Showing posts with label Expedition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expedition. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2015
2015 Ford Expedition Limited now with Ecoboost
I tried so hard to love this SUV. For a car guy like me it has a lot going on to love. Starting with the new for this year Ecoboost 3.5l V6. Those twin turbos give that beast life it never knew possible. This thing has CHUTZPAH like I never dreamed possible in a full size SUV.
Add in the 6 speed automatic and this beasty is really fun to drive and easyish on gas compared to its V8 brethren if you keep your foot out of the gas. In a rather spirited 20 mile loop including a steep hill climb, urban bump and go and zippy urban freeway I averaged middling 15.2MPG. Given its size not that bad, given that its EPA ratings are 15 City/20 highway/17 combined I did expect a bit better.
Where you sit in the new limited...a lovely leather throne you can't help but love this vehicle. Where it falls short is the lack of even faux wood, brushed aluminum or any other lux details you expect from an SUV starting at 54K and optioned up to nearly 60K. The hard plastics on the doors and dash wreak utilitarian hose it off rather than a luxury vehicle. Sad really as those touches just aren't what we've come to expect from Ford of late. Even the lowly Focus is detailed better in terms of luxury appointments, premium feel at half the price. I understand this is a stop gap edition and an all new for 2016 is coming that will address these short comings and be on part with expectations and the rest of the fleet.
But enough of the niggles...this truck has some outstanding features. The latest iteration comes with forward and rear sensors to protect bumping objects as you park, power liftgate, and heated/cooled power seats. All nice touches and expected at this price point.
The iteration I drove also had Ford's most current Sync MyFord package and it worked like a charm. Voice commands for everything and ample dummy switches for those that prefer that option than a slick working touch screen.
Really nifty touch too is the automatic running boards that deploy when you unlock the doors from the key fob or put the truck into park after driving. A nice way to get in and out without mucking up your pant legs.
At the end of the day, this may not have the premium feel of other Ford products of late, but the refinement and power of its 2015 updated engine/tranny combo more than makes up for the shortcomings. Nice SUV, certainly the most technologically advanced out there for the money.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Ford Expedition gets the Ecoboost treatment in 2015
Video HERE Why blogger won't embed is beyond me.
It was bound to happen, and I for one can't believe it took the good guys at Ford this long to plunk the Ecoboost 3.5LV6 into the Expedition. I can't think of a better place to put this power train than in the Expedition. That simple engine swap makes the Expedition uber competitive with the Tahoe from Chevy and the Sequoia from Toyota.
The 5.4L V8 it replaces was a good, durable engine, but lacking in power and refinement compared to the V8's of its immediate competition. The Ecoboost solves that in spades and will likely yield better mileage than the Chevy in the process.
The particulars. The outgoing V8 produced respectable 310 horsepower and 365 ft lbs of torque. It was thirsty, sucking down fuel at the rate of 14 mpg on the generous EPA estimates for city driving. Real world in the Ecoboost with 365 horsepower on tap and a whopping 420 ft lbs of torque. Couple it with 2 fewer cylinders to feed this next iteration of the Expedition with the Ecoboost will pick up an easy couple of mpgs over that out going V8. Having your cake and eating it too I say.
Its competition has V8s, but are weak compared to the Ecoboost. Chevy 5.3L small block V8 generates only 320bhp and epa estimates of 15/21. The Toyota Sequoia has a large 5.7L V8 that generates 381 thirsty horsepower with an epa estimate of 13/18. The Ecoboost hits right in the middle with power. EPA estimates aren't available yet, but the 2014 F150 with this engine is rated at 16/22 and I'd expect similar ratings out of the Expedition.
The Expedition Platinum I got to peak at the other day has MyFord Touch and navigation. The automatic tranny is a full 6 speeds and has the option of full manual mode, or partial locking in gear ranges for better speed control in hilly country. There is an optional independent rear suspension with mechanical leveling that should take the squat out of full loads quite nicely. There's even a new trailer brake control (TBC) that better synchronises your brakes/trailer brakes for safer trailering.
Aside from the drop dead gorgeous gray interior of the Platinum edition that's in this video, there is also a King Ranch edition named after the fabled ranch in Texas that was founded in 1853. The King Ranch edition is swathed in deep brown leather with the center console branded with the King Ranch brand. Nice.
It was bound to happen, and I for one can't believe it took the good guys at Ford this long to plunk the Ecoboost 3.5LV6 into the Expedition. I can't think of a better place to put this power train than in the Expedition. That simple engine swap makes the Expedition uber competitive with the Tahoe from Chevy and the Sequoia from Toyota.
The 5.4L V8 it replaces was a good, durable engine, but lacking in power and refinement compared to the V8's of its immediate competition. The Ecoboost solves that in spades and will likely yield better mileage than the Chevy in the process.
The particulars. The outgoing V8 produced respectable 310 horsepower and 365 ft lbs of torque. It was thirsty, sucking down fuel at the rate of 14 mpg on the generous EPA estimates for city driving. Real world in the Ecoboost with 365 horsepower on tap and a whopping 420 ft lbs of torque. Couple it with 2 fewer cylinders to feed this next iteration of the Expedition with the Ecoboost will pick up an easy couple of mpgs over that out going V8. Having your cake and eating it too I say.
Its competition has V8s, but are weak compared to the Ecoboost. Chevy 5.3L small block V8 generates only 320bhp and epa estimates of 15/21. The Toyota Sequoia has a large 5.7L V8 that generates 381 thirsty horsepower with an epa estimate of 13/18. The Ecoboost hits right in the middle with power. EPA estimates aren't available yet, but the 2014 F150 with this engine is rated at 16/22 and I'd expect similar ratings out of the Expedition.
The Expedition Platinum I got to peak at the other day has MyFord Touch and navigation. The automatic tranny is a full 6 speeds and has the option of full manual mode, or partial locking in gear ranges for better speed control in hilly country. There is an optional independent rear suspension with mechanical leveling that should take the squat out of full loads quite nicely. There's even a new trailer brake control (TBC) that better synchronises your brakes/trailer brakes for safer trailering.
Aside from the drop dead gorgeous gray interior of the Platinum edition that's in this video, there is also a King Ranch edition named after the fabled ranch in Texas that was founded in 1853. The King Ranch edition is swathed in deep brown leather with the center console branded with the King Ranch brand. Nice.
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