2008 Ford Expedition

All this comes together very nicely on the road, where our test Eddie Bauer Expedition came across as rock solid yet surprisingly agile and smooth, even on rough surfaces. Its performance was more than adequate, and its new larger brakes hauled it down with authority and improved pedal feel thanks to a new dual-bore master cylinder. The longer EL King Ranch naturally felt bulkier and heavier yet drove smaller than its substantial size.


Both were also uncannily quiet. Normal conversation is easy from the front to the third-row seat thanks to thick insulation and sound-deadening materials, thick side glass and a specially engineered acoustical windshield. Large, soft body, engine and transmission mounts isolate the cabin from vibration, and wind tunnel-tuned outside mirrors reduce wind noise. Even the tires are tuned to reduce road noise.

King Ranch
XLT, Eddie Bauer and Limited get notable updates for 2008, including body-color fascias, wheel lip moldings and side cladding (Eddie Bauer gets Pueblo Gold accent color lower fascias, wheel lip moldings and side cladding), keyless entry keypad, heated power mirrors, electrochromic inside mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auxiliary air conditioning, full overhead console, illuminated visors and second-row map lights. Power adjustable pedals, power rear quarter windows, a universal garage door opener and a reverse sensing system are standard on Limited and King Ranch, and 18-inch chrome wheels are optional on XLT.


The plush King Ranch Package, available on both Expedition and EL, adds unique 18-inch machined aluminum wheels with King Ranch logo on the center cap chrome exhaust tips, Pueblo Gold exterior accents, the PowerFold third-row seat and heated power mirrors with signal and security approach lamps. Inside are exclusive King Ranch Chaparral leather-trimmed seats, console lid and door trim panels and wood trim on the switch plates, console, shift handle and instrument panel. The leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel has climate and radio controls and a Chaparral leather insert.

Features and Options
Expedition comes standard with an audio input jack and plug-and-play iPod capability, plus 17-inch aluminum wheels, integrated Class IV tow hitch receiver, remote keyless entry and much more. Two important new options are power running boards that automatically extend when doors open and a rearview camera for backing up and hooking up a trailer. Its video image is displayed in the self-dimming rearview mirror.