2008 Ford Expedition

Those who can't understand the still-substantial demand for large sport utilities have never needed one. The simple fact is that, if you have a serious amount of people and stuff to haul and/or tow, there is no good alternative.


Would it make more sense for large families and businesses with a need to transport more than five or six folks at a time to haul them in two smaller vehicles? Would it make more sense for those with a need to tow horses, boats or recreational vehicles to ship them separately instead of pulling them along? Of course not.

Large SUVs also have the advantage over pickups of being able to package prodigious cargo out of the weather in easy reach and less susceptible to theft. The best of today's full-size SUVs also ride, handle and drive better than pickups.


Ford says 90 percent of full-size SUV owners use them for driving vacations, 40 percent tow something, and most carry three or more people behind the front seats. It projects that the U.S. market for them should level off around 600-700,000 and remain one of the industry's largest and most profitable segments, and it intends to remain a leading player.


The original Expedition, significantly larger than the midsize Explorer, was launched for 1997 to compete with GM's Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The longer EL was added a decade later to take on Chevy's Suburban and the Yukon XL. Nearly 15 inches longer on a 12-inch-longer wheelbase, it delivers 24 cu. ft. of additional cargo space for a total of 130.8 cu. ft., and both are available in XLT, Eddie Bauer, Limited and King Ranch trims. For this review, we tested an Expedition Eddie Bauer and an extra-posh EL King Ranch.