2011 Ford Expedition Review


Pros

  • Responsive handling
  • High towing capacity
  • Roomy third-row seats
  • Smooth ride quality

Cons

  • V-8 engine struggles under load
  • The Interior includes some low quality plastics
  • Sluggish infotainment
  • Dated design

The Ford Expedition is an SUV that behaves better than it has any right to in terms of handling. It offers a significant amount of passengers space as well as cargo capacity and towing capability.

Overview


People nowadays prefer smaller vehicles, with better fuel efficiency, which hasn't stopped the large Ford Expedition from garnering popularity especially with customers looking for heavy towing, and even with larger families. The car is rugged, and although not built for the offroad, has durability and simple reliability, that more and more modern cars with their highly advanced systems missout. Though most of the full-size SUVs in its class boast similar prowess, the 2011 Ford Expedition does stand out with its spacious interiors and sleek modernness. 

There is a hefty bit of space in the cabin, even in the standard-wheelbase variants to carry full-size adults in all three rows. The interiors become more luxurious as you move up the trims, and include all of the most modern features offered by Ford. Powering the SUV is a large 5.4L V-8 mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox putting forth 310 horsepower. Amongst its competitors, the Ford Expedition offers better ride quality and easier handling. The flagship sports utility vehicle stands up to similar large SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Toyota Sequoia.

Pricing and Features
9.0/10


The new Ford Expedition is a body-on-frame SUV available in two body sizes: the standard-wheelbase Expedition and the lengthier Expedition EL. There are 4 trims on offer: starting from the basic XL trim, the better outfitted XLT, the premium Limited, and the top of the line King Ranch. Every Expedition offers seating for 8 passengers, with optional captain's chairs in the second row.

Trim

XL

XLT

Limited

King Ranch

MSRP (RWD)

$36,210

$38,820

$45,490

$46,760

MSRP (4WD)

$39,110

$41,720

$48,390

$49,660

Key Features

17-inch Alloy Wheels

Everything on the XL +

Everything on the XLT +

Everything on Limited +

 

Automatic Headlights

18-inch Alloy Wheels

20-inch Alloy Wheels

Two-Tone Paint

 

Fog lights

Reverse sensors

Power folding mirrors

20-inch painted alloy wheels

 

Roof rack

Power adjustable pedals

Power liftgate

“Chaparral” leather upholstery

 

Running boards

Voice operated Sync System

Back-up Camera

Wood-grain interior trim

 

Cloth Upholstery

Upgraded Stereo

Rain sensing wipers

 
 

Power Driver’s Seat

Steering wheel controls

Dual-zone automatic temperature control

 
 

Cruise Control

 

Perforated leather seats

 
 

6-speaker Stereo

 

Heated and ventilated front seats w/ Heated rear seats

 
     

Power-folding third-row seats

 
     

Heavy-duty towing package

 

We Recommend

As an occasional use vehicle, the base trim offers the best of the capability in the Ford Expedition without skimping on towing prowess. The XLT trim starts off with better conveniences and driving assist features, and is thus the most recommended trim. The Limited is better suited for regular family travel, as the interiors come better outfitted.

Engine and Performance
8.2/10


Powering the SUV is a 5.4L V-8 motor with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain puts up 310 horsepower and 365 foot-pounds of torque. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, though a 4-wheel-drive with lower gearing for improved towing prowess is offered. The flagship Ford can tow up to 9,200 pounds. 

All variants of the Ford Expedition V-8 come with the capability for Flex Fuel. The steering is precise and almost makes the SUV feel smaller than its size when behind the wheel. The suspension is a standout detail, which gives the SUV a ride quality better than most of its competitors.

Model

Ford Expedition

Chevrolet Tahoe

Toyota Sequoia

MSRP

$36,210

$37,980

$41,560

Engine

5.4L V-8

5.3L V-8

5.7L V-8

Drivetrain

RWD

RWD

RWD

Transmission

6-speed automatic

6-speed automatic

6-speed automatic

Power

310 hp @ 5100 rpm

320 hp @ 5400 rpm

381 hp @ 5600 rpm

Torque

365 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm

335 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm

401 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm

0-60 mph (seconds)

8.5

7.5

7.4

Quarter-mile (seconds)

14.7

15.7

13.8

Top Speed (mph)

155

155

165

The Ford with its large frame is pretty slow to get up to speed. The SUV takes 8.5 seconds to touch 60 mph. Overall the 310 horses on the Expedition are lower than the competitors, and it becomes doubly apparent with the SUV’s sluggish response. The Toyota Sequoia has the best power output in the competition and is the quickest to get to both 60 mph and the quarter-mile. The Toyota also has the largest engine, though it does offer a smaller 4.6L motor on its base variants.

Fuel Economy
4.0/10


Full-size SUVs are fuel guzzlers, and it is expected considering the heavy chassis and huge engine displacement. The rear-wheel-drive 2011 Ford Expedition gives 14 mpg in cities, 20 mpg on highways, and 16 mpg combined. The Ford Expedition is compatible with Flex Fuel (E85) although fuel economy goes down to 9 mpg in cities, and 13 mpg on highways. The all-wheel-drive variant fares worse with 13 mpg on urban streets, 18 mpg on highways, and 15 mpg combined.

Model

Ford Expedition

Chevrolet Tahoe

Toyota Sequoia

MPG (City) (mpg)

14

15

14

MPG (Highway) (mpg)

20

21

18

MPG (Combined) (mpg)

16

17

15

Fuel Capacity (gallon)

28.0

26.0

26.4

Range (City/Hwy)

392/560

390/546

370/475

The 2011 Ford Expedition has a massive 28-gallon fuel tank that gives it a range of up to 470 miles. The Chevrolet Tahoe is much more efficient in comparison and returns approximately the same range as the Ford, with a smaller fuel tank. The Toyota Sequoia is the least efficient with just 15 mpg combined and even has the lowest range of the lot.

Interior
8.1/10


The interiors are simple and rugged, though they are extremely spacious. In higher trims, they get selectively better outfitted to luxury car levels, though there are hard plastics in the cabin even in top-spec trims. The dials and knobs are easy to use and designed with ergonomics and lasting quality in mind. The cabin is spacious and can fit large passengers in the third row as well. The standard 40/20/40 split seats in the rear row even allow reclining to maximize comfort. 

The cargo room is exceptionally large with 18.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row. When folding down the third row, the SUV allows 42.6 cubic feet of space. A maximum space of 108.3 cubic feet can be achieved by folding all the rear seats.

Model

Ford Expedition

Chevrolet Tahoe

Toyota Sequoia

Passenger capacity

8

8

8

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)

39.5/63.2/41.1

42.8/64.8/45.3

38.3/66.4/42.5

Rear(Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)

39.7/63.7/39.1

38.7/65.1/39.0

38.9/65.6/40.9

Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)

38.0/67.1/37.7

38.1/62.6/24.8

N/A

Cargo Capacity (cubic feet)

18.6

16.9

18.9

The interior gets quality features in the higher trims, though competitors scale up to better outfitted cabins and materials in their top trims. The Ford undoubtedly has the best space in the third row, compared to the whole segment. Particularly when compared to the Chevy Tahoe’s meager 24.8-inch legroom. The storage space on the Toyota Sequoia is the highest at 18.9 cubic feet. Some standout interior features are:

  • Leather Upholstery
  • Dual Zone Climate Control
  • Power Liftgate
  • Wood trimmings in the higher trims
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • 8-way adjustable driver’s and passenger’s seat

How intuitive is the 2011 Ford Expedition’s infotainment unit?

The XLT trim starts off with the SYNC voice-activated communication and infotainment system. The system includes voice commands and some functionality in connectivity and Bluetooth. Ford also offers a new dual-headrest DVD system at the back of the front seats. 

The 6.5-inch touchscreen offered optionally is quite intuitive, though not the easiest to use, or one with the best resolution. The audio is a 6-speaker 340 watt system with AM/FM and AUX compatibility. Some standout infotainment features are:

  • Bluetooth
  • Navigation
  • USB connectivity
  • 6-speaker 340-watt audio
  • SYNC system
  • Sirius Travel Link
  • 6.5-inch touchscreen
  • AM/FM
  • AUX port
  • DVD/CD Player

Exterior
6.5/10


The Expedition is large, and the humongous proportions become doubly apparent as you stand next to the SUV. the design draws from styling changes back in 2007 and doesn't seem to lose its relevance even in 2011.

The Expedition has underpinnings similar to the F-150, and the truck even shares the front fascia and design cues with the SUV. You get 18-inch alloy wheels as standard on the SUV, though the King Ranch variant offers 20-inch alloys.

Model

Ford Expedition

Chevrolet Tahoe

Toyota Sequoia

Curb weight (lbs)

5898

5636

5730

Length (in)

206.5

202.0

205.1 

Width (in)

78.8

79.0 

79.9 

Height (in)

77.2

76.9 

77.0 

Ground Clearance (in)

8.7

9.1 

10.0 

Wheelbase (in)

119.0

116.0

122.0 

Comparing the Exterior, the Toyota Sequoia is undoubtedly the largest SUV in the competition, owing to its long wheelbase, and width. Comparing the competition, the Ford Expedition sports the largest rear overhang, though since the overall ride quality is great, we have no complaints. 

The Ford Expedition offers 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which is lesser than the Chevy Tahoe’s 9.1 inches and the Toyota Sequoia’s 10.0 inches. The extended wheelbase edition adds 15-inches in overall length, which makes the second and the third row even roomier. Some standout exterior features are:

  • 17-inch alloy wheels (only on XL)
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • 20-inch polished alloy wheels (only on Limited)
  • 20-inch painted alloy wheels (only on King Ranch)
  • Automatic Projector headlamps
  • Sideboards
  • Power liftgate
  • Sunroof (optional)

Safety
8.5/10


The 2011 Ford Expedition has not been tested by either the IIHS or the NHTSA, although earlier ratings by the NHTSA give it a 5-star safety rating. In 2010, the large SUV got Ford’s Trailer Sway Control as standard, which along with the SUV’s Stability control adjusts braking and engine response to ensure minimal trailer movement. The new Ford Expedition offers standard side-impact airbags and curtain airbags for all three rows. Overall the SUV offers a plethora of assistance features, a few of which have been listed below:

  • Rear View Camera
  • Dual-stage front airbags
  • Side-Impact Airbags
  • Trailer Sway Control
  • Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System
  • Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
  • SOS Post-Crash Alert System
  • Safety Canopy System (Includes Third Row)
  • SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System

Final Verdict


The SUV is a standout in the segment in terms of space and towing prowess. The interiors are well made and durable and offer great space. Higher trims offer better materials, though the interior still has some hard plastic portions prevalent in the cabin. 

The throttle response is adequate, though the truck does feel a bit underpowered as compared to most of its competitors. Conversely, the Ford Expedition does offer better than average fuel economy and Flex Fuel capability as standard features. Overall the flagship Ford SUV is a great people mover and a highly recommended vehicle in the segment.