2006 Ford Expedition
Expert Review

The highly accomplished Ford Expedition full-size SUV drives much like a big luxury car, but can be difficult to park, garage, back up or maneuver in tight spots.

And the sheer size of this 205.8-inch-long truck must be kept in mind in urban traffic or its driver can wipe out the sides of nearby cars.

Never mind that the Expedition, which has rear- or all-wheel drive, only delivers an estimated 14 mpg in the city and 17-19 mpg on highways, although the 19 mpg figure attained with rear-wheel drive really isn't too bad for a big, powerful SUV. Truth is, some folks need the space and things such as towing ability of a full-size SUV, despite escalating gasoline prices.

A driver of a well-developed full-size SUV often feels as if he or she is piloting a large auto&151;just as the mark of a good fast car is its ability to effortlessly move much faster than a driver realizes.

Important Assets
Assets of the rock-solid Expedition include a quiet upscale interior, plenty of comfort and convenience features and a smooth ride. Moreover, its powerful, torque-rich V8 gives it impressive merging, passing and towing abilities (up to 8,900 pounds).

This is Ford Motor's largest Ford-badged SUV, weighing up to (gulp!) 5,607 pounds. It was considerably redesigned for 2003, when it received such features as an independent rear suspension for a smoother ride and better handling on bumpy roads.

The handsome Expedition got more muscle for 2005 with a 300-horsepower V8 from Ford's F-Series pickup truck. The engine works with a responsive 4-speed automatic transmission. (The 2007 Expedition gets a 6-speed automatic, but don't expect a miracle mileage gain.)

Plenty of Room
The Expedition comfortably holds seven to nine adults, depending on seating selections. The third-row seat is impressively roomy, which isn't the case with many SUVs.

Occupants sit high for a commanding view of surroundings, but extra effort is needed to climb in and slide out of this 77-inch-high SUV. Available running boards aren't much help to those with large shoes.

The windshield is huge, but it is impossible to see what's directly behind the truck below its rear window area. One recommended option thus is the $255 rear-obstacle-detection system. However, large outside mirrors allow good rear visibility when, for instance, changing lanes.

The obstacle-detection system and other extras aren't offered for the base XLS trim level because that model is mainly ordered by fleets, who avoid options to keep costs down, Ford says.

Variety of Trim Levels
But there are plenty of other trim levels: XLT, XLT Sport, Eddie Bauer, Limited and King Ranch. All come with rear-wheel drive or a sophisticated 4-wheel-drive system that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. The gearing and considerable ground clearance allow the Expedition to be more than normally adept during off-road driving.

Prices range from $32,660 for the rear-wheel-drive XLS to $45,240 for the 4-wheel-drive King Ranch version I tested.

Lots of Equipment
Ford can't allow its largest SUV to look like a stripped-down model, even in base XLS trim. So even that version has standard front air conditioning, cruise control, a power driver seat, second- and third-row split/folding seats, an AM/FM/cassette/CD/MP3 player and power windows, mirrors door locks and remote keyless entry.

The XLT adds rear air conditioning and heater, along with running boards. The XLT Sport adds rather slippery tubular side steps. And the Eddie Bauer adds leather upholstery, a dual-zone automatic climate control, front captain's chairs, power adjustable pedals, an upgraded sound system and heated power mirrors with turn signals.

Move up to the Limited and one also gets heated/cooled front bucket seats, 8-way power front seats and chrome alloy wheels.

Top of the Line
The top-line King Ranch's upgraded Castano leather upholstery eliminates the heated-cooled front seats, but this version has power-folding heated outside mirrors and a power-folding third-row seat. Its King Ranch logos might cause some to think those are made-up words because the Expedition looks like it belongs on something called the "King Ranch."

The King Ranch actually exists in Texas and dates to the 1800s. It's one of the world's largest ranches. I was there once and it seemed to take forever to ride from the ranch's entrance to a structure nowhere near the boundaries of the place, where an auto preview was held.

A 4-wheel-drive Expedition would be very much at home on that ranch, but also is pretty easy to drive in congested urban areas.

Good Roadability
The nicely weighted steering is precise, and handling is reassuring for a big, high SUV. It runs straight and stable on freeways and highways. The brake pedal has a nice progressive action, and all trim levels have anti-lock brakes and large 17-inch wheels that carry big tires. Most 4-wheel-drive versions have all-terrain rubber.

Dicey situations can be helped by Ford's $595 Advance-Trac anti-skid system with Roll Stability Control, which comes from Ford-owned Volvo and uses rollover sensors.

The double-five-star NHTSA-crash-rated Expedition also offers $595 head-protecting side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor.

Slow Motion Seats
The many options include a $1,500 rear-seat DVD entertainment system, which will be considered a "must-get" by many families with children. But the power-folding split third-row seat takes way too long to fold forward to enlarge the cargo area, which isn't roomy with third-row seatbacks in their upright position. Second-row seatbacks also fold forward for more cargo space.

The large rear hatch, which has a separate opening upper glass window, is heavy but easy to open or close.

Gauges are just OK because they should have larger numbers for a quicker read. Climate and sound-system controls are easy to use, although they should be larger. The glove compartment has almost no room for anything but the owner's manual. But the front console has a giant covered storage bin, and doors have storage pockets. Cupholders are scattered throughout the interior.

Sales of large SUVs have fallen as gasoline prices have gone up and an increasing number of people are turning to smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient crossover vehicles. But, hey, the Expedition will do a fine job for those who need its attributes.