We’re thinking about upgrading our family car to an Expedition Max. We have 3 kids under 6, all in car seats. Right now, we’re using a regular Expedition with a second-row bench seat where all 3 kids are lined up, but space is getting tight during trips, and my 2-year-old twins keep fighting the whole ride. I’d really like to have bucket seats for the twins and put my 6-year-old in the third row by himself. My concern is parking and maneuvering a bigger vehicle in parking lots. Is there a noticeable difference compared to the regular Expedition?
I’m not sure about the difference between a regular Expedition and the Max, but I drive an F-150 SuperCrew and rented an Expedition Max for a couple of weeks. I was surprised by how much easier the Max was to handle compared to my truck.
@Winslow
I switched from an F-150 PowerBoost to an Expedition Max, and the turning radius is incredible! I can do a U-turn on a three-lane road without backing up, which I couldn’t do with the F-150. Parking feels easier too.
@Winslow
What’s a SuperCrew?
Jesse said:
@Winslow
What’s a SuperCrew?
It’s what Ford calls their crew cab trucks.
Jesse said:
@Winslow
What’s a SuperCrew?
It’s what Ford calls their crew cab trucks.
Not just a crew cab—it’s a SUPER crew cab.
@Winslow
I went from an F-150 to an Expedition too, and it’s so much better. I looked into it and learned the Expedition has independent rear suspension, which improves the ride and turning radius. Trucks have solid rear axles for better payload capacity, but it makes a big difference in handling.
We went from a 2003 Expedition to a 2015 EL. I was surprised by how well it turns despite its size. Trust your parking sensors, and after a few trips to Walmart, it’ll feel natural.
Blaire said:
We went from a 2003 Expedition to a 2015 EL. I was surprised by how well it turns despite its size. Trust your parking sensors, and after a few trips to Walmart, it’ll feel natural.
Same here. I find the width more challenging than the length, especially when getting in and out of tight spaces.
@Lyric
Agreed. I can park fine, but squeezing out of the car with my beer belly is another story.
I’ve got a 2024 Max. Parking isn’t bad—worst case, I take a wider turn, back up a bit, then pull in straight. The extra trunk space fits a double stroller and bulk items from Costco easily. Totally worth it, even if parking lots feel tight sometimes.
We’ve got a 2021 Max, and parking it is easier than my F-150. My wife got used to it quickly after switching from her Edge. We kept the third-row bench but made sure it has the fold-down middle seat option. It’s perfect for our 8-year-old in the back and 5- and 3-year-olds in car seats in the middle row.
You should try test driving one. The newer models have 360-degree cameras, which make it surprisingly easy to park. If you’re comfortable with the regular Expedition, the Max won’t feel much different. If you’re in SE Michigan, message me, and you can try parking ours.
I have a 2023 Max Platinum. I park far from others to avoid door dings and give myself more space. Honestly, it’s worth it for the extra room inside.
The Max is a bit harder to park than the regular one, but the extra space is totally worth it. Just get the 8-seat version so you can fold the middle seat when you need to. Makes life a lot easier with kids and even leaves room for the dog.
The 360 cameras make parking much easier. I always park away from crowds to avoid door dings and have more room to get in and out.
There’s a difference, but it’s not huge. We actually downsized from a Max to a Timberline. Part of the reason was that the Max wouldn’t fit in our new garage, while the shorter one does.
The Max is a little harder to park, but it’s no worse than a pickup truck. The extra space, smoother ride, and larger fuel tank more than make up for it.
I’ve driven a Yukon XL for 10 years, and parking isn’t bad once you get used to it. Right turns can be tricky in tight parking lots, though—I usually let oncoming cars go first so I have more room. Just expect to bump your back tire on a curb a few times while learning.
There’s a slight difference in backing up, but pulling into spaces sometimes requires an extra adjustment to make sure it’s straight.