2003 Ford Expedition: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Independent rear suspension and an industry-first power fold-down 3rd-row seat highlight the redesigned 2003 Expedition. Sized between the Explorer and larger Excursion, Expedition for '03 gets a wider body and new styling. It comes in XLT, Eddie Bauer, and new FX4 off-road models. V8s of 4.6 and 5.4 liters return, as does a choice of rear-wheel drive or Ford's ControlTrac 4WD that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. Newly optional are Ford's AdvanceTrac traction-control/antiskid system and a tire-pressure monitor. All models have 17-inch wheels. Replacing front side airbags as an option are head-protecting curtain side airbags for the first two seating rows; they're designed to deploy in side collisions and in rollover accidents.

All Expeditions have three rows of seats. XLTs in Value and Popular trim are available with a front bench seat for 9-passenger capacity. Eddie Bauer and all XLTs except the Value can substitute two 2nd-row buckets for the standard 2nd-row bench. The power folding 3rd-row seat is available on Eddie Bauer and XLT Premium; it folds into the floor via controls in the front and back of the cabin. The new independent rear suspension lowers the rear floor by 9 inches for increased 3rd-row leg room; a load-leveling option was added midyear. FX4 includes skid plates, off-road shock absorbers, and tubular running boards. Lincoln's Navigator version of the Expedition is similarly redesigned for 2003.

COMPETITION

Our Best Buys, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, are improved for 2003 with optional four-wheel steering and revised dashboards. These vehicles were new for 2000 and have improved with age. The all-new Ford Expedition gets bumped up to Best Buy status with revised styling, power 3rd-row seating, and the addition of an FX4 off-road edition.

Recommended are GMC Yukon and Toyota Sequoia. We love the size, comfort, and power of these big SUVs but wish sticker prices were a bit lower.