2019 Ford Expedition Max Road Test and Review

2018 Ford Expedition Max hero ・ Photo by Ford

Newly redesigned just last year, the 2019 Ford Expedition Max has quickly become one of our favorites in the full-size SUV class. Built in Kentucky, the family-friendly eight-passenger SUV offers unique style, a cavernous interior, and a twin-turbo V6 that makes as much as 400 horsepower.

The 2019 Expedition Max is the longer and larger version of the Ford Expedition, and it’s one of the largest, most powerful, and most capable SUVs the brand has ever produced. It’s also very similar to the excellent Lincoln Navigator, which was named the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. With a base price around $55,000, the Expedition Max is nearly $20,000 less expensive than the Lincoln, however. It competes against the popular Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.

Large and Powerful

The 2019 Expedition Max is Ford’s largest and most expensive SUV. Ford offers the model in three trim levels with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The entry-level Expedition Max is the XLT, which costs $56,210 including a $1,395 destination fee. The Limited model costs about $11,000 more, and the top Platinum starts at $77,455. Four-wheel drive is available across the range for about $3,000, and a loaded 2019 Ford Expedition Max costs about $80,000. With options, our Limited test vehicle cost $74,640.

Under the hood of every Expedition Max is a smooth and refined twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. In the XLT and the Limited, it produces 375 hp, but it gets a boost to 400 hp in the Platinum model, which can accelerate from 0-60 mph in a very quick 5.9 seconds. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range.

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Easy to Drive and Fast

This is a big truck. The 2019 Ford Expedition Max is more than 18 feet long and weighs over 6,000 pounds. No surprise there. But it is surprising how easy it is to drive it around town. The Ford’s steering is light, and the big SUV is easy to maneuver. It also handles well for such a large beast, with little body roll and quick responses.

Visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent, and the Expedition’s interior is quiet. Although you can hear the rumble of its powerful turbocharged V6, it isn’t too loud, even at full throttle, and the engine provides awesome acceleration and passing power. Again, no surprise there, since the 3.5-liter is similar to the EcoBoost engine that powers Ford’s 200-mph GT supercar. The SUV’s 10-speed automatic transmission is perfectly tuned. It’s always in the right gear and shifts very smoothly. There’s also a Sport mode, which retunes the transmission for even quicker response.

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Surprisingly Fuel-Efficient for Its Size

Fuel economy is also above average for this class, and the Ford’s V6 features a smooth start/stop system, which shuts off the engine at idle to save fuel. Rear-wheel drive models are rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. The 4x4 models, like our test vehicle, are rated at 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

The power of the Expedition’s turbocharged engine can be addicting, however, and the more you use it, the more fuel you’ll burn. Our will was weak, and our fuel economy suffered. We averaged just 16 mpg in mixed driving around Los Angeles. However, we did better on the highway. During a 300-mile road trip, which was all traveled on the interstate, we averaged 22 mpg.

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Modern Look and a Smooth Ride

During that road trip, my family enjoyed the big Ford’s smooth ride. Its suspension soaks up road imperfections, big and small, despite its huge 20-inch wheels and tires. Platinum models ride on 22-inch wheels and tires, which look great but do sacrifice some ride compliance in the name of style.

Speaking of looking great, the 2019 Ford Expedition Max turns heads with an imposing wide grille, sculpted flanks, and a muscular stance. With a body made of aluminum to save weight, the Ford shares many of its body panels with the Lincoln Navigator, and there is a resemblance between the two, although the Ford is far more understated. Like on the Lincoln, there is some chrome, but not too much, even on the Platinum model. Ford has managed to give the Expedition Max an appealing presence and a strong overall look without seeming too truckish.

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Big Family-Friendly Interior

The 2019 Ford Expedition Max is massive inside. It seats eight easily, and its third row can accommodate three adults. Our Limited test vehicle was equipped with very comfortable heated second-row captain’s chairs, which reclined but limited seating to seven. Everyone in this big SUV gets their own air conditioning vents, and the second-row center console featured rear climate controls. There are also 15 cupholders throughout the cabin. Third-row access is also made easier by those second-row captain’s chairs, which are standard on the Limited and Platinum models. The chairs fold up out the way with the push of a button, though getting them back into place is a manual operation.

Parents of small children will also like the Ford’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors and easily accessed upper tether anchors on the seatbacks. After crash-testing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded the SUV five stars, its highest safety rating. The Expedition has not yet received safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Luxurious Interior

Build quality is high inside this SUV and control placement is excellent, although it took a few days to get accustomed to the Ford’s rotary shifter. The heated leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel is large and feels good in your grip, and the Expedition’s gauge cluster is simple and easy to read.

The heated driver’s seat is large and very comfortable, and it proved to be very supportive during our 300-mile road trip. It’s also height-adjustable, and power-adjustable pedals and the standard tilt and telescopic steering wheel further help tailor the driving position for people of all sizes. Our test vehicle was also equipped with a huge panoramic sunroof, power-retractable and illuminated running boards, and a hands-free power liftgate with foot activation. We were also impressed by the sound quality of its premium 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.

Photo by Ford

Cavernous Cargo Space

Interior storage is cavernous. The Ford features two massive center console bins, a sizable glove box, large door pockets, and two huge front cupholders. With eight aboard, the 2019 Ford Expedition Max offers 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, which is less than the Chevrolet Suburban but more than the smaller Tahoe. With its third row folded flat, there’s 73 cubic feet, and with both rows folded out of the way, there’s an impressive 121 cubic feet of cargo space inside the Ford.

The Expedition Max is 11.9 inches longer than a standard Ford Expedition and has a 9.1-inch-longer wheelbase. This additional size not only adds significant rear legroom to the Max, but it also adds considerable cargo space. A standard-size Expedition offers 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third-row seat, 57.5 cubic feet behind its second row, and a maximum of 104.6 cubic feet.

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Easy-to-Use Infotainment

Every new 2019 Expedition Max comes with Ford’s excellent Sync 3 infotainment system, which is controlled with a large, well-placed touchscreen in the center of the dash. Ford has continuously improved its infotainment offerings, and now Sync 3 is one of the best systems available. Although the Ford’s screen is small compared to the 10-inch unit in the Lincoln Navigator, it’s large enough.

The system features Bluetooth, navigation with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. There’s also wireless phone charging. Sync 3’s menus are simple, and its reaction time to your inputs is quick. Its graphics are crisp and clear, and the touchscreen works like a smartphone, so you can pinch to zoom and swipe.

Photo by Ford

Big Advanced Safety Systems

The 2019 Ford Expedition Max comes with a long list of safety systems and driver aids. Our Limited Max test vehicle featured front and rear parking sensors, which beep if the truck is too close to an object, a backup camera with assist grid lines, and a blind spot monitor with a cross-traffic alert as standard equipment.

Options included adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability and a 360-degree camera, which gives you a bird’s-eye view of the SUV. However, Active Park Assist may be the Ford’s best driver aid. This system steers the big SUV into a parallel parking space for you as you control the accelerator, gear selection, and brakes.

Photo by Ford

Final Thoughts

When equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, the Expedition Max has a 9,000-pound tow rating, which means it can pull over 2,000 pounds more than a V8-powered Chevrolet Tahoe. That’s a big difference for families pulling an RV to the mountains or a Donzi to the lake.

That towing capability is another reason why we highly recommend the 2019 Ford Expedition Max. This big comfortable SUV is also family-friendly and luxurious. Plus, it’s easy to drive despite its size, and its tow rating, features, and capability are best in class. If you’re looking for a full-size three row SUV, the 2019 Ford Expedition Max is an extremely attractive choice.

Photo by Ford