A Closer Look at the 2020 Ford Expedition Platinum
Think of this as a nice truck with a solid roof.
Vehicle
If you are shopping for a large vehicle to haul lots of people and gear, or towing heavy items, the Ford Expedition will do the job just fine. It is basically a large truck with a roof, often referred to as a "Cowboy Limo".
Text and photos by Chad Haire
Price
The base price starts about $48K. This was the Platinum version. Every item that is optional on the base Expedition is standard on this upgraded rig. Well almost, as we were charged an extra $595 for second-row bucket seats. In the end, the tab reached just under $80K. Its cousin the Lincoln Navigator sells for $99K, so perhaps this Ford version is a bargain after all.
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Engine
Under all those hoses and plastic is a 3.5 liter V-6 EcoBoost engine. Horsepower is 375 unless you get this Platinum, then it gets a jump to 400. Since this vehicle weighs a hefty three tons, the extra power is welcome. It is hooked to a modern 10-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive system offers more traction if activated. Fuel economy is listed at 17/22 mpg or 19 overall.
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Shifting
The transmission is controlled by a rotary knob. Below that are two buttons offering two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. There is no 4x4 low range gearing. Another knob selects the drive mode: Normal, Eco, Sport, Sand, Mud, Tow, or Snow.
>>Join the conversation about the 2020 Expedition Platinum right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Steps
Running boards are power-operated, extending when the vehicle is parked, retracting when moving.
>>Join the conversation about the 2020 Expedition Platinum right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Wheels
22-inch alloy wheels look sharp. They are attached to all-season P285/45R22 tires.
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Off Road
The Expedition has enough ground clearance to avoid those large pesky rocks that like to destroy oil pans. While not a hard core off-roader, performance in the dirt was very good.
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Gauge #1
The off-road gauge shows how the all-wheel drive is working, and different angles of approach. It makes the driver feel like they are in the Baja 500 even if they are not.
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Gauge #2
The gauge cluster is well designed and gives lots of useful information. Note that in 2,400 miles of driving, the trip computer shows an average of 16.9 mpg. That included heavy city driving and a lot of off-pavement trips. This is very good mileage for such a heavy SUV and close to the EPA fuel economy claims.
>>Join the conversation about the 2020 Expedition Platinum right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
POV
The Expedition is a great choice for long highway trips. The ride is smooth, and there's plenty of room in that cabin for friends and gear. Think of it as a pickup truck with a roof. And a nice one it is!
>>Join the conversation about the 2020 Expedition Platinum right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
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