Ford Expedition 2020 Philippines Review: Simply Massive

Introduced 23 years ago, in 1997, the Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV succeeding the then discontinued Bronco. While the latter also had a full-size model, the Expedition was noted as Ford’s first even four-door full-size SUV.

Here in the Philippines, the Expedition was among the several U.S.-made vehicles that were sold here when the company returned to our shores back in 1997.

It's big but it can handle light off-roading. Pretty cool yeah?

Fast forward to the present, the Expedition is currently in its fourth generation and it is now based on the T3 platform which it shares with the Lincoln Navigator and the Ford F-150.

Note also that like Ford Philippine’s Ranger, the Expedition has numerous variants spread throughout several territories. Here in the Philippines however, only one is currently available; the Expedition Limited EL 4WD.

Note though that Ford is one of the participants in the upcoming Manila International Show 2020, so who knows what the company has in store for their full-size SUV.

For now, let’s check out the currently available model with our in-depth Ford Expedition 2020 Philippines Review from Philkotse.com

2020 Ford Expedition exterior is pretty much what you expect, it’s a very large SUV with lots of road presence. It measures at 5,639 mm in length, it’s 2,388 mm wide, 1,956 in height, and its wheelbase is a whopping 3,353 mm. So, no wonder that it seats eight people and can haul a lot of stuff.

 To add to those figures, the Expedition’s ground clearance is also a significant 249 mm which does make it capable of handling rough roads and small obstacles like small trees, decent sized rocks, and the typical Philippine pothole.

>>> Latest update: 2021 Ford Expedition: Expectations and what we know so far

That's a mean-looking front fascia that's for sure

Apart from being so huge, the Ford Expedition exterior is obviously given a design that emphasizes just how large it is.

Upfront, the grille, which is clad in chrome, is expansive. It stretches from each headlight and as for those, well, they’re probably as big as your head. Larger even.

Towards the sides, the doors are simply massive. And then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that there’s an automatic step-board. Because of those two key features, entry into the vehicle is fairly easy. This will come especially useful for older folks and those with kids who almost always will scramble for first dibs on the seat they want.

2020 Ford Expedition - Bigger Better Stronger

Down below, the Ford Expedition comes with a set of decent looking 20-inch tires. It’s on of those few vehicles which manage to make 20 inches look like golf cart tires which is an impressive feat

As for the rear, the tailgate opens up by itself and rather widely. Which is pretty great for tailgating, no not that kind where you drive inches away from the vehicle in front of you, but that fun picnic type activity which involves serving out food from the rear of the car.

And yes, while that activity sounds very American, we’ve spotted Filipinos doing that with their trucks and SUVs.

Due to its size, the 2020 Ford Expedition interior is most definitely gargantuan. How large is it? Well, we can guarantee that you can cross your legs while sitting on the second-row seats and with room to spare. Also, with a push of two buttons, the third-row seat, and the second-row seat will fold themselves flat expanding the already large cargo space to a whopping 3,400 liters in total.

The entrance to the belly of the beast

One grip we do have though is that the Expedition’s third-row seats, while generous with legroom, will be a bit tight for taller folk in terms of headroom. Also, there’s the obvious lack of a 360-degree camera which will have many uses for an SUV this big.

Otherwise, all rows have aircon vents, a lot of cupholders, four 12v charging ports, and the second row does have a 110V (watch out for that), a panoramic sunroof, controls for the AC (on the second row), controls for the audio, and ambient lighting.

For the driver, the Expedition does have a lot of great stuff like a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way adjustable steering column, a remove start system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a wireless charging pad.

For the entertainment of everyone, the current Ford Expedition 2020 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen that has built-in navigation and Ford’s proprietary phone mirroring software called the Sync 3.

Overall, it’s a pretty spacious and cushy ride.

Under the hood of the massive Expedition is a 3.6-liter V6 Ecoboost tied up to a 10-speed automatic. With that configuration, the Expedition can make up to 375 horsepower and 637 Nm of torque.

With that kind of power figure, even the 2,435 kg Expedition has no problems reaching a brisk pace on the highway. It can even tow up to 2,721 kilograms. This makes it ideal for towing stuff. I’m looking at you Filipino sport boat/jetski owners.

>>> You might like to check out the list of all Ford SUVs in the Philippines

As we’ve said above, the new Expedition model, thanks to its peppy V6, can get up to speed with no issues at all. The ride quality though can be a bit iffy due to those rattling sounds whenever the vehicle takes on bumps but otherwise, it can take it and we’re sure many drivers will not mind that too much.

When it comes to cornering, well, being a 2,700-kilogram vehicle, we suggest you take it slow and steady, otherwise, you’ll feel a bit of roll. No dip and squat here though.

When driving this thing in places like Metro Manila, it can be a challenge though. Sure, you’ll enjoy all that premium space, but parking and maneuvering through EDSA traffic can be a handful especially if you’re not used to SUVs at all. As such, only a rich crazy person would buy an Expedition as his/her first car.

The Expedition might be better suited to those living in the provinces

And lastly, you’ll be pleased to know that the Expedition, can actually do what its name implies. It has a decent ground clearance, and power is distributed to all four wheels. This can enable it to handle rough roads and mud despite its hefty size and weight.

>>> Check our Cars for sale section to find your cars with the best price.

When it comes to safety, the Expedition offers a lot. On the active side of things, it comes with a forward sensing system which detects obstacles on the road and actively warns you, automatic headlamps, a blind spot detection system, hill descent control, hill-start assist, a rearview parking camera, ABS with EBD and traction control.

For its passive safety kit, the Expedition is equipped with dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, and security alarm.

The radar cruise of 2020 Ford Expedition

>>> Related: Auto brawl 101: Ford Expedition vs Toyota Land Cruiser

We say rich because all that luxury and power does come with a price. And oh, before we forget, the Expedition returns a disheartening 4.7 km/l in the city and about 9.5 km/l on the highway. For those of you who can actually afford it however, we’re convinced that you don’t have to worry about those fuel economy figures wouldn’t you?

>>> Find cheaper Ford Expedition for sale on Philkotse

>>> Visit and find your nearest Ford dealerships in the Philippines right here!

In the case of the Ford Expedition, practicality is subjective. Not everyone needs a vehicle of this size, with this kind of power, and with this kind of towing capability.

Sure, the space, the number of interior amenities, and the safety features are pretty useful but there are other more affordable models out there that comes with the same features.

So, what is this car for?

Well there a good reason why this vehicle is still popular. Sure, there are those who really need to tow whilst being kept comfortable.

There’s also the mention of transporting older folks who travel with mobility scooters, wheelchairs, etc. as it has loads of cargo space and if the automatic step board isn’t enough, the Expedition is large enough to accommodate several PWD accessibility options like ramps and automatic wheelchair lowering devices.

It's also great as a family vehicle in general. For a rich family that is

The thing though, is that the Ford Expedition is also THE ideal vehicle when you want a cushy but ARMORED daily driver. It has the grunt to carry the additional weight from all those pieces of ballistic glass and maybe even Kevlar plates whilst still capable of making a quick getaway when you need to.

Apart from that, it’s capability of seating eight people is also ideal when you have a couple of burly armed dudes hanging around you all the time. And yes, the Expedition, because of its size, can easily become a battering ram for offensive driving techniques like pit maneuvers and the like.

We’ve got extensive listings in our Ford cars for sale section for the best deals of the Ford Expedition 5 and other Ford models. Contact our reputable and verified dealers to drive one home now!