My wife’s Honda Pilot has been great for 10 trouble-free years, but it’s time for something newer and nicer. I’m thinking of a full-size, body-on-frame SUV.
Any F-150 owners here who also have an Expedition or Expedition MAX?
We probably won’t go for the MAX—don’t need an aircraft carrier—just something a bit bigger that can tow our camper (about 5,500 lbs loaded). The Explorer seems nice but might be too close to its limits with our family (2 adults, 2 kids, and 2 dogs).
Expeditions are definitely expensive, but we haven’t bought anything new in over 10 years, so I guess it’s expected. I’m a little annoyed the 400hp EcoBoost is only available on top trims and that the 450hp version isn’t an option at all, but the 375hp EcoBoost should be plenty. My wife drives like a grandma, but I’m a bit of a leadfoot.
What should I know about trims, must-have features, or potential downsides?
Fane said:
I don’t know much about full-size SUVs, but the Expedition doesn’t look as good as the Tahoe, in my opinion.
Totally agree. The Tahoe looks better inside and out. My brother had one, and it was a really nice SUV. I went with the F-150 instead because it’s more versatile.
I have a 2021 F-150, and my brother-in-law traded his ’08 F-150 for a 2021 Expedition. Honestly, I’d take my F-150 any day. Sync 4 is way better than Sync 3, especially with wireless Android Auto.
We both have XLT trims; mine has the 5.0 V8, and his has the EcoBoost. I’m biased toward the V8, but I’d be cautious about used EcoBoost models—turbo maintenance can get expensive ($9k to replace), and there have been phaser issues with the 3.5. That said, if well-maintained, they’re fine.
I paid $48k for mine, while his Expedition was $70k (both include extended warranties). Mine gets better mileage, and when he needed to move a fridge, it didn’t even fit in the Expedition.
The Expedition rides slightly better, though, and he needed the extra room after having twins (three kids under two now!).
Pro tip: Just get a truck and tell your wife it’s for her.
@Nari
Haha, I already have a truck—a 6.2L F-150 that I love! I’m looking for something to tow with but also be flexible for long trips with the camper. Right now, I’m debating between the Armada, Tahoe/Yukon, and Expedition. I’d consider the Land Cruiser, but it’s crazy expensive and hasn’t been redesigned in 14 years.
I had my 2019 F-150 in for service recently and got a 2021 Expedition as a loaner. It’s so much smoother and more comfortable than my truck. If I didn’t need the bed, I’d consider getting one for myself.
We have a 2019 Expedition and a 2021 F-150. The Expedition definitely has a smoother ride and a tighter turning radius—it’s noticeably shorter than the F-150 (ours has a 6.5-foot bed, so there’s almost a 3-foot difference).
The Expedition is a Limited, and the F-150 is a Platinum. The 2021 F-150 interior is miles ahead in terms of tech compared to the Expedition. The difference between Sync 3 and Sync 4 is huge. If you can wait for an updated Expedition, it might be worth it, but the current interior is still nice.
One downside: the darker rims on our Expedition are peeling, but hopefully, warranty will cover it. Other than that, we’ve had no real issues—aside from mice eating the wiring last fall (can’t blame Ford for that).
Be cautious about vehicles built during the Covid era. Manufacturing quality has taken a hit due to staffing and supply chain issues. If you’re looking for reliability, now might not be the best time.
Kyrie said:
Be cautious about vehicles built during the Covid era. Manufacturing quality has taken a hit due to staffing and supply chain issues. If you’re looking for reliability, now might not be the best time.
That’s a good point. Maybe I should consider going the used route instead.
@Baylen
You’re probably safer with something like the Expedition, which isn’t a new design, versus something like the F-150 or Bronco that just launched.
Kyrie said:
Be cautious about vehicles built during the Covid era. Manufacturing quality has taken a hit due to staffing and supply chain issues. If you’re looking for reliability, now might not be the best time.
I can confirm this. Check out my last post for more details.
I have a 2016 F-150 XLT with the 3.5 EcoBoost and recently traded my Suburban for a 2020 Expedition FX4 XLT. I couldn’t stand the 5.3 Chevy engine—no power, especially on hills. I don’t miss the Suburban at all.
