“We invented the large SUV.” The Expedition has been around since the halcyon days of the SUV in the late 1990s, remaining a flagship of Ford’s portfolio since. It’s always been a magnificent and massive one-car wonder, and this latest 2025 Ford Expedition is more of the same. But this year, it’s been heavily refreshed to the extent where Ford is calling it all-new, so we were invited up to the home territory of its target demographic — the beautiful cottage country region of central Ontario — to see what it’s all about.
Ford has always been very good about listening to consumer feedback and delivering exactly what was demanded. In the case of the new Expedition, Ford spent more than 1,100 hours consulting with consumers, both existing and prospective, to tailor the Expedition into precisely what the people wanted. As is so often the case, the result is pursuit of more comfort, more convenience, and more capability.
The entire front section of the frame has been redesigned to enhance ride comfort. It also helps hide the fact that the Expedition is, in fact, a big serious truck under its handsome-and-also-updated-for-2025 skin. Ford relocated the mounting points for the front sway bars, tweaked the body mount points, and the body mounts themselves are softer to better isolate shudders from the truck frame underneath.
A key convenience feature new to the 2025 Expedition, and indeed new to the class, is a split-folding tailgate. It’s proudly accentuated by being painted black; the jury is still out on whether or not we actually like the look, but it’s a distinct practical advantage by helping facilitate easier loading of cargo. It’s kind of surprising that Toyota, Stellantis, and General Motors haven’t caught on to this. Ford was keen to highlight that the lower portion of the tailgate can support 500 pounds, is flanked by several power ports, and is augmented by an optional flip-up seat that also doubles as a table.
The 2025 Expedition’s cabin is another marked departure from the outgoing model, with a completely overhauled dashboard and center console design. It’s no longer a squared F-150 derivative, but instead very minimalist and curved. It looks futuristic and sleek, not entirely unlike the new Lincoln Nautilus. Personally, I’m not yet sold on Lincoln’s new digital experience, so I was a little worried about seeing this, but I like Ford’s implementation of the system.
The gauge cluster is replaced with a 24-inch widescreen incorporating Google Maps and a configurable widget that shows pretty much whatever you want, be it fuel economy, weather, media, auxiliary gauges, and more. It’s parked right under the windshield to put everything in a clear line of sight with the road; this is also why the steering wheel is squared off, to promote visibility. Admittedly. it never stopped looking awkward to my eyes, but it felt natural pretty quickly, and the context-sensitive touch controls are more user-friendly than you’d expect.
The centre display is a 13.2-inch touchscreen powered by Ford’s Sync 4 software. It’s the same as what we liked so much in the updated Explorer, and it works just as well here. Its core functions and shortcuts are easy to use core functions and shortcuts, it’s snappy, and it seamlessly integrates into the gauge cluster screen. I was worried it would be too much tech-for-tech’s sake, but it actually makes a lot of sense and feels less screen-centric than the massive portrait in the outgoing Expedition.
The centre console is overhauled as well, with similar success. The P-R-N-D knob now being on the dashboard opens up more space on the centre console for a storage area that includes a wireless charging pad and charge ports, as well as a new party trick: the whole console can slide fore and aft to reveal a large, lockable, and hidden storage compartment. There’s plenty of storage throughout the rest of the cabin, and multiple charge ports for every seat, which will be extra handy with the optional rear seat device holders.
Despite being more comfortable than before, the 2025 Ford Expedition now has a max towing capacity of 9,600 pounds, up 300 from the previous truck. Ford’s own research indicates people actually use their Expeditions for towing, and typically lug around 7,000 pounds — think a boat, camper, or horse trailer. To that end, Ford has gone to some length to make towing easier than ever. “Flatter novices and reward veterans,” as they say. To that end, the hitch cover is easier to remove than before, and it’s easier than ever to load a trailer without levelling bars. Ford’s trick reverse tech from the F-Series trucks is standard as well, taking out a lot of the challenges with backing up a boat. Canadian-spec Expeditions also come standard with the heavy-duty tow package, regardless of the engine or trim.
The only engine available with the 2025 Expedition is Ford’s venerable 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Bt’s offered in standard and high-output levels of tune, with 400 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, or 440 hp and 510 lb-ft, respectively. Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission has been updated to provide smoother shifts and more consistent behaviour. Throughout our long drive through cottage country, I’m happy to report that if it wasn’t pointed out to me, I wouldn’t have noticed it working, and I mean that in the best way. It’s slick.
The whole driving experience of the 2025 Expedition feels pretty slick. Ford’s efforts in improving the ride comfort has paid dividends; it can still feel like a truck, but it does a very good job masking that fact with its carefully chosen chassis tweaks. Ride comfort is noticeably improved and has almost none of the bus-like shudder endemic to truck frames, even on the 22-inch wheels on the King Ranch tester in which I spent most of the day. The power bump is quite noticeable too; this hauler hauls.
Also new for 2025 is the Expedition Tremor, a new and much-demanded off-road-centric trim level. In keeping with other Tremor models, it receives orange accents inside and out, 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires, unique suspension tuning with 10.6 inches of ground clearance, revised front and rear bumpers with heavy-duty extraction hooks and better approach and departure angles, a 3.73 rear axle ratio with an electronic locker, and lots of skid plates to protect vitals — which definitely got used and abused on Ford’s off-road test course. Suffice to say, not much will be able to stop an Expedition Tremor.
Whether you want to call it all-new or heavily revised, this latest is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an Expedition. It’s a big, proper SUV built to facilitate work and play, and the 2025 Expedition does a fine job building on the formula. It drives exceptionally well and is packed to the gills with clever technology that isn’t too clever for its own good. It’s more comfortable, capable, and more configurable than before, making it exactly the do-absolutely-everything-everyday hauler you need.
Pricing of the 2025 Ford Expedition starts at $84,120 for the Active trim level, and goes up to $107,540 for a decked-out King Ranch; add $3,500 for the long wheelbase Max to any trim. Orders are open now and trucks should start arriving at dealerships imminently.
