USED: The 2020 Ford Expedition Will Take You (And the Family!) to All the Places

2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch
Looking good down on the square. This exterior color is just SHARP. Photo: Erica Mueller

Now here’s a vehicle that lives up to its name!

The 2020 Ford Expedition is the perfect vehicle for family road trips. Whether you choose the standard Expedition or the Expedition MAX, you’ll have plenty of room for everyone.

Related: 2021 GMC Yukon: A Bigger, First Class Ride in Full-Size SUV Form

Who is the 2020 Ford Expedition For?

You really don’t have to have a large family to need, or want, this full-size SUV. We only have three kids, and I feel like it would be a great vehicle for us. The center-row seats are captain’s chairs with lots and lots of legroom, which our boys will appreciate as they get older and taller. The third row has a lot of space too, which is great right now for my middle son when his big brother and baby sister are in the second row, so I can easily get the baby in and out of her car seat. I love that even with the whole family in the car, we could take grandpa and grandma with us, or let a couple of the kids’ friends come home with us after church.

This would be a great SUV for someone with larger dogs who like to go places with their people. There is plenty of room for the dogs to lay on the flat floor. You won’t have to worry about them being in the seats.

I also think the Expedition is a great vehicle for people who do a lot of carpooling. Because of its size, even adults are comfortable all the way in the back.

We like the Expedition MAX because of the extra cargo space. Right now, that is really important for us. We always have a stroller, diaper bag, and sometimes a pack-and-play with us. That’s not even mentioning that every trip to town ends up being a good opportunity to pick up a few groceries or feed for the animals.

Need to haul a camper or a boat? The best-in-class towing of 9,200 lbs (when equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package) makes the 2020 Ford Expedition a great choice for outdoor adventurers.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Texas Drive Blog (@texasdriveblog)

The 2020 Ford Expedition Has So Much to Love

The pictures in the gallery above are from the Platinum edition. It had a gorgeous blue exterior and a white interior. Personally, this is my favorite color combo! The King Ranch model has a dark Ebony interior with Del Rio Leather-trimmed seats. It’s pretty too—it’s just dark, and in Texas, dark seats get hot.

For us, it all comes down to space. With three kids, two of whom are boys destined to be over 6 feet tall, we are always drawn to full-size SUVs. We love that the legroom, even in the third row, is plenty for adults. Getting in and out is easy thanks to second-row seats that both slide and flip forward. Additionally, there are power running boards that give you a little boost for climbing in and out of such a large vehicle. Having driven both the regular Expedition and the MAX version, we’d have to choose the MAX for the added cargo space. It is really the only difference, but for us it’s huge. Pun intended.

Related: 2020 Chevy Silverado: Diesel or Gasoline?

The center console is massive, and I was able to put a backpack inside of it. There are enough cupholders for everyone to have 2-3 drinks handy. Plus, everyone has access to USB charging ports. For me, the household outlet is a big plus because I often like to work from the road while my husband is driving, and my laptop’s battery only lasts so long.

The hands-free liftgate is super useful when your hands are full of groceries, or when you’ve got the baby on one hip and baby gear in the other hand.

Get up and go is awesome too, and the 2020 Ford Expedition has plenty of it! We love to take the family out for scenic drives on winding highways, and up into the mountains in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Expedition is not only fun to drive thanks to all that power, but it also handles the road beautifully.

2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch Interior
I was very impressed with how much space there was in the second row, even after installing a huge infant seat. Normally my tall husband can’t sit in front of the baby’s seat. Photo: Erica Mueller

Good (and Bad) News for the Vertically Challenged

Did you know that the Ford Expedition is the only full-size SUV that offers both a telescoping steering wheel and adjustable pedals? These are wonderful for those with shorter legs because you can bring both the pedals and the steering wheel to you, as opposed to scooting the seat so far forward. This makes for a safer and more comfortable drive.

The ride height of the Expedition is pretty significant. I’m on the tall side of average (5′ 6″) for women, and it’s a pretty good step up into the vehicle. Fortunately, there are running boards to give you a little boost!

The only thing I struggled with was getting my baby and her infant seat in and out of the vehicle. When you’ve got this big bulky seat in your hands, and you’re trying to lift it above your chest height and get it to snap into its base, you can’t really see those handy dandy running boards. I did have to use them to get the baby and seat out of the car, and I felt pretty unstable standing on that narrow little board while lifting the seat up and out, then stepping down with it. I drove this vehicle’s direct competition the following week and had zero issues, so it really stood out to me as something to consider if you’re not so tall and have an infant.

Related: Which Family SUVs Go Off-Road with Rugged Double Duty and Durability? The Texas Truck Rodeo Put Them to the Test

2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch
The interior of the Expedition is enormous. We love the 2nd-row captain’s chairs, but you can also get a bench in the center row to upgrade to 8-passenger seating. Photo: Erica Mueller

What You Need to Know About the 2020 Ford Expedition

This fall we got to drive the King Ranch and Platinum editions of the Expedition, and then a few weeks later the Expedition MAX King Ranch. For this review, we will be focusing on the standard size (not MAX, not 4×4) Expedition with the King Ranch trim.

  • 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine
  • 10-speed automatic transmission
  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Towing capacity: 9,200-lbs
  • Exterior: Star white Metallic Tri-coat
  • Interior: Ebony Interior with Del Rio Leather Seats
  • 22″ wheels
  • Seats 7 or 8 people
  • Hands-free liftgate
  • Roof rack
  • Running board with power deploy
  • 10-way power seat for driver and passenger
  • 110v/150w power plug
  • 2nd-row heated seats with power folding tip and slide
  • Power fold third-row seat
  • Heated steering wheel
  • 360-degree camera
  • Premium sound system with 12 speakers
  • Trailer tow package
  • 4G wifi capable
  • Pushbutton start and remote start
  • 8″ touch screen with SirusXM
  • Wireless charging pad
  • Gets an estimated 17-23 MPG
  • Bumper to Bumper: 3 years / 36,000 miles
  • Powertrain: 5 years / 60,000 miles
  • Safety Restraint System: 5 years / 60,000 miles
  • Corrosion (Perforation Only): 5 years / Unlimited miles
  • Roadside Assistance Program: 5 years / 60,000 miles
  • Starts at $52,810 – XLT Model
  • MSRP for the model we drove: $74,885
2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch 4X2 Monroney
Click to enlarge

Disclaimer: Ford lent me the Expedition and Expedition MAX so that I could drive them and experience them. All opinions are my own.

2020 Ford Expedition Review On A Girls Guide To Cars

Erica Mueller
Erica Mueller

A web developer, digital marketing consultant, auto journalist, truck expert, photographer and lover of gadgets, Erica is a textbook geek. On her days off she loves to travel, garden, hike and camp, and play her guitar. You can find Erica on Instagram at @EricaDrives. Erica is a board member and a journalist member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Articles: 130