2020 Ford Expedition
- Refined workhorse
- Up to 24 mpg on the highway
- Twin-turbo V6 engines offer 375 or 400 horsepower
- Max towing capacity: 9,300 pounds
- Roomy interior offers eight seats, connectivity galore
- Pricing starts at $54,205 (including $1,395 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Expedition models for sale near you
King of the Truck-Based Three-Row SUVs
Large truck-based SUVs, those three-row machines built on a traditional ladder-style frame, aren’t as crude as they used to be. Rather, they’re more refined than ever, making them great everyday family haulers — modern station wagons, if you will. And among the current crop, the Ford Expedition continues to shine the brightest, thus explaining why it’s the KBB Full-Size SUV Best Buy winner for 2020, the second year in a row it has captured the coveted title.
The Expedition — all-new in 2018 and noted for its independent rear suspension and lightweight aluminum body — artfully blends an ability to carry people in sublime comfort with an appetite for hard work, be it hauling cargo, towing a trailer or getting your family to a remote campsite. At the same time, the Expedition boasts all kinds of modern safety and convenience features that make it a great everyday wagon without compromising any of its truck-like capabilities.
Superb Powertrain
On duty under the Expedition’s aluminum hood is Ford’s twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6, a potent direct-injected engine that puts some V8s to shame. Available with either 375 or 400 horsepower (Platinum model), the 3.5 EcoBoost propels the 5,300-5,600-pound Expedition in confident fashion though a slick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. You can get an Expedition with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD); with either drivetrain configuration, the 24-valve EcoBoost V6 puts out power in a smooth and linear fashion, thanks to responsive turbos that ramp up quickly.
Owners will appreciate that the 2020 Ford Expedition returns up to 24 mpg on the highway while also having enough torque (470 lb-ft at 2,250 rpm) to tow a 9,300-pound trailer (when equipped with the optional tow package). That’s impressive. For the record, the Expedition’s EPA fuel economy ratings (17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined) are better than those of the Chevy Tahoe, Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. The Expedition is rated to tow more than these three competitors as well.
Head-Turning Chiseled Looks
We also quite like the handsome, chiseled look of the 2020 Ford Expedition. The model KBB recently sampled, an Expedition Limited Stealth Edition, looked especially sharp in its white metallic Tri-Coat paint and black 22-inch wheels that somehow didn’t look oversized. The big wheels are complemented by headlamp accents and power running boards, all painted black.
The Expedition also has a dominating presence related directly to its size. The standard 2020 Ford Expedition is over 17 feet long, while the longer-wheelbase Expedition Max spans 18.5 feet from stem to stern. Both models sport a bold chrome-dominated face, and both possess a crisp character line running just above the Expedition’s door handles. The minimal front overhang of the Expedition is a trait also seen on the handsome new 2020 Ford Explorer, a new unibody design with a longitudinal powertrain.
Roomy, Well-Appointed Interior
Inside, Ford’s big three-row SUV impressed us with its volume and well-appointed nature. All three rows have excellent legroom and head room, even with the huge sunroof, and the center bucket seats in the Limited model we drove tip and slide forward to improve access to the power-folding third row. (In reality, though, we found the aisle between the two center buckets works just fine as a pathway to the third row.)
While the red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, dash and seats was a bit much for some of our KBB editors, the seats themselves, covered in an attractive black leather with perforated inserts, pleased us with their support and all-day comfort. Moreover, the rotary-knob gear selector worked just fine; we like how its knurled metallic look carried through to the stereo’s volume and station knobs, upping the luxury quotient in what already is a rich interior with 4G wi-fi connectivity. The stereo, by the way, is a great-sounding Bang & Olufsen system with 12 speakers, and occupants in the third row profit from a pair of handy USB charging points.
A Broad Range of Prices
Even though our Ford test model was a Limited Stealth Edition 4WD model with more than $10,000 in options that spiked the MSRP to nearly $80,000, you can purchase a 2020 Ford Expedition for much less. For example, a rear-wheel-drive XLT starts at $54,205, while a 4WD XLT begins at $57,215. Both these Expedition XLTs are well equipped, with items such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a trailer wiring harness all considered standard equipment.
If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, the Expedition King Ranch model, resurrected for 2020, starts at $74,290, while the uber-luxurious 4WD Platinum Expedition begins at $78,480.
With its laudable KBB 5-Year Cost to Own rating and depreciation that’s less than the industry average, the eminently capable, comfortable and safe (NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score) Expedition has staked its claim as KBB’s Full-Size SUV Best Buy for 2020.
Photo Tour: 2020 Ford Expedition
More 2020 Ford Expedition
Build and price your own 2020 Ford Expedition to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Expeditions for sale today at dealers near you.
More 2020 Best Buys
