Ford Expedition King Ranch

At 825,000 acres, it’s larger than the entire state of Rhode Island. No, we are not talking about the Ford Expedition King Ranch Edition. We’re talking about the actual King Ranch! Now that we’ve got the conversation going, let’s talk big.

As in big enough to have its own zip code. As in big enough to be seen from outer space. I’ll be here all week, don’t forget to tip your server.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, we’re talking about the new Ford Expedition King Ranch Edition. Here at Napleton News, we’re all about big. And it doesn’t get much bigger than the Expedition.

What is it about the Ford Expedition King Ranch?

It’s a powerful, large, accommodating sport utility vehicle that does most everything and anything, very well. It’s powered by Ford’s award-winning 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6. In our King Ranch sample, it delivers 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. Connect that to a 10-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive and you’ll be ready to go anywhere.

But if that’s not enough, there’s more! An available high-output version of this EcoBoost V6 produces 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. It is available in Ford Expedition Max trim levels.

The Expedition has a maximum towing capacity of 9,600 pounds.

How does the Expedition look?

Outside of the sheer size, the Expedition King Ranch is large and in charge. Looking both modern and classic, it is sized as you would expect. In other words, it’s massive. The grille is new and features a unique King Ranch model with sinister bronze painted bars. It joins other features like roof racks, a panoramic vista roof and power deployable running boards.

A word about the running boards. They actually work! Unlike others that are fixed on a vehicle that is neither high nor low enough to effectively use them, these swing out and back with ease. They are helped because the Expedition is tall enough to work it properly.

What about inside the King Ranch?

It has seating for seven. We told you it was big, right? Inside there’s front buckets that are heated and cooled. The second row features heated captain’s chairs with a walkthrough to the third. A new 24-inch widescreen display handles both the instrument display and the infotainment system. It’s seamless but requires a bit of a reach to end a call or reach across for the volume knob.

There’s an interesting look to the new steering wheel. It’s a little square-ish with a pair of touchpad-style buttons that aren’t marked. Once you touch it, an image of the pad shows up in the gauge screen allowing you to move the cursor to various hot key points on the pad. It’s a bit distracting at first, causing you to take your eyes off the wheel but after a while you remember where to touch and what the buttons do.

How does the Ford Expedition feel behind the wheel?

It’s a brute but one that doesn’t overwhelm those driving it. At first, we were expecting a bit of discomfort with the square shape of the steering wheel. But eventually we grew to like it. Maybe that was because it was different. But it was easy to use – as a steering wheel. There was a bit of a learning curve in operating things like BlueCruise and the audio system, but those were quickly learned.

Power was robust, which is what we have come to expect from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost. And remember, this was the standard 400-horsepower version rather than the 440-hp model found in the Expedition Max. If you need more power, there’s always the High Output EcoBoost V6. But for our purposes, the standard V6 worked fine.

The size of the Expedition does not affect the ride quality. Side wallow was well-controlled thanks to the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) suspension. It stiffens up on the fly when sensors feel the need to step in for more control.

The Ford Expedition King Ranch can be many things for many people. For us, it was a great road tripper. It could be a work vehicle for you. For others, it can be a weekend toy hauler. It just depends on what you are up to. Choose wisely.

Ford Expedition King Ranch Specifications

Engine Type	3.5-liter twin-turbocharged inline V6 Engine
Horsepower	400 hp @5,200 rpm
Torque	480 lb-ft @3,300 rpm
Transmission	10-speed automatic transmission
EPA Fuel Economy Equivalent (Combined/City/Hwy)	18/16/22 MPG
Suspension F/R	Double Wishbone / Multilink
Turning Circle	41.0 ft.
Also Available	Choice of Engine, trim levels, 2-wheel drive
Specs
Warranty	3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	5 years/60,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	5-stars
Max Seating Capacity	7 passengers
Wheelbase	122.5 inches
Overall Length	209.9 inches
Width	81.5 inches
Height	78.0 inches
Headroom, Front	41.8 inches
Headroom, 2nd	40.0 inches
Headroom, 3rd	37.4 inches
Legroom, 1st	43.9 inches
Legroom, 2nd	41.1 inches
Legroom, 3rd	36.5 inches
Shoulder room, 1st row	64.9 inches
Shoulder room, 2nd row	64.8 inches
Shoulder room, 3rd row	64.2 inches