2026 Ford Expedition

By blending family-friendly utility with truck-like capability, the Ford Expedition is the reigning champion of our Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award for the full-size SUV class. Its big and comfortable interior has 3-row seating that’s actually suitable for adults in all three rows, and it gets downright luxurious in the upper trims. It also has the Ford Digital Experience, incorporating multiple screens without ever feeling overwhelming. The Expedition stands out by offering a few features you won’t find anywhere else in this class, like a split liftgate, exterior zone lighting, and even an optional table for the tailgate. There’s an even bigger Ford Expedition MAX, which we review separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size SUVs, including the Ford Expedition.

Following a full redesign for 2025, the 2026 Ford Expedition gets an optional rear entertainment system. It also gets a new 24-inch wheel design and a new paint option called Marsh Gray.

The 2026 Ford Expedition starts at $64,995 for the base Active trim. The top King Ranch trim kicks off at $86,655.

The Ford Expedition is priced on the higher side of the full-size SUV class, close to a similarly equipped GMC Yukon or Toyota Sequoia. The Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Wagoneer, and Nissan Armada all have starting prices closer to $60K.

Before buying an Expedition, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Ford Expedition resale value is above average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Although the Ford Expedition entered a new generation last year, it carried over the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that powered the previous generation. However, the new standard tuning makes 400 horsepower, and it’s upgradeable to 440 horsepower. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends output to the rear or all four wheels.

The 2026 Ford Expedition provides plentiful power, even with a full load of passengers and a boat in tow. The base 400-hp engine is more than adequate for daily driving duties, but the enthusiast in us loves the extra 40 horsepower in the high-output tuning that’s standard in the Tremor model and optional in the Platinum trim. That extra boost in power makes a big difference when sprinting on an on-ramp or passing on the highway.

The Expedition’s handling is a little sharper than we expect for such a big SUV when equipped with the optional sport suspension system that comes with the Stealth Performance package. With the standard suspension, this drives like the big truck that it is, which is typical for this class. Taking a sharp turn too fast can result in some predictable body roll. However, this is an SUV made for devouring miles on the highway, and it’s perfectly engineered for that task, especially when equipped with the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. Smooth, comfortable, and powerful, the Expedition drives exactly like a full-size SUV should.

We got to test out the Expedition Tremor off-road and came away impressed. Its beefier tires, extra ground clearance, and electronic locking rear differential made traversing muddy trails in its off-road drive mode effortless. It’s safe to say the Expedition Tremor can handle just about any terrain that the average Ford Expedition owner will encounter, and it will look great doing it.

Fuel Economy

The Ford Expedition is rated at 16 city/24 highway/19 combined mpg with rear-wheel drive (RWD). With 4-wheel drive (4WD), it gets 15 city/22 highway/18 combined mpg.

These fuel economy ratings are about average for this class, but the hybrid Toyota Sequoia and the diesel versions of the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon are more efficient. The Jeep Wagoneer, also powered by a turbo 6-cylinder engine, is about as efficient as the Expedition. The fact that the Expedition runs on regular-grade gas helps keep the fuel costs manageable; the turbo V6 in the Nissan Armada and the optional 6.2-liter V8 in the Tahoe and Yukon require premium.

Historically, some full-size SUVs have had interior dimensions that don’t feel so full-size, especially in the third row. However, clever packaging in the Ford Expedition yields tons of passenger space.

We can confirm that each of the many seats in the Ford Expedition is adult-friendly. Tilt-and-slide second-row seats make the third row easy to access, and there’s plenty of room back there with amenities like cupholders and USB-C ports. Even the middle third-row seat has decent width for when you need to use every seat. With a generous 36.5 inches of third-row legroom, the Expedition has a roomier third row than the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, but it’s not quite class-leading; that honor goes to the Jeep Wagoneer.

Cargo space in the Ford Expedition is just okay for such a big SUV. There’s 22.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row of seats, which is less than what you get in the Tahoe and Wagoneer. If you can afford to fold down some seats, there’s 69.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 108.5 cubic feet behind the first row.

Interior materials get nicer as you work your way into pricier trims. All but the base Active trim has leather seats, and the King Ranch model boasts what Ford calls Mesa Del Rio leather with Kingsville stitching. A fully loaded Expedition feels like a luxury SUV inside, but it’s also priced like one.

The Expedition has a unique screen arrangement. A large 24-inch display is perched on the dash in front of the driver, serving as a digital gauge cluster and a Google Maps screen with a small section that’s customizable. But that’s not meant to be tapped with your fingers; a more traditional 13.2-inch infotainment display is on the center stack for controlling your maps, music, and other functions. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. We love what Ford calls the Ford Digital Experience; it’s an excellent execution of multiple big screens that are clear and easy to use. The oval-shaped steering wheel helps to keep it all easy to read.

Speaking of the steering wheel, it comes with a bit of a learning curve. It has two square pads where your thumbs go with haptic controls that can change based on what you’re trying to do. As you swipe your thumbs on these pads, their functions show up on the screen in front of you so you can manipulate your cruise control and audio functions. We found this system pretty intuitive, and we like the uncluttered look of the steering wheel, but we know some drivers might prefer a more traditional steering wheel button layout. Also of note, the HVAC and seat climate controls are all on the screen, forgoing physical knobs and switches.

The exterior design of the Ford Expedition strikes a nice balance of modern and traditional. It’s satisfyingly boxy, but a handsome light signature and stylish wheels make it look modern. The look changes quite a bit throughout the lineup. The Tremor looks rugged, the Platinum looks fancy, and the King Ranch is like a cowboy wearing his Sunday best.

The Ford Split Gate is a unique exterior feature of the Expedition. This class-exclusive split liftgate has a clamshell design, with the bottom part folding down like a truck’s tailgate. That means you can open the hatch from the driver’s seat and not worry about a bottle of wine rolling out and shattering on the garage floor. A Cargo Tailgate Manager option integrates a serving table and a backrest for the split gate, making the Expedition the ultimate tailgating SUV.

Ford Split Gate
The Ford Split Gate makes the Expedition the only full-size SUV in its class with a split tailgate. We love the convenience and versatility it brings to this family SUV.

Towing muscle
The Ford Expedition is among the best in its class when it comes to towing. With a max tow rating of up to 9,600 pounds, it’s ready and willing to pull boats, campers, and a wide range of other toys.

Tremor
The newest generation of the Ford Expedition finally gets the Tremor treatment. Following the lead of the Tremor versions of Ford pickup trucks, the Expedition Tremor has a rugged appearance package, standard 4WD, skid plates, an electronic locking rear differential, and meaty 33-inch all-terrain tires.

BlueCruise
BlueCruise is Ford’s hands-free highway driving system, and it’s one of our favorites. It allows for safe and relaxed hands-off-the-wheel, eyes-on-the-road driving on over 130,000 miles of North American highways. It’s standard on the King Ranch and optional on all other trims.

Ford Digital Experience
The Ford Digital Experience consists of a 24-inch panoramic display working in concert with a 13.2-inch central infotainment display. Wireless smartphone connectivity, crisp graphics, and a user-friendly interface make for a pleasant experience.

360-degree zone lighting
A nice touch of the Ford Expedition is optional zone lighting all around the exterior of the SUV. It can project light in any direction, which is helpful for setting up a campsite or just lighting the way in a dark parking lot.

Every 2026 Ford Expedition is motivated by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The standard tuning produces 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, but an available High-Output version makes 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Like all of its rivals, rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard and 4-wheel drive (4WD) is optional.

Warranty

Ford’s new vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These are typical terms among mainstream manufacturers.

Safety

This generation of the Ford Expedition got mixed ratings in its crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It earned the top “Good” score in the side test, but “Marginal” ratings in the small overlap front and moderate overlap front tests. It has not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Its standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera, and parking sensors.