President Trump at Ford plant: “I’m not trying to badmouth Canada, I want to make cars here.”
President Trump toured a Ford F-150 factory and said he doesn’t want to see Canada and Mexico fail, but wants the Big Three to become dominant.
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Strong Points
- 3rd row that is suitable for adults
- Powerful and sophisticated engine
- Split tailgate is ideal for moving heavy hardware or groceries
Cons
- awkward handle
- weird ergonomics
- Split tailgate blocks trunk access for short people
“A is for effort, C+ is execution,” features editor Christian Sebo said of the piece. New version of Ford ExpeditionSUVOTY is represented by: Off-road compatible Tremor model. His sentiment pretty much sums up how we feel about Ford’s large SUV. While we appreciate the efforts to modernize Expedition, some of the efforts go too far and impact usability.
The Expedition stays true to its heritage with its powertrain, passenger space, and solid construction, and we had few complaints. The twin-turbo V6 provides more than adequate oomph, and several judges found the off-road-tuned Tremor models to have a better ride quality than their luxury cousins. lincoln navigator. We highly praised the interior space and comfort, especially the third row of seats for adults. Opinions were divided on the split tailgate, with some tall judges praising it and some whispering criticism, but most agreed that it was a useful addition.
This Tremor also handled well on off-road courses, traversing deep sand ruts with ease. We were surprised to find ourselves tripping over the sloping rollers. This is a torture test that eliminates traction on up to three wheels to see how the four-wheel drive system distributes power. With the rear wheels losing grip, the four-wheel drive system took a long time to redistribute power to the front wheels and get the SUV moving. However, we were impressed by the practicality of the trail turn feature, which applies the brakes to the inside of the rear wheels to narrow the turning radius. It came in handy on the tight winding roads of off-road trails.
The Expedition’s innovations drew the sharpest criticism, such as the square oval steering wheel. It’s small and shaped so as not to obstruct the instrument panel, with a widescreen LCD located just below the windshield and moved toward the center of the dashboard. The idea is to bring important information closer to the driver’s line of sight by having the screen look through the steering wheel rather than through it. The screen was fine, but the judge found the wheels difficult to hold. The combination of its small size and heavy steering turned parking into a workout.
To make matters worse, the judges had to adjust the column to a less-than-comfortable position to avoid blocking the screen. This forced some unwanted familiarity with the Expedition’s steering column adjustments, which are made through a situational thumb pad on the wheel. The pads are not labeled, and when you touch a pad its function is displayed on the screen. Yes, that’s the exact same screen that’s being blocked by the wheel you’re trying to adjust. These pads also control the stereo and phone. Because, can they not be controlled?
Other ergonomic Bugaboos have the drive mode switch inexplicably placed on the driver’s left knee, where the headlight switch should be. Where are the headlight controls? Of course, having it on the center screen makes just as much sense as adjusting the steering column using the same buttons you use to control the stereo. The rotary shifter and cupholders are further out of reach than we’d like, and while the power center console’s storage capacity is commendable, we can’t imagine why the control knob for Ford’s excellent reverse trailer steering system is hidden in a compartment with a USB port and wireless charging pad.
At its core, the Expedition delivers everything you’d expect from a huge SUV. It seats eight adults comfortably, provides plenty of power and ride comfort, and has plenty of towing capacity. The Tremor will take its owners wherever they need to go, whether the road is paved or not. But in its quest to modernize the Expedition, Ford was a little too ambitious, which affected its everyday livability. A more conservative interior design would have made the new Expedition much more approachable and even a potential SUVOTY finalist.
This review is conducted as part of the 2026 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) test, in which each vehicle is evaluated based on six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, and performance of value and intended functionality. Eligible vehicles must be completely new or significantly modified.
Photo credit: Lenz Daun
