 | 2001 Ford Expedition Roominess and style.
By Mitch McCullough, Editor-in-Chief,
New Car Test Drive .com |
Overview
Ford's Expedition continues to be popular with its strong V8 engine, seating for up to nine, and available four-wheel drive. Flexible seating arrangements give families versatility. It's roomier than the Explorer, but not as unwieldy as the mammoth Excursion. Expedition offers comfortable seating in the first two rows; leather-clad seats in the pricey Eddie Bauer edition approach luxury-car levels. The third row is cramped for all but smaller children. Expedition's soft suspension filters out unwanted road vibration, and softens potholes, driveway entrances and other bumps. Its 5.4-liter V8 delivers responsive acceleration performance, while the automatic transmission provides impressively smooth shifting. Power steering is over-assisted to ease maneuvering in crowded parking lots, and a reverse warning system reduces the chance of backing into something. Model Lineup
Two trim levels, XLT and Eddie Bauer, make up the Expedition model range. With little demand for plain, entry-level vehicles in this class, Ford equips the XLT well and the Eddie Bauer even better. Standard equipment for both models includes antilock brakes, third-row seating, and remote keyless entry. Visual differences between XLT and Eddie Bauer versions are confined to paint and trim. Checking off items from a long list of optional equipment for the XLT blurs equipment level distinctions between the two. XLT and Eddie Bauer trim levels are available with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Expedition derives much of its chassis and mechanical hardware from Ford's F-150 pickup. XLT comes standard with a 232-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. Stepping up to the Eddie Bauer 4x4 model brings a larger, more powerful 5.4-liter V8 that produces 260 horsepower. Eddie Bauer also adds a power moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 290-watt Mach AM/FM cassette audio system, a 6-CD changer in the center console, and automatic climate control. A TV/VHS rear-seat entertainment system is a new option for the top-level Expedition.
|