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2018 Expedition Reviews


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Motor Trend: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/expedition/2018/2018-ford-expedition-first-drive-review/

 

 

 

For way too long, Ford allowed what should have been a perennial cash cow to rot out in the pasture. The old Expedition wasn’t horrible or anything. It was simply not competitive with what Ford’s big rival was selling. Ford has flipped the script. The Expedition is now the class leader, no ifs, no ands, and no buts about it. If you are a diehard Chevrolet fan, take solace in the fact that the new GMT1000-platform body-on-frame trucks and SUVs are coming sooner than later. Until then, Ford is the new big sheriff in town.

 

Motor Trend actually loved it.

 

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Car and Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-ford-expedition-4x4-test-review

 

 

 

The Expedition may be brand new, but the SUV that shows how new school is done actually has been around since 2013: the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class (formerly known as the GL). Almost as roomy as the Expedition, the V-6–powered GLS450 4Matic matches or exceeds the Ford in almost every area. Its unitized construction makes it about 500 pounds lighter, it drives two size classes smaller, and it’s deliciously luxurious inside. All that and a big three-pointed star in the grille—for $6500 less than a four-wheel-drive Expedition Platinum with no options.

We’ll wait for a comparison test to render a final opinion on where this new Expedition fits into the big-SUV hierarchy. But our first impression is this: New school or old school, it seems the Expedition may need a little more school before it can play with the class leaders

 

Car and Driver didn't like it as much for some reason. I don't really understand all the "it looks like a Tahoe/Suburban" commments....it really doesn't aside from both being SUV shaped. They also included an inexplicable comparison to the Mercedes GLS. So the vehicle is supposedly so terrible that they're comparing it to a Mercedes? And then trying to complain that the Mercedes is $6,500 cheaper? Yeah, maybe if you compare a loaded Expy to a stripped GLS. I blew past the loaded Expy's price on the first options page of the base GLS trim....and to get as much power as the Expy, that GLS starts at $94K.

Edited by rmc523
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Isn't the GLS roughy Explorer sized?

 

It's in between Explorer and Expedition size.

 

.......................Explorer........GLS.......Expedition

Length..............198.7.........202.0...........210

Height................70.0...........72.8...........76.6

Width.................78.9...........76.1...........79.9

Wheelbase.......112.8..........121.1.........122.5

Weight..............4458...........5335..........5855

Edited by rmc523
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Between the Ford and the Mercedes, I know which one I'd rather drive for 100,000+ miles. It wouldn't be the one wearing the three-pointed star.

You are correct about that. Look at some prices of some used s classes. There's a reason they're so cheap. 7-series same thing.

Edited by fordtech1
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There's a reason that a very high percentage of German vehicles are leased and not bought. No one wants to keep one beyond the warranty.

 

The price comparison leaves me baffled...the price of German vehicles escalates quite rapidly once popular options (or option packages) are added, as rmc523 notes.

Edited by grbeck
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Auto-every-other-week:

 

 

The new Expedition is a clear leap forward in terms of refinement, power and capability over the outgoing model. And it finally moves Ford toward the front of the pack in the full-size SUV class itself. The Platinum trim is certainly the plushest of the breed. But go heavy on those options and it’s possible to spec an $85,000 Expedition. That’s not only pricey but it’s also just ten grand away from stepping into fairly loaded Navigator. And for that dough we’ll take the serious horsepower and comfort of the Lincoln.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2018-ford-expedition-first-drive-two-sizes-three-rows-all-families#ixzz4xxi7nOd8

 

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Someone over at FIN pointed out that the author of the C&D article apparently works for GM, which explains the complaints that aren't noted in any other reviews, which say the exact opposite of what he wrote.

 

 


I just looked up the credentials of the writer of the C&D (Rich Ceppos) article on Linked In. Although, the writer is a former Executive Editor of both C&D (1986-1991) and AM (1991-1995), the writer is listed currently as:

Manager, Advanced Concepts
GM
May 2007 – Present (10 years 7 months)

If the writer is still working at Ford Motor's primary competitor, it should not be so surprising he's writing such a totally unjustified and unflattering article about the truly remarkable new 2018 Expedition.

Edited by rmc523
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They also included an inexplicable comparison to the Mercedes GLS. So the vehicle is supposedly so terrible that they're comparing it to a Mercedes?

 

The Car and Driver comparison to MB GLS450 is based on their 10 Best Trucks/SUVs competition, large SUV segment. The GLS won in 2017. Its unibody design makes it handle and ride better than the BOF SUVs, resulting in a much more pleasant driving experience. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/best-large-suv-mercedes-benz-gls450-2017-10best-trucks-and-suvs.

 

If the 2018 competition hypothetically includes only traditional BOF large SUVs, I'm sure either the GM or Ford products would win as those are better than Nissan Armada, which was the other large BOF SUV that Car and Driver tested in 2017. And the refreshed 2018 Toyota Sequoia is so far behind the competition that Toyota will probably not send one to Car and Driver for testing. :hysterical:

Edited by rperez817
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GLS is not even close to the same sized vehicle.

 

GLS is smaller on the outside than Expedition or Tahoe as rmc523 mentioned. However, the Mercedes is as or nearly as roomy inside as the standard length GM and Ford BOF SUVs. The GLS' space efficiency is one reason Car and Driver made it a 10 Best Truck/SUV.

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GLS is smaller on the outside than Expedition or Tahoe as rmc523 mentioned. However, the Mercedes is as or nearly as roomy inside as the standard length GM and Ford BOF SUVs. The GLS' space efficiency is one reason Car and Driver made it a 10 Best Truck/SUV.

 

I wouldn't call 14 inches less shoulder room "nearly as roomy".

 

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/64064-gm-to-offer-5k-incentive-for-escalade-to-combat-new-navigator/&do=findComment&comment=1013378

 

Explorer would be a better comparison for the GLS.

 

C&D is just showing their bias for performance vehicles.

Edited by akirby
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GLS is smaller on the outside than Expedition or Tahoe as rmc523 mentioned. However, the Mercedes is as or nearly as roomy inside as the standard length GM and Ford BOF SUVs. The GLS' space efficiency is one reason Car and Driver made it a 10 Best Truck/SUV.

 

...........................................GLS.......Expedition (standard length)

Head room (front).............. 41.2...........42.0

Head room (2nd)................40.0...........40.0

Head room (3rd).................N/A...........37.3

Hip room (front)..................N/A...........62.2

Hip room (2nd)...................N/A...........62.6

Hip room (3rd)....................N/A...........51.4

Leg room (front).................40.3...........43.9

Leg room (2nd)..................38.5........41.5/42.6

Leg room (3rd)...................N/A.........36.1/40.9

Shoulder room (front).........58.5...........64.9

Shoulder room (2nd)..........58.3...........64.8

Shoulder room (3rd)...........N/A...........64.3

Cargo room (front)..............93.8..........104.6

Cargo room (2nd)...............N/A.......57.5/63.6

Cargo room (3rd).................16........19.3/20.9

Passenger Volume..............N/A..........171.9

The only area it's close is headroom. They don't even list half the dimensions on their site.

Edited by rmc523
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GLS is smaller on the outside than Expedition or Tahoe as rmc523 mentioned. However, the Mercedes is as or nearly as roomy inside as the standard length GM and Ford BOF SUVs. The GLS' space efficiency is one reason Car and Driver made it a 10 Best Truck/SUV.

 

I just kicked tires on and test drove a GL450 this afternoon and no, no it is not.

 

Since the dodge durango is very heavily related to the gls, they probably have many of the same dimensions, or close to them

 

They're close. GLS is slightly bigger than Durango.

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I had read and enjoyed C&D for many years (more than I would like to count) but it seemed like the writers had gotten more biased and were just bloviating toward their desired conclusion or maybe they just got lazy. Not only have I stopped reading the magazine, I don't even check their website any longer. Waste of time for me.

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I had read and enjoyed C&D for many years (more than I would like to count) but it seemed like the writers had gotten more biased and were just bloviating toward their desired conclusion or maybe they just got lazy. Not only have I stopped reading the magazine, I don't even check their website any longer. Waste of time for me.

 

I don't know. I suspect their review was important for the 3 people cross shopping an Expedition with the Mercedes.

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My guess is by going off the noted con, if ford is gonna price the plat model close enough to the gls, they are obligated to cross reference the two. But if thats the case, they shouldve said too the navigator starts at a lower price point than the plat as well. The expy plat is competing against the denali, tahoe premier, sequoia plat and new armada plat reserve, and to me they tried to nit pick the expy to justify their decades long love affair for the gm utes. Every thing they said the gm did "the same as" they gave the logical reason for it(the ford isnt faster and handles bigger than denali, though its heavier, bigger, and has less power)

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From the Autoblog article:

 

 

For Ford, this is a coup that brings the Expedition not only back into relevancy, but all the way to the front of the class. If you can find a better large, traditional SUV, we recommend you buy it. Until then, the Expedition is king.

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