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2009 Ford Expedition Quality Review

July 9, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

softer cushions and upgraded materials
Kelley Blue Book

comes out ahead of its peers in comfortably seating a full load of passengers
Edmunds

plethora of hard-plastic panels cheapens Expedition's interior ambiance
ConsumerGuide

Experts at TheCarConnection.com note that because of its large dimensions, the 2009 Ford Expedition offers scads of interior space. Build and interior materials quality isn't always on par with some competitors, but it's getting better with time.

ConsumerGuide reports that the front offers "generous room on supportive seats," while the "second-row seat moves fore and aft and the seat backs are split 40/20/40," allowing for multiple configurations to achieve a comfortable riding position, according to ForbesAutos. The monstrous 2009 Ford Expedition "can seat up to nine occupants across three rows of seats" when equipped with the optional front bench seat, says Cars.com, and it does so with impressive comfort levels. Surprisingly, the third-row seats receive some of the highest praise in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, as ConsumerGuide claims "3rd-row accommodations are among the best of any SUV, with adult-sized headroom and legroom on a chair-height bench." Car and Driver adds "third-row seating space is generous, easily besting the GM offerings."

Rear cargo space and other interior storage also benefit from the overall size of the Ford Expedition 2009, especially in stretched EL form. ConsumerGuide praises the "available power-folding 3rd row," which they say "saves awkward stretching," and they further note that "a large glovebox, roomy center console, and large door pockets provide abundant small-item storage." Cars.com says "the Expedition EL offers 131 cubic feet" of total cargo volume with all the rear seats folded, and the standard Ford Expedition's "maximum cargo capacity is 108.2 cubic feet." For those who need even more storage space, Edmunds points out "opting for the second-row captain's chairs drops seating capacity to seven but earns a storage console between the seats."

The Ford Expedition lineup boasts improved materials and build quality, and while it's still far from perfect on most trims, the King Ranch edition will satisfy all but the most discerning of buyers. Kelley Blue Book appreciates the "softer cushions and upgraded materials" on the Ford Expedition 2009, and Motor Trend reports that "every editor was impressed by the luxurious 'Chaparral' leather" and "the ultraquiet ambiance" of the Ford Expedition King Ranch. On regular 2009 Ford Expeditions, ConsumerGuide is disappointed to find "a plethora of hard-plastic panels" that "cheapens Expedition's interior ambiance," and Edmunds points out "quite a few small, cheap feeling buttons that are hard to tell apart at a glance."

Edmunds finds that "despite some noticeable noise from the tires, the Expedition's cabin remains quiet enough to carry on a conversation." ConsumerGuide says the Ford Expedition is "impressively hushed," and "road noise over most surfaces is minimal."

Conclusion

The 2009 Ford Expedition offers gargantuan spaces for passengers and cargo.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:softer cushions and upgraded materialsKelley Blue Bookcomes out ahead of its peers in comfortably seating a full load of passengersEdmundsplethora of hard-plastic panels cheapens Expedition's interior ambianceConsumerGuide Experts at TheCarConnection.com note that because of its large dimensions, the 2009 Ford Expedition offers scads of interior space. Build and interior materials quality isn't always on par with some competitors, but it's getting better with time. ConsumerGuide reports that the front offers "generous room on supportive seats," while the "second-row seat moves fore and aft and the seat backs are split 40/20/40," allowing for multiple configurations to achieve a comfortable riding position, according to ForbesAutos. The monstrous 2009 Ford Expedition "can seat up to nine occupants across three rows of seats" when equipped with the optional front bench seat, says Cars.com, and it does so with impressive comfort levels. Surprisingly, the third-row seats receive some of the highest praise in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, as ConsumerGuide claims "3rd-row accommodations are among the best of any SUV, with adult-sized headroom and legroom on a chair-height bench." Car and Driver adds "third-row seating space is generous, easily besting the GM offerings." Rear cargo space and other interior storage also benefit from the overall size of the Ford Expedition 2009, especially in stretched EL form. ConsumerGuide praises the "available power-folding 3rd row," which they say "saves awkward stretching," and they further note that "a large glovebox, roomy center console, and large door pockets provide abundant small-item storage." Cars.com says "the Expedition EL offers 131 cubic feet" of total cargo volume with all the rear seats folded, and the standard Ford Expedition's "maximum cargo capacity is 108.2 cubic feet." For those who need even more storage space, Edmunds points out "opting for the second-row captain's chairs drops seating capacity to seven but earns a storage console between the seats." The Ford Expedition lineup boasts improved materials and build quality, and while it's still far from perfect on most trims, the King Ranch edition will satisfy all but the most discerning of buyers. Kelley Blue Book appreciates the "softer cushions and upgraded materials" on the Ford Expedition 2009, and Motor Trend reports that "every editor was impressed by the luxurious 'Chaparral' leather" and "the ultraquiet ambiance" of the Ford Expedition King Ranch. On regular 2009 Ford Expeditions, ConsumerGuide is disappointed to find "a plethora of hard-plastic panels" that "cheapens Expedition's interior ambiance," and Edmunds points out "quite a few small, cheap feeling buttons that are hard to tell apart at a glance." Edmunds finds that "despite some noticeable noise from the tires, the Expedition's cabin remains quiet enough to carry on a conversation." ConsumerGuide says the Ford Expedition is "impressively hushed," and "road noise over most surfaces is minimal." ConclusionThe 2009 Ford Expedition offers gargantuan spaces for passengers and cargo. 2009 FORD EXPEDITION STYLING | [8 out of 10] Motor Trend: "the instrument panel, with its mix of round and rectangular gauges and chrome, plastic, and wood trim, appears retro for the sake of being retro and at the expense of good function" Kelley Blue Book: " Ford's now-signature ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

If you're interested in the 2009 Ford Expedition, also consider the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada. The Chevrolet Tahoe is equal in size to the GMC Yukon and its ritzier Denali edition. The Chevrolet Suburban is a longer Tahoe, and the GMC guys call that a Yukon XL or Denali XL. Regardless of which one you get, this quartet from General Motors has a slight edge in interior quality, but the Ford wins with better room in the third row. Plus, the Ford offers a power-folding third-row option, and with that, the seat automatically folds flat into the floor. This is a big plus over the GMs. However, the GMs strike back with more engine choices (including a hybrid) and a more supple-riding suspension, but the Ford offers what some consider more responsive handling. Then again, we're discussing a vehicle that weighs almost three tons, so regardless of its responsiveness, we're not talking Corvette- or Mustang-type handling here. A properly equipped 2009 Ford Expedition can tow four and a half tons, besting the Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada in this important category by a bunch. Both the Toyota and Nissan are offered in one size—larger than the standard Expedition but not quite as enormous as the long-wheelbase Expedition EL.

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See the Ford Expedition in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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