Is the Updated Ford Expedition Too Modern?

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“A for effort, C+ for execution,” features editor Christian Sebaugh said about the new version of Ford’s Expedition, represented at SUVOTY by the off-road-capable Tremor model. His sentiment largely sums up how we feel about Ford’s jumbo-size SUV. We appreciate the attempt to modernize the Expedition, but some of those efforts go too far, impacting usability.

Where the Expedition sticks with tradition—powertrain, passenger space, burly construction—it drew few complaints. The twin-turbo V-6 offers more-than-adequate muscle, and several judges deemed the ride quality of the off-road-tuned Tremor model superior to its luxury cousin, the Lincoln Navigator. We praised the interior space and accommodations, particularly in the adult-friendly third row. The split tailgate split opinions, praised by our taller judges and panned by the pipsqueaks, but most agreed it’s a handy addition.

This Tremor acquitted itself well on the off-road course, powering easily through deep sandy ruts. We were surprised to see it stumble on the inclined rollers, a torture test that eliminates traction on up to three wheels to see how a four-wheel-drive system distributes power. With the rear wheels robbed of grip, the four-wheel-drive system took a long time to redistribute power to the fronts and get the SUV rolling. However, we were impressed by the practicality of the Trail Turn function, which brakes the inside rear wheel to tighten the turning circle. It came in handy on the tighter twists of our off-road trail.

The places where the Expedition tried to innovate drew the sharpest criticism, such as the squared-oval steering wheel. It’s small and shaped that way to avoid blocking the instrument panel, a widescreen LCD just below the windshield and shifted toward the center of the dashboard. The idea is to see the screen over the steering wheel rather than through it, putting vital information closer to the driver’s line of sight. The screen is fine, but judges found the wheel awkward to hold. Its small size, paired with heavy steering, turned parking into a workout.

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Worse, judges had to adjust the column to a less-than-comfortable position so as not to block the screen. This forced an unwanted familiarity with the Expedition’s steering column adjustment, accomplished through context-sensitive thumb pads on the wheel. The pads are unlabeled, and touching them displays their functions on the screen—yes, the very same screen blocked by the wheel you’re trying to adjust. Those pads also control the stereo and phone, because why wouldn’t they?

Other ergonomic bugaboos include a drive mode switch located inexplicably by the driver’s left knee in the spot where you expect to find the headlight switch. Where is the headlight control? Why, it’s on the center screen, of course, which makes about as much sense as adjusting the steering column using the same buttons you use to control the stereo. The rotary shifter and cupholders are farther out of reach than we like, and while the motorized center console’s storage capacity is commendable, we can’t imagine why the control knob for Ford’s wonderful reverse-trailer-steering system is hidden in a compartment with the USB ports and wireless charging pad.

At its core, the Expedition does all the things we expect of a huge SUV. It seats up to eight adults in comfort, provides adequate power and a comfortable ride, and has plenty of towing capacity. The Tremor will get owners wherever they need to go, whether the path is paved or not. But in its quest to modernize the Expedition, Ford was a bit too ambitious, impacting day-to-day livability. A more conservative interior design would make the new Expedition much easier to get along with and might even have made it an SUVOTY finalist.

This review was conducted as part of our 2026 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.