford’s High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost V6, pumping out a healthy 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.  That power is put to the ground through a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel-drive and delivers effortless acceleration for a vehicle that tips the scales north of 5,600 pounds.  In real-world testing, it scoots to 60mph in the low five-second range and will complete the quarter mile in under 14 seconds at 100mph.  That’s strong for its class, giving this big bruiser performance that feels more athletic than its bulk would otherwise suggest.  The transmission shifts are smooth and keep the engine riding that fat torque curve, smoothing out long highway drives and providing ample grunt for merging or passing without drama.

Handling and efficiency reflect the Expedition’s dual personality as both a capable hauler and long-distance cruiser.  The independent suspension with Continuous Controlled Damping soak up big bumps and highway imperfections with confidence and, while the steering is weighty but numb on center, that calm response makes sense given the size and mission of this 5,600-pound brute.  Fuel economy isn’t going to win any hypermile competitions and during our testing we saw combined figures around 16mpg, which is realistic for a powerful SUV of this size rated at 15 city and 22 highway.  Tow ratings remain impressive, too, with the Expedition capable of hauling nearly 9,300 pounds when properly equipped and the excellent Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes maneuvering whatever you’re towing surprisingly stress-free.  Put it all together and the Expedition drives like a heavyweight champion that still knows how to cover miles comfortably and confidently.

When you step back and look at the Expedition Platinum with the Stealth Performance Package as a whole, it’s hard not to come to the same conclusion: this thing is nearly the perfect road tripper.  It’s immensely comfortable, genuinely quick for its size, packed with tech that actually reduces fatigue and offers the kind of space and flexibility that makes long journeys feel easy rather than exhausting.  Yes, there are a few quirks – that gloss black rear panel still bugs us, the tacked-on screens feel a little lazy and the squircle is still dumb – but none of those undercut what the Expedition does best.  Covering huge distances with speed, silence and confidence is its superpower, and in that role, the Expedition doesn’t just succeed, it excels.