2022 Ford Expedition Timberline First Drive: Kayaks Sold Separately

Holly, Michigan will not be a spot I look forward to finding an intimidating hairpin flip. And the Ford Expedition, at seventeen and a half ft lengthy, and practically eight ft extensive, isn’t the scalpel-like device I’d anticipate utilizing in a decent nook assault.

And but, right here I’m within the 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline, urgent a button labeled “Path Flip Help” and staring down an acutely angled bend within the slender, wooded path I’m making an attempt to traverse. For context, the Ford F-150 Raptor that’s main our off-road tour simply executed the exact same nook with a wholly inelegant three-point flip.

Path Flip Help has not one of the flash of a tank-turning Rivian or a crab-walking GMC, however the system is brutally efficient. By braking the within rear wheel, the Expedition’s four-wheel-drive system primarily turns the stopped tire right into a pivot level, powering round with the remaining three. I’ll be sincere: The sounds related to this maneuver may show unsettling for somebody who’s simply bought a brand new SUV, however the outcomes can’t be denied. A flip, neat as you please, in an SUV so massive it has no enterprise even on this path.

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Observe The Fundamentals

I’m not so enamored of a day on the ORV park that I’m keen to present the Expedition full marks within the cutthroat full-size SUV phase. However it’s clear that Ford has completed its homework – by the use of the very in a position Bronco and Raptor – with the brand new Timberline trim. Must you want a really massive, three-row SUV that may additionally reduce throughout open nation or get to a backwoods camp, the record doesn’t start and finish with the Jeep Wagoneer.

Extra importantly, nevertheless, the revamped Expedition appears to hold on the nameplate’s custom of executing on the issues that folk really want in a large-format SUV. Area for the household being a primary instance.

It’s clear that Ford has completed its homework – by the use of the very in a position Bronco and Raptor – with the brand new Timberline trim.

In comparison with different SUVs on this class – a cadre of American haulers together with Chevy’s Tahoe and Suburban, and Jeep’s still-new Wagoneer – the Ford is the shorty of the bunch at 210 inches lengthy for the standard-wheelbase. However critically, Ford has prioritized house for folks over house for cargo. Regardless of being nearly 16 inches shorter than the Suburban, for instance, the Expedition loses solely an inch and a half of front-row legroom to the Chevy, and simply fractions of an inch in rows two and three.

In actuality, meaning the primary two rows are a simple match even for tall of us like myself (I’m six-foot-five) and the third row is serviceable for third-row issues like giving the neighbor child a journey residence from Odyssey of the Thoughts apply.

The compromise here’s a dearth of cargo house. With all three rows of seats in place, the Ford solely manages a skimpy 20.7 cubic ft of capability – down between about 5 to twenty cubes versus the competitors. 5 cubic ft is important: That’s a few massive coolers or about three standard-sized carry-on suitcases. So if you happen to had been planning on taking your Expedition Timberline on a long-range off-road journey… you might need to go away that neighbor child at residence.

Ford does provide a longer-wheelbase Expedition – including practically a foot of size with about 16 cubic ft of added cargo house – however not on the Timberline version. You’ll have to maneuver right down to the Restricted or as much as the King Ranch, and go away your harder-core off-road goals at residence.

Energy Cures All

In fact, there are these of us who worth having simply sufficient house and greater than sufficient energy. Loading up with the smallest displacement engine within the class, simply 3.5-liters in a V6 association, the twin-turbocharged Ford Ecoboost makes a Chevy-shaming 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque on this high-output type. (There are additionally 380-hp/470-lb-ft and 400 hp/480-lb-ft variations of this versatile powertrain, within the decrease and mid-range trim ranges.)

Matched to Ford’s 10-speed computerized gearbox, the powerplant gives sturdy acceleration from a standstill or from freeway speeds, and completely unstressed efficiency basically. With all of that torque, it looks as if Ford may afford to lose a couple of of these gear ratios and provide an much more sanguine driving expertise. However looking between gears was at a minimal round my very flat on-road check route (outcomes could range for drivers in mountain states).

The dual-turbocharged Ford Ecoboost makes a Chevy-shaming 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque on this high-output type.

The “eco” a part of EcoBoost holds true right here, too, at the very least in a relative sense. There’s not a full-size SUV within the class that may blow you away with its gasoline financial system numbers, however the Expedition’s 15 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 19 on the freeway are proper within the ballpark. Wagoneer is extra spectacular with 22 mpg on the freeway and 16 metropolis, whereas Chevy’s 5.3-liter V8-equipped Tahoe manages 20 freeway, 15 metropolis. (Anybody gasoline financial system as their major purpose ought to direct their full consideration to Chevy’s 3.0-liter Duramax diesel, after all.)

Expedition Timberline’s spectacular torque certainly is beneficial when powering via some mud and or ruts, however the specs shouldn’t point out that that is some form of “driver’s SUV” on paved roads. As you’d anticipate, the steering effort is mild, response considerably uninteresting, and there’s nothing within the journey dealing with package deal that may encourage you to do far more than gun this sucker in a straight line.

Thank God For The Encanto Soundtrack

Drop that hammer and the EcoBoost V6 will at the very least sound good when it’s nonetheless offended, however, sadly, the driveline noise doesn’t disappear utterly if you’re merely cruising alongside.

I used to be curious if the Timberline truck’s extra aggressive rubber – Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires come strapped to that trim’s distinctive 18-inch wheels as normal – had been loads louder on the freeway than one of many on-road centered Expeditions. There was a bit extra rumble coming from below my seat at a 70-mph clip, for positive, however the unmissable droning of the engine and exhaust was louder by a protracted shot. Mixed with some wind noise coming from the massive aspect mirrors, the general NVH profile of the Expedition is marginal, at finest.

Drop that hammer and the EcoBoost V6 will at the very least sound good when it’s nonetheless offended.

Fortunately, Ford has a few options right here: two many-speakered audio programs with greater than sufficient energy to drown out the loudest engine buzz or tire roar. Audio accomplice B&O (a sub-brand of Bang & Olufsen however not one and the identical, I used to be informed by an organization rep) has tuned a 12-speaker “Unleashed” setup for the reworked SUV. There’s additionally a 22-speaker model of the B&O setup in high King Ranch and Platinum trim ranges. Each programs bang exhausting sufficient to enliven your subsequent household highway journey, however the 22-speaker rig provided significantly extra readability, particularly at medium volumes, than the lesser model.

Now, when you’ve got a 3-year-old like me, leaping a complete run up on the Expedition trim ladder to get the flamboyant audio may solely imply you’ll hear Carolina Gaitan in additional glowing readability on “We Don’t Speak About Bruno…” 100 instances over. However over the lengthy haul, you might contemplate the roughly $6,000 bounce between trims an funding in music appreciation.

Cozy Confines

Regardless of which Disney rating you occur to be streaming, the Expedition stays a superbly nice place to spend time. I’m a giant fan of the Timberline’s normal inexperienced (Deep Cyprus) leather-based inside with cool orange (Tangerine) distinction stitching and accents, which feels prefer it belongs in an Orvis advert.

Different materials selections are much less attention-grabbing, and high quality general tends in direction of “sturdy” somewhat than “luxurious,” which feels spot-on for a car on this family-focused phase. Within the entrance row, for example, there are loads of builder-grade plastics to be discovered south of the leather-based padded sprint. (The vent surrounds, particularly, appear to be they may’ve come out of any firm product from the final decade.) Ford expects that just about 30 % of Expedition prospects will hail from the Millennial technology, nevertheless, and I think many with youthful households have extra of a necessity for one thing hard-wearing than finely crafted.

A literal vivid spot (and a big one) within the cabin is the accessible 15.5-inch touchscreen show working probably the most up-to-date SYNC 4A software program. This portrait-oriented display screen comes straight out of the Mustang Mach-E, and instantly provides the Expedition an air of modernity. I particularly love the bodily quantity ring that appears to “hover” over the underside of the show, which is each a cool visible element and a practical triumph.

The software program right here is very easy to navigate and due to this fact use, with a static residence button and car button (that little Expedition icon on the high left) permitting quick access to infotainment and car programs, respectively. I’ve by no means been a fan of SYNC’s rudimentary graphical model, however it’s clear the UX/UI guys prioritized operate over type. And hey, wi-fi CarPlay and AndroidAuto imply you’ll usually be your telephone’s graphics anyway.

Design, Right here Is One

One have a look at the brand new entrance fascia of the Expedition Timberline, punctuated with an orange accent stripe on the decrease grille and a few equally vivid tow hooks, and also you’re clear on what the designers had been going for. “Outside Way of life” is the clear and apparent route of this specific mannequin. And although I like all the particular person components – the darkish inexperienced paint, the knobby tires on purposeful wheels, even the angular Timberline badging – there’s only a whiff of Strive Exhausting Dad right here. Even nonetheless, I feel it’ll be a preferred method to spec your new Ford.

One have a look at the brand new entrance fascia of the Expedition Timberline, punctuated with an orange accent stripe on the decrease grille and a few equally vivid tow hooks, and also you’re clear on what the designers had been going for.

Step again a bit additional, or have a look at one of many extra typical trim ranges of the car – Platinum and King Ranch for bling, the brand new blacked-out-trim Stealth Version, or the XLT that everybody will truly purchase – and also you’ll see a big two-box SUV that’s nearly timeless in its simplicity. From an exterior design perspective Expedition is attempting solely to supply variations on an especially conservative theme, to attraction to completely different slices of this very large market phase.

Contemplating the phase co-champions, yr in and yr out, are the evolution-over-revolution Tahoe and Suburban, not reinventing the wheel with Expedition’s sheet metallic might be the proper transfer.

Backside Line It For Me

The barest of bones 2022 Ford Expedition XL STX, with its two rows of seating and scanty choices record, goes for $54,415 if you issue within the $1,795 vacation spot cost. When evaluating the most cost effective base fashions, the stripper Chevy Tahoe undercuts it by $720. (Nissan Armada, smaller and a bit worse to drive general, waves hey at a bottom-line $51,095.) Whereas these cheap, two-wheel-drive variations are removed from the quantity fashions, their costs do signify how shut the entire phase is at each step.

My major check car had the Timberline pack which will get you the four-wheel drive and the off-road goodies, and retails for $71,490 all-in. That’s tremendous aggressive with the Chevy Tahoe Z71 4×4 with the 6.3-liter V8 at $73,295. Nonetheless, Ford’s spendy Excessive Gear Group package deal ($9,220) doesn’t have a real parallel in Chevyland. That choices group brings the massive infotainment display screen, cutting-edge SYNC 4A, the 12-speaker B&O sound system, and Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 Suite of superior driving aids to the desk. For these craving the most recent in new, that may very well be the deciding issue.

Or, it may come right down to what’s on the lot? We’re not out of the woods but when it comes to manufacturing constraints, and regardless of record-high fuel costs, discovering an Expedition that you would be able to drive residence at the moment may require a literal expedition. Ford’s shopper website is even working a disclaimer about “international supply-chain constraints” if you load the construct and value device. For the foreseeable future, I anticipate any massive SUV buy to signify a surprisingly sturdy monetary asset, which is bizarre however true.

Extra nice information for folk and households in want of a brand new SUV this yr, I suppose. For these customers this up to date Expedition gives a wonderful steadiness of capability, stunning (new) off-road functionality, and value, even with its famous shortcomings and conservative demeanor. And if it is advisable make a decent nook in the course of the woods, properly, there’s simply nothing prefer it.