2024 Ford Expedition MAX

It takes a special vehicle to accommodate a big family in comfort, hold all their luggage, and then tow a boat (or Airstream, or any number of other items that might bolster the enjoyment of a road trip). Or transport that big family over rugged terrain. The Ford Expedition is one of those special vehicles. That’s why we made it a 2023 Best Buy among full-size SUVs, an accolade it has won five years in a row.

The Expedition has a truck-based construction, which pays dividends in toughness and towing. But Ford has tuned the suspension to make the ride quality much more comfortable than a truck. The company has also filled the cabin with plenty of cup holders, great tech, and seating for up to eight.

This generation of Expedition debuted for the 2018 model year, so we’re expecting a major overhaul for 2025. In the meantime, the Expedition carries over from last year essentially unchanged.

Buyers should also check out the refreshed-for-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe starting in the mid-50s and its bigger Suburban sibling from the high 50s. The GMC Yukon (same size as the Tahoe) starts in the high-50s. The Jeep Wagoneer begins in the mid-60s, with the fresh-last-year Toyota Sequoia coming in at around $61K. The updated-for-2024 Nissan Armada should begin in the low 50s.

Before buying a new Expedition SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The GMC and Chevy contenders enjoy strong resale values; the Expedition’s are below average.

Every Expedition employs a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. Outputs go from a perfectly respectable 380 horsepower to 440. This latter version goes into the Timberline model and the Stealth Performance package, enabling a standstill-to-60 mph time of around six seconds, which is remarkable for a full-size SUV weighing more than 2.5 tons. Even with the more modest power, tackling uphill stretches and reaching freeway speeds present no problems.

In its typical form, the Expedition can be a little ponderous around town. Get on the freeway, though, and it settles into a relaxed rhythm, eating up the miles.

For comparison, the base engine in the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban makes 355 horsepower. The pricier Toyota Sequoia runs with 437 horses.

The independent rear suspension of the 2024 Expedition results in a refined ride quality and a flat loadspace floor when the third-row seats are folded down. Most versions of the Expedition also offer the option of adaptive dampers for an even more sophisticated ride quality. Maximum towing is a substantial 9,300 pounds — one of the best figures in the class, although the Sequoia is slightly better.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of full-size SUVs, including the Ford Expedition.

Fuel Economy

Unless it’s a Timberline, expect the 2024 Expedition to return 19 combined mpg (17 city, 23 highway) with its rear-wheel-drive setup. With 4-wheel drive, subtract one mile per gallon from each figure. The Timberline (with 4-wheel drive as standard) achieves 17 combined mpg (16 city, 19 highway).

Despite its extra power, the Toyota Sequoia is thriftier with gas. The Chevy Tahoe’s base engine has a slightly greater appetite for gas than the Expedition, but it does offer a diesel option that can manage 24 combined mpg.

Between the different trims of the 2024 Expedition coming with cloth upholstery or extended leather-bound interiors, two rows of seating or three, second-row bench seats or captain’s chairs, the number of beverage holders is an unchanging 15.

Which gives some idea of how big the Expedition’s cabin is. It’s a bit of an expedition in itself going from the driver’s seat around to the cargo area, especially with a Max version.

Matching this expansive interior is a larger infotainment touchscreen that’s optional in the middle of the range and standard in the two highest trims. It’s oriented vertically and measures 15.5 inches on the diagonal, which is about as large as it gets outside of a Tesla. A still-impressive 12-inch screen comes in the lower trims. We’ve also noticed that the quality of materials seems a little higher than the Expedition’s Chevy rival.

The highest number of seats is eight. The captain’s chairs in the second row reduces it to seven, while raising comfort levels in that row and improving access to the rearmost places. The base XL STX is a 5-seater.

Legroom for the second and third rows are 42.6 and 40.9 inches respectively, regardless of whether it’s a Max or not — even tall adults will be fine back there. This puts the Expedition among the roomiest in its class.

The Max uses its extra length to provide more cargo space: 36 cubic feet behind the third row, compared with 20.9 in the regular version. This expands to 121.5 cubic feet (Max) or 104.6 (regular) when rows two and three are folded down. That’s a lot of cargo space, but not quite as much as the Chevy Tahoe and extended Suburban.

Every new Expedition comes with roof rails, running boards, and a tailgate with a separate-opening glass section. Alloy wheel sizes range from 18 to 22 inches. The Max version has a longer overall length: 221.9 inches, compared with 210 inches. Potential buyers might like to measure the depth of their garage before going for the Max.

Infotainment system
We’re particular fans of Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment setup. It’s intuitive to use, capable of over-the-air updates, recognizes voice commands well, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Ford Co-Pilot 360
This set of driver assistance features comes standard in every new Expedition, bringing forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, rear cross-traffic braking, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, and trailer sway control.

XLT
The good thing about the XLT is that it becomes eligible for the Max body style, along with a raft of extras such as power-adjustable pedals that enable an ideal driving position for more people.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Part of the optional Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, this feature helps drivers reverse their Expedition and a trailer into a parking space or onto something tricky like a boat ramp.

BlueCruise
BlueCruise comes in the top Platinum trim. It’s a hands-free driving system that works on certain highways. It incorporates lane centering, road sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control, allowing drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. But they must still keep their eyes on the road.

Timberline variant
The off-road-ready Timberline has a raised suspension for optimum ground clearance, along with more advantageous approach and departure angles. It wears 33-inch all-terrain tires and comes with extra underbody protection, in anticipation of heading away from the tarmac. It also has a Trail Turn Assist function to help negotiate any tight turns on dirt roads, plus a Trail 1-Pedal Drive feature that applies the brakes automatically if the driver eases off the gas pedal. We’re impressed with the off-road abilities of this big SUV.

Ford gets a lot of metaphorical mileage out of the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that powers every version of the 2024 Expedition. In the XL STX and XLT, it makes 380 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.

In the Limited and King Ranch and Platinum models, this unit develops 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. In the Timberline and Limited Stealth Performance variants, it’s boosted even further to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. All these figures are achieved with premium gasoline.

Rear-wheel drive is the default setup, with 4-wheel drive available as an option, although the Timberline has its own 4-wheel-drive system as standard. A 10-speed automatic transmission is deployed across the board.

3-Year/36,000-Mile 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 Ratings

This generation of Expedition has a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, plus blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert and rear cross-traffic braking.