The 2020 Ford Expedition has been a standout for many reasons this year. It’s considered as one of the best family cars you can buy. The Expedition is one of the few vehicles that can haul a large brood and pull heavy cargo at the same time. Because of this, Consumer Reports has dubbed the Expedition as one of the best road trip vehicles for 2020. 

Power and capability

The Expedition is what critics have called a “refined workhorse.” This SUV  gets its muscular power from a standard 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine that generates a 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission assists with smooth transitions. The same V6 engine is found on the higher trim levels but features a 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

Each Expedition model features a separate rear suspension that contributes to the SUV’s smoothness and overall ride quality. Fuel economy-wise, the Expedition is pretty average for its class. It gets a combined 16 mpg. 

On the inside 

Comfort is a great aspect of the Expedition, especially for long drives. It’s extremely spacious on the inside and can seat up to eight across its three rows. The second row comes standard with bench seating but captain seats are an option too. No matter which option you choose, the bench and the captain seats both offer a full set of LATCH connectors to secure child seats. The third-row also has a full set.

Cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-covered steering wheel are standard too. There are also a ton of available upgrades you can pick from which include faux leather upholstery, genuine leather, or even upgraded quilted leather. Other upgrades available are a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, and heated second-row seats.

The Expedition’s infotainment system is also great. So great in fact that Car and Driver has called it an “infotainment sanctuary.” The base-level XLT trim comes standard with an 8-inch Sync 3 touchscreen display, a 4G LTE hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto; navigation with real-time weather and traffic updates is available too. The upper level Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trims can be fitted with a rear-seat entertainment system. 

Safety 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Expedition a five-star crash-test score but it hasn’t been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Expedition also offers some of the latest advanced safety features including standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Reliability 

Consumer Reports gave the 2020 Expedition an average reliability rating. The slightly lower score stems from Ford’s recent recall actions on its vehicles including the Expedition. Potential troubles spots on the Expedition include the mid/rear seat assembly, automatic transmission, seat belts, and the automatic emergency braking system.

What else to consider

Another downside of the Expedition is its high starting price of $52,810. By the time you max it out, it costs a little over 75K. On a more positive note though, the SUV has earned top ratings for predicted owner satisfaction.