2017 Ford Expedition: Best Large SUV for the Money

2017 Ford Expedition Is U.S. News & World Report's Best Large SUV for the Money

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Large SUV for the Money is the Ford Expedition. The result was determined by evaluating the vehicle’s overall quality and long-term value. The Expedition bested other SUVs in the including the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Nissan Armada.

The 2017 Ford Expedition offers a powerful engine and three rows of spacious seating. Its ride is smooth, and when you purchase the extended wheelbase Expedition, you get an abundance of cargo space. The quality of the Expedition’s interior holds it back from moving up higher in the rankings. Ford’s SUV did not received any major changes from the 2016 model for 2017. 

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Why the 2017 Ford Expedition Won: Quality

Critics especially like the Expedition’s powerful engine and roomy seating through all three rows. Its towing capacity is higher than its rivals’. The Expedition is more stable when cornering than many other large SUVs and its steering is responsive. The 2017 Expedition has an inexpensive base price compared to its in-class competition. 

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Why the 2017 Ford Expedition Won: Value

The 2017 Ford Expedition’s value is measured by a combination of the vehicle's five-year total cost of ownership provided by Vincentric, LLC, and the average price paid for the vehicle at the time the awards are published, as calculated by TrueCar.com.

The total cost of ownership is a combination of a low initial payment, maintenance, fuel, insurance, and repair costs. The Expedition’s five-year total cost is $8,608.20, and the average price paid is $56,410. Its total cost of ownership edged out the rival Toyota Sequoia by several thousand dollars.

The Ford Expedition has one of the lowest starting prices in the class and has high safety scores, both elements that helped it earn its Best Large SUV for the Money honor.

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Performance: Acceleration

The same 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that is under the hood of the Ford F-150 powers the 2017 Expedition. It generates 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, making it capable of steadily accelerating off the line, even while towing. Its six-speed automatic transmission has a manual mode. Some critics complain about the engine’s turbo lag, though consumers aren’t likely to mind it if they aren’t trying to get a quick jump off the line.

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Performance: Handling

Owners get to choose between Comfort, Normal, and Sport drive modes to tailor their experience behind the wheel of the 2017 Expedition. On the road, the Expedition is stable and rides smooth. The available Continuously Controlled Damping System reads road conditions and adjusts to optimize comfort for the driver and passengers. Its steering is sharp, which isn’t surprising for a vehicle its size, but parking in a tight space may take a few tries to get right. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional.

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Interior: Space and Comfort

The 2017 Ford Expedition looks and feels big. Seating in all three rows is roomy though the materials in the cabin don’t make the Expedition seem luxurious. Its second row seats slide and recline, and third row seats fold flat to offer cargo and seating flexibility. Second row bucket seats are available, but with them the Expedition’s seating capacity lowers from eight to seven people. The cabin is quiet during travel.

Heated and cooled front seats, 10-way power adjustable front seats, power-adjustable pedals, leather trimmed front seats, and dual-zone climate control are available in lower trims but come standard in higher grades.

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Interior: Features

The Ford Expedition base model includes satellite radio, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, and the SYNC infotainment system with a 4.2-inch display screen, Bluetooth, and smartphone app integration. Ford’s MyKey programmable vehicle key allows owners to set a maximum speed and volume limit for the Expedition and comes standard.

Passive entry with push-button start, a power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, HD Radio, a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, front and rear sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with enhanced voice recognition, an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, and Siri Eyes Free are available with many of the features coming standard in higher trim levels.

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Reliability

J.D. Power & Associates has yet to rate the 2017 Ford Expedition for its predicted reliability. The model has been mostly unchanged from its 2016 version so it’s safe to assume that the 2017 rating would be similar. The 2016 Ford Expedition was rated a 2.5 out of 5 making its reliability About Average when compared to other vehicles.

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Safety: Crash Tests

The 2017 Ford Expedition has received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It performed well in crash tests, receiving its best ratings in frontal and side impact crashes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not tested the 2017 Expedition. 

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Safety: Features

The 2017 Ford Expedition is equipped with similar standard safety features you’d find large SUVs on the market today. It does not have available advanced safety technology like collision mitigation braking, but it does have lane departure and blind spot warning technologies available. 

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Other Cars to Consider

The ratings in U.S. News’s large SUV category are tight, with many vehicles proving to be well suited for everyday driving situations. If you need to carry more people than the Expedition allows for, consider the Chevrolet Tahoe, which seats up to nine. The Tahoe also comes equipped with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot.

The GMC Yukon is similar to the Tahoe, but can be made into a luxurious model when purchased in the Denali grade. The interior in the Yukon Denali is a big upgrade from the Expedition. It comes equipped with a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine and some advanced safety technology unavailable in the Expedition, though its starting MSRP is near where the Expedition tops out.

If you’re looking for a competent off-roader that can also haul your family, consider the Nissan Armada. It has a powerful engine, spacious second row, nicely appointed cabin, and quiet ride, though its infotainment system is dated and fuel economy is poor.

• Read the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Full Review
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