Having been substantially redesigned for 2003, the Ford Expedition encounters few changes for 2005. The biggest one is more power: it’s still a 5.4-litre V8, but now it’s a three-valve-per-cylinder Triton borrowed from the F-Series pickup, and power jumps 40 horses to 300. A new top-of-the-line Limited joins the XLT and Eddie Bauer editions. The instrument cluster has been redesigned, raised roof rails are used in place of a roof rack for a cleaner appearance, and roll stability control has been added to the AdvanceTrac.
All Canadian models come with four-wheel-drive; a rear-wheel version available in the U.S. is not sold here. The Expedition also appears over at Lincoln as the Navigator.
The XLT features four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, cruise control, six-way power driver’s seat, 40/20/40 split second seat, third-row 60/40 split-bench seat, privacy glass, power mirrors with approach lamps, power locks, air conditioning with rear air and heater controls, automatic headlamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels, Class III trailer hitch receiver, CD/MP3/cassette stereo, fog lamps, running boards and tire pressure monitoring system.
The Eddie Bauer edition, named for the clothing and outfitting store, adds 17-inch machined aluminum wheels, Pueblo Gold two-tone exterior appearance, keyless entry keypad, dual automatic climate control, leather-wrapped wheel with audio and climate controls, two-toned leather-trimmed front captain’s chairs with memory function, vinyl third-row bench seat, centre floor console with rear audio and auxiliary climate controls, power-adjustable pedals, auto-dimming mirror, six-CD stereo and power heated mirrors with integrated turn signals.
The Limited adds 17-inch “Chrometec” aluminum wheels, body-coloured cladding, complex reflector headlamps, chrome roof rails, monochromatic leather-faced seats with eight-way power, curtain air bags and wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel with climate, audio and speed controls.
For all its bulk, the Expedition delivers a remarkably civilized ride, with handling more nimble than its size would suggest, and a luxurious interior that would be expected for its price. It’s still a handful in the face of sky-high gas prices, but the new V8 actually delivers better mileage than its predecessor while giving the Expedition an appreciable boost in performance.
The Expedition is built in Wayne, Michigan.
No content available
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
