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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(July 31, 2022) Ford has refreshed its large Expedition sport utility vehicle for 2022 with some exterior and interior styling tweaks and several new features and options. The cabin now sports a fresh dashboard design similar to the one in the recently redesigned F-150 pickup. Added to the lineup is the off-road oriented Timberline edition, which elevates ground clearance to a class-leading 10.6 inches, and the Stealth Edition Performance Package, which comes outfitted with 440 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

An enhanced front includes new headlights that merge with the SUV's updated grille and a revised lower fascia. Out back there are alterations to the tailgate design. Along the sides, chrome trim, available signature striping, and massive side mirrors with embedded turn signal indicators add some flair.

Introduced in 1997, the Expedition is now in its fourth generation. The most recent complete makeover was in 2018, and a mid-cycle refreshening was due. As before, the Expedition, which has the same underpinnings as the full-sized Ford F-150 pickup,  comes with standard rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive. There's also a stretched version called the Max. In Max, wheelbase is 9.1 inches longer and cargo capacity expands from 104.6 cubic feet to 121.5 cubic feet.


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Standard on all Expeditions is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 with 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, a five horsepower boost from 2021. But if you want more motivation, opt for one of the top trim levels — Limited, Platinum or King Ranch — and 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque are available from the V-6. All engine variants are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The new Stealth Package ups the ante to 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Along with the performance bump, the Stealth gets a sport tuned suspension. Ford points out that's 85 more horsepower and 127 more pound-feet than the Chevrolet Tahoe RST's 5.3-liter V-8 puts out.

Regardless of which engine configuration you choose, the Expedition has the performance necessary to effectively move the big truck loaded or unloaded. For comparison purposes, the standard 380-horsepower engine has been clocked from 0-to-60 in 5.7 seconds. The Stealth engine can knock about a half second off that time.

But most people don't purchase a big truck-based SUV for its off-the-line time, but for its ability to haul a load of passengers (7 possible in out XLT trim test vehicle) and tow recreational items such as a travel trailer or boat. And in this regard the Expedition can stand toe to toe with the competition with a maximum towing capacity of 9,200 pounds.

The Expedition does well in welcome passengers. Every row is fully connected and comfortable, and there’s plenty of room for gear. There is scads of stretch-out passenger space in the third row because the truck's independent suspension doesn't sap the space taken up by a solid rear axle as found in Ford’s chief competitors. The Ford comes in standard configuration with a second-row bench seat making room for eight. But we like the very comfortable second-row captain’s chairs that came in our XLT edition and we would gladly sacrifice one seating position.


The interior has been remade into a handsome place to reside with a good materials, comfortable seats, and modern-looking vents, dials and faceplates. The cabin exudes a luxury feel offering a quiet and comfortable environment that goes well with the surprisingly smooth ride.

The Expedition makes good use of interior space, and feels roomier than the Chevy Tahoe. Third-row accessibility is particularly impressive even allowing adults to enter and exit without much more effort than it takes to access the second row. And every model has a power-folding third-row that can be controlled from the cargo area or back seats. To create the maximum storage space, both the second and third rows fold flat into the floor.


Ford has brought the Expedition into the modern world of infotainment, connectivity and safety. Loaded versions like our King Ranch test truck offer the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, a pair of USB ports for each row of seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot that supports up to 10 devices. A full suite of driver aids is available, including front automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, blindspot warning with cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. The package is called Co-Pilot360 and is standard across the lineup.

The Expedition comes standard with a huge 12-inch touchscreen and upper trim levels can be fitted with a massive vertically oriented 15.5-inch unit, similar to the electric Mustang Mach-E. Our XLT trim came with the standard unit and we rate it the equal to the 15.5-inch screen. We found the backup camera picture, which fills the 12-inch screen, to be startlingly clear, one of the the best backup views we've seen in a vehicle. It's nothing short of awesome.

Six trim levels are available — XL, XLT, Timberline, Limited, King Ranch and Platinum. The Stealth Package with its increased horsepower and a sport-tuned suspension can be added to the Limited trim. Our XLT 4WD test vehicle with a handful of options, the most expensive being a remote start system at $3,795, carried a bottom line of $65,420. The Expedition starts at $54,840 and tops out with the Platinum at $81,025.

The Expedition carries a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty

2022 Ford Expedition

Essentials
Base price: $54,840; as driven, $65,420
Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6
Horsepower: 380 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 470 pound-feet @ 2,250 rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/2/3
Wheelbase: 122.5 inches
Length: 210 inches
Curb weight: 5,532 pounds
Turning circle: NA
Luggage capacity: 19.3 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 104.6 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 9,200 pounds
Fuel capacity: 23.2 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: (AWD) 16 city, 21 highway, 18 combined
Also consider: Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Durango, Nissan Armada

The Good
• Strong turbocharged engine
• Adult-size third row
• Large towing capacity
• New technology, big infotainment screen

The Bad
• Hard to maneuver in tight places

The Ugly
• Disappointing fuel economy