First Drive Review
Rising terror at the gas pumps and the resulting drop in the full-size truck market have not deterred Ford from including in this latest redesign of the Expedition a stretched version meant to have a go at the Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL, which has been all alone in the eighteen-plus-foot mini-bus class ever since Ford's disappointing F-250-based Excursion left the scene after the 2005 model year.
Now available in extra length!
Looking at the, um, "short" wheelbase truck (above top), casual observers might not realize that this is a new Expedition. Indeed, in profile the new and previous-generation vehicles are nearly identical, with flush-mounted lower body cladding the only real tip off that this isn't the old truck. The biggest difference lies up front, where a bulging "power dome" hood flows into a more prominent grille featuring at its center a blue oval big enough to play back-up cheese platter at your next cocktail party.
Those eyeballing the stretched Expedition EL (above right) will have no doubts that they are seeing a new truck. With an additional 14.8 inches on the standard truck, the EL arguably looks more proportional in a world accustomed to Suburbans and Yukon XLs. Twelve of those additional inches are in the wheelbase, meaning slightly longer rear doors for even easier access to the third row seats, although access in the shorter truck is not difficult. Legroom in all rows is the same in the short- and long-wheelbase Expeditions and spoils occupants at near-minivan levels.
