It’s great to get as many luxury features for your money as possible. While Ford isn’t known as a luxury brand – and Lincoln is – one way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to skip the Lincoln Navigator L and pick a higher trim of the similar Ford Expedition Max. CNET recently took a look at the 2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch Max and found it has plenty of luxury to offer.

What CNET thought of the 2020 Ford Expedition Max

CNET liked a lot about the 2020 Ford Expedition Max, everything from its interior size to its powertrain to its tech to its drivability. It reviewed a King Ranch Max trim, which is new for 2020. On the negative side, CNET also noted the Expedition Max’s huge size as well as its sizable price.

While it’s smaller than a Ford F-150 SuperCrew truck, the Expedition Max has what CNET calls a “cavernous interior.” At 222-inches long, there are 36 cubic feet of cargo space, which increases to 121.5 cubic feet with the second- and third-row seats folded down. For comparison, the standard Expedition has 21 cubic feet behind the third row.

The Expedition Max has a powerful engine too. It has a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine, generating 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. That’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Expedition Max is able to tow up to 9,000 pounds. While that’s 300 pounds less than the standard Expedition, it’s more than most of its competitors are able to handle.

The SUV comes standard with Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. CNET felt the Sync 3 “is one of the best infotainment systems on the market.”

Luxury features in the Ford Expedition Max

CNET was enthusiastic about the King Ranch Max trim that it tested. It had plenty of leather and open-pore wood along with lots of storage cubbies. The second row features captain’s chairs with a tip-and-slide feature, making it easier to get into the third-row seats. Plus, there are 15 cup holders throughout the cabin.

The King Ranch Max trim has a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that is able to support up to 10 devices at once. There’s plenty of power for devices, with a wireless charging pad, five USB Type-A ports, and one USB-C port. There are also three 12-volt outlets and a three-prong, 110-volt plug.

The King Ranch Max trim comes standard with a host of driver-assist safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and full-speed adaptive cruise control. CNET felt the spacious Expedition Max didn’t have many blind spots, but its blind-spot monitoring feature is able to track the entire length of a trailer.

How it compares to the Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Ford Expedition Max may have a starting price of $55,835, but the King Ranch Max trim that CNET tested comes in at $81,680. The 2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch Max trim starts at $75,590, while the Lincoln Navigator L starts at $84,925.

CNET suggests that at the price for the King Ranch Max trim, buyers may also want to check out the Lincoln Navigator L, the luxury-brand version of the Expedition. It felt the Navigator offers “much better styling and a bit more power.”

According to U.S. News, the 2020 Navigator L has more standard features and a smoother ride, but the top trims of the Expedition Max have plenty of standard features as well. The King Ranch Max trim, as well as the Navigator Reserve L, both offer standard features like navigation and HD radio. The Navigator does produce 50 to 75 more hp from nearly the same engine though.

For an even more loaded SUV, try out the 2020 Ford Expedition Max Platinum, which starts at $76,965. Or, for a six-figure starting price, take a look at the 2020 Lincoln Navigator Black Label L, for $100,335. These top-trim SUVs all offer a thoroughly luxurious driving experience, but to save money, go with the Expedition Max.