Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
We kicked and screamed about the loss of a solid rear axle when the Expedition was revised for 2003. Our gut told us Ford was sabotaging the Expedition's off-road ability in exchange for better on-road ride. We hope the reason Ford did it was to get a lower vehicle floor height to add space for third-row passengers. Our Judges couldn't argue with the results because there is more legroom in the "way back" of the Expedition than in the Yukon with a solid rear axle. And we were impressed at just how flat and usable the cargo area is in the Expedition when you flip down the captains' chairs and nest the third row into the floor.
From the unsupportive driver's seat of the Expedition our judges thought the new suspension made the SUV feel very stable whether we were driving on twisty two-lane roads or around town. In our handling tests we found that the AdvanceTrac stability system didn't react to correct our driving errors as well, or as fast, as Stabilitrac did in the Yukon. And the 5.4L engine disappointed everyone in the test to the point that we longed for the supercharged version from the Lightning just to get some acceleration. In traffic the Expedition is almost as maneuverable as the Yukon 1500 and has better rear visibility thanks to the split second-row seats.
Off-road the independent suspension killed any sign of wheelhop in the sand, but didn't give us enough ground clearance to prevent the running boards, frame, or fuel filter for that matter from getting torn and dented. We were impressed with how well the ABS brake-derived AdvanceTrac traction control worked at modulating the brakes to send torque to the wheels with grip. When we were about to get stuck we gave it more throttle and let the traction control go to work. In our tests this technology worked just like having dual limited slips, but the required tire spin mixed with rough terrain shredded the p-metric tires.
General
Manufacturer: Ford
Model: Expedition Eddie Bauer
Base Price : $41,195
Price as Tested : $47,280
Options as Tested: Second-row captains' chairs, 3.73:1 gears, power moonroof, AdvanceTrac, safety canopy with rollover sensing, third-row power fold seat, climate controlled seats, rear-seat DVD player
Engine
Type: SOHC V-8
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 5.4/330
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.55x4.17
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Induction Type: Sequential, multiport fuel injection
Fuel Required (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 87/34
SAE Peak Horsepower: 260 @ 4,500 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 350 @ 2,500 rpm
Transmission
Type: 4-speed automatic overdrive
Model: 4R70W
Ratios: First: 2.84:1; Second: 1.55:1; Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.70:1; Reverse: 2.32:1
Transfer Case
Type: 2-speed full-time
Model: Borg-Warner 4406
Low-Range Ratio: 2.64:1
Axles
Front Type: IFS with Visteon 8.8-inch
Rear Type: IRS with Visteon 9.75-inch
Hubs: N/A
Ratio: 3.73:1
Suspension
Front: IFS with upper and lower A-arms/coilover shocks
Rear: IRS with upper and lower A-arms/coilover shocks
Steering
Type: Power rack-and-pinion
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 3.82/17.01:1
Turning Radius (feet): 38.7
Wheels
Size (inches): 17x7
Material: Aluminum
Tires
Size: P265/70R17
Brand: Continental TR
Brake System
Front: 13-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 13.5-inch discs with ABS
Weight (pounds)
Curb Weight: 5,586
Advertised GVWR: 7,300
Mileage
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): 13/17
As Tested (mpg): 9.06
Acceleration
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 19.50 @ 74.64
Braking
60-0 mph (feet): 147.06
Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 119
Overall Length: 207.75
Overall Width: 94
Overall Height: 77
Front/Rear Track: 67.25/67.125
Front/Rear Overhang: 40/47.50
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 7.625
Likes
*Front seat coolers
*Power fold-down rear seats
*Rear captains' chairs
Dislikes
*Gutless 5.4L engine
*Low ground clearance
*Ugly sideview mirrors
Bottom Line
Super-size your Explorer for $9,890 more