Finally Got to Test Drive the 2018 Expedition Limited Short Wheel Base

[ExpeditionAndy]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive a 2018 Expedition Limited short wb. I really like the interior. The new instrument cluster is very well done.In addition to the speedo and tach, you have gas, water temp, oil pressure, and fuel right where you can see them across the too with a large display in between the tach and speedometer. The center console storage is huge, more like what I had on the 05.

It has an interesting glove box arrangement the top one looks like it's actually for gloves. the bottom one is what you would expect to see for a glove compartment. There was no 4L. This truck had the hd tow package. It does have a locking rear axle setting but what I was told was that was for the boat ramp. I did have the towing back up assist knob like the F150s - I guess for people that have a problem backing up a trailer.

It had I think 5 different driving modes, and it had the wheel to change from park to reverse and drive.

I found that it rode very smoothly with its 22" wheels. It was very quiet. at least as quiet as my 17 Limited EL.

The B pillar s about twice as wide as the one in the 17 but it didn't bother me. You didn't notice that windows were shorter when you were inside.

It is a big truck and it doesn't look anything like a mini van.

I'm not a big fan of the huge glass roof. I always worry about hail damage. Having wouldn't stop me from buying it.

The rear seats will take a little getting used to but it was all very serviceable. The sticker price of the one I drove was $75.5 K I don't know what discounts they were offering.

Overall it is a very nice truck. Ford did a nice job with. If I hadn't bought my 17 last February, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these. There is a lot of value there and it is a very comfortable truck with a lot of pick up. You really didn't notice the 10 speed transmission.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Here are a couple of pictures that I took.

 

[JExpedition07]

My comment was the same on the instrument cluster, i was happy to see they brought the tachometer back, I do like out round vents and dash style better on the 3rd gen, but they did a good job with this truck.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

My comment was the same on the instrument cluster, i was happy to see they brought the tachometer back, I do like out round vents and dash style better on the 3rd gen, but they did a good job with this truck.

I do like the new instrument cluster. I like the round vents but these look pretty good but they don't seem to have the same range of motion/angles as the round ones.

 

[mossback]

Very interesting write-up, Andy. Thanks for sharing that.

I do love the 3rd gen round vents- so functional and practical.

 

[shane_th_ee]

What’s even better is those gauges are configurable. I don’t know what all you can put up there, but was very happy to see transmission temperature as one of the options...

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

What’s even better is those gauges are configurable. I don’t know what all you can put up there, but was very happy to see transmission temperature as one of the options...

That's cool! I didn't have a lot of time to play with it. But that is smart. It would cool you if you could save several different configurations so that you could have one for towing , and one for regular driving, and maybe a different setup when you are driving on the highway.

 

[dlcorbett]

You can...you can configure up to 5 or 6 pages that u can access on the fly with the info you want displayed

 

[sjwelds]

Checked out a black limited short wheelbase 4x4 yesterday. Didn't drive it since it was in the showroom.


Man it's hard to be content with my 08 now...............




Still, ain't no way I'd ever be able to afford it anyway.

 

[killaz05]

Love the write up but in the text you said there was no 4L but in the pictures, the 4L button is present? Looks to be fully loaded. How did the extra power feel compared to a previous gen? I hope they get some rebates going soon.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The new instrument cluster is very well done.In addition to the speedo and tach, you have gas, water temp, oil pressure, ..."

Likely a "fake" oil pressure (i.e. The sensor does not read continuous pressure. It is the same sensor/sender/switch used with an oil pressure light so all you know is that you have oil pressure or you have none.)

This truck had the hd tow package. It does have a locking rear axle setting but what I was told was that was for the boat ramp.

It can be used anytime, but it won't feel good on hard surface corners ! It also shuts off at around 25-30(?) MPH.

The B pillar s about twice as wide as the one in the 17 but it didn't bother me.

Many (most?) Ford vehicles now that the extra little mirror in the corner of the exterior L and R rear view mirrors that gives a wide angle look. LEARN TO USE IT because the blind spot is much larger now a days.

 

[jeff kushner]

I passed an '18 last week and I agree with Andy's observations. As I came up on the '18, I was not sure that it wasn't an Explorer. While I'm pretty sure that I read that exterior dimensions are all larger than on the '17, I was struck by how they managed to hide it's size. The smooth corners and transitions hid it's bulk very well.....I really didn't look to hard once I began to pass....traffic was heavy.

jeff

 

[Fordalways]

We took a vanilla XLT for a test drive two weeks ago. I thought the front seats felt incredible and noted how quiet it rode with just a hint of growl from the exhaust that was pleasant but unexpected. Definitely would have to use cruise on the the highway as it snuck up to 85 on me without even trying. I'm not sure I even noticed the transmission shifting. The dash displays are very nice. The only thing that I thought was tacky was the flimsy hatch door covering the 12v outlet on the dash. Looking forward to the red one that is on order.

As one who has towed a travel trailer for over 30 years, I question the usefulness of the trailer assist feature. Perhaps backing a boat on an open ramp, but but in a cozy campground with trees, rocks and plumbing fixtures sticking out of the ground, it probably still requires 2 pair of eyes although the "Bird's Eye View" feature with the side and front cameras displaying what's lurking around the front and sides may be useful. Ford touts the towing ability for this vehicle but for some reason doesn't offer the extendable mirrors as they do for the F-Series. This means I will still have to use my clamp on mirrors.

 

[shane_th_ee]

As one who has towed a travel trailer for over 30 years, I question the usefulness of the trailer assist feature. Perhaps backing a boat on an open ramp, but but in a cozy campground with trees, rocks and plumbing fixtures sticking out of the ground, it probably still requires 2 pair of eyes.

We just bought our first travel trailer and went back and forth on springing for the trailer assist feature. If you already know what you're doing, the trailer assist feature is only useful if you find yourself having to back down a one lane road. But then it's really, really useful.

Ford touts the towing ability for this vehicle but for some reason doesn't offer the extendable mirrors as they do for the F-Series.

Me, too! Is it too naive of me to hold out hope that eventually towing mirrors will show up as an accessory or a dealer installed option?

 

[powerboatr]

thanks ANDY
i just realized the max and normal are different wheel bases...anyone seen how this extended length at the passenger door equates to ingress and egress ? yes it took me a bit to realize the different rear doors and how much the rear wheel cuts into the short version door versus the max rear door, it looks HUGE like an f150 rear door. which i was wondering how much it helps getting in and out. Our dealers cant seem to keep them on the lot long enough for me to go try. All limited ones so far and they are going fast.

 

[07xln]

There is no 4H in the new ones, only 4A I believe.

I don't like them. I'm seeing more and more on the roads and the mini van thing didn't hit me till I saw someone on here call it one and now its all I see. They tried to go the GM route and square it up and it just doesn't work. It doesn't have the truck look and feel to it anymore. Dodge did the same thing to the Durango. Went from a truck based SUV to a wagon built on a mini van frame.

I'm not in the market for anything now and probably wont be until 2019-2020 but Ive made up my mind I'll probably go back to a truck and more than likely it will be an F150.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Love the write up but in the text you said there was no 4L but in the pictures, the 4L button is present? Looks to be fully loaded. How did the extra power feel compared to a previous gen? I hope they get some rebates going soon.

The 4L comment was a bit of a brain fart. I think I meant to say there was no 4H.

I only drove it a short distance probably about 5 miles. Compared to my 17, my butt dyno would say that it had a little more power. The transmission was very smooth.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Many (most?) Ford vehicles now that the extra little mirror in the corner of the exterior L and R rear view mirrors that gives a wide angle look. LEARN TO USE IT because the blind spot is much larger now a days.

My comment on the B pillar was because so many complained that the B pillar blocked their view. The mirrors don't have the extra convex mirror that many vehicles have. I always adjust my sideview mirrors so that I can't see the side of the truck, that gives me a wider angle of view. I don't need to look at the side of the truck in my mirror and it has the blind spot system which I also have on the 17 and it works pretty well.

 

[JExpedition07]

There is no 4H in the new ones, only 4A I believe.

I don't like them. I'm seeing more and more on the roads and the mini van thing didn't hit me till I saw someone on here call it one and now its all I see. They tried to go the GM route and square it up and it just doesn't work. It doesn't have the truck look and feel to it anymore. Dodge did the same thing to the Durango. Went from a truck based SUV to a wagon built on a mini van frame.

I'm not in the market for anything now and probably wont be until 2019-2020 but Ive made up my mind I'll probably go back to a truck and more than likely it will be an F150.

I think the problem is ford put the belt line too high. Also the rounded front end. To me I look at these two and it’s no contest who looks more truck like.

 

[Scottorama]

Has anyone else noticed the extra large sunroof ruins the headroom in the second row......I had both my 6 foot tall kids sit in a limited last night, and both of them couldn't sit up straight in the second row seats because their heads hit the ceilings......so if you have tall kids like me....be sure to have them sit in the second and third rows before you buy one.