In the heart of Kentucky, Ford Motor Company operates a massive facility – the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant.
Covering 6.5 million square feet under one roof and spread across 435 acres, the plant makes Ford the largest auto manufacturer in Kentucky, and a vital cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy with about 9,000 employees – including more than 8,200 hourly, mostly from local communities. Nine other Ford plants in four other states contribute to the new Expedition, employing more than 17,000 workers. Ford invested $500 million into the Kentucky Truck Plant to launch the 2025 Expedition.
To view 2025 Expedition assembly, we traveled to the Kentucky plant to view state-of-the-art assembly methods, and learn more about Ford’s economic impact on the state. It was quite the experience!
2025 Expedition Overview
Available as either standard-wheelbase Expedition or extended-length Expedition Max (Max not offered on Tremor trim), the fifth-generation 2025 Expedition offers a roomy interior for 7-8 passengers, better cargo storage and improved technology and performance. New for this year is the first Expedition Tremor.
“For Expedition customers, family is at the center of everything they do,” said Trevor Scott, general manager of Ford Utilities. “We spent more than 1,100 hours talking with customers about their everyday lives. And with those insights we’ve rethought and redesigned Expedition to help customers make the most of their precious time with family and to make life easier – before, during and after every trip they make.”
Expedition is available is four trims:
- Active
- Platinum
- Tremor
- King Ranch
Expedition Exterior
The 2025 Ford Expedition gets a sleek exterior design with new head-and taillights, a revised grille, and various wheel options.
Expedition’s new look is highlighted by an illuminated bar below the grille that connects front lighting, while the taillights now have stylish vertical elements.
A split-folding rear liftgate delivers easier access to the cargo area, and depending on trim the tailgate can automatically open when approached with the key fob.
The liftgate’s lower half doubles as a barrier for roll-prone items, like basketballs and baseballs. Folded down, the bottom section becomes a bench or a makeshift table. I experienced the fold down liftgate at Louisville’s Slugger Field baseball park, where Ford had several models on display for us to experience the impressive liftgate configurations, perfect for tailgating and camping.
We also experienced Expedition’s optional “four-zone” exterior lighting, also great for tailgating and camping, and will automatically shut off when a power threshold is reached so you don’t deplete the battery to a no-start condition.
Expedition Interior
Inside, the new Expedition is almost as luxurious as upscale cousin Lincoln Navigator, which shares the same chassis.
Features like the adaptable Flex Powered Console that slides forward for more storage and center aisle room, or shifts rearward for easier second-row passenger access; available power-folding Captain’s Chairs or 40/20/40 layout with Tip-and-Slide; and useful space for adults in all three rows create an interior that clearly was well thought out by planners. Overhead, a full panoramic glass sunroof adds brightness to the interior at the touch of a button.
In the high-tech arena, the new Expedition features Ford Digital Experience3, designed for personalization for owners through driver-specific profiles.
Ford Digital Experience3 is experienced through a 24-inch panoramic display positioned at the lower edge of the windshield to help keep drivers looking at the road ahead. This enables sight lines over – not through – the steering wheel.
It also eliminates the need for a Head Up Display. There is also a 13.2” center stack touchscreen to control navigation, apps, audio, and more. Drivers can create a customized profile that will remember your unique seat, mirror, steering wheel, and pedal positions. And you can link your personal key fob so selections automatically return to your profile settings when you enter Expedition.
The new Expeditions offer myriad additional high-tech features. Google Assistant4 serves as the default voice assistant and Alexa Built-in is also available as an alternative for in-vehicle controls, temperature, help with making calls and sending texts, and controlling connected smart home devices. Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Google Play apps and embedded Google Maps are also available tech. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. Killer Bang & Olufsen audio in our test Platinum model delivered audiophile quality.
The Expedition’s cabin materials and trim pieces are also Navigator-like, especially on Platinum trim, which offers leather upholstery and massaging front seats. Every model has a power-folding third row that can be controlled from the cargo area or back seats. Both the second and third rows fold completely flat for a level floor, making it easier to load things.
The tailgate can support up to 500 pounds and includes an available seatback from the available Cargo Tailgate Manager. The seatback also transforms to turn the tailgate into a serving table, and power outlets in the cargo area are a great feature to enjoy power during camping or tailgating.
When equipped with the Open-on-Approach feature, if your hands are full when you stand near the back of the vehicle for a few seconds with the key fob in your pocket, the Split Gate will automatically open.
Storage and cargo management access is also easier for passengers in the first and second rows. With the press of a button, a driver can easily slide the available new Flex Powered Console back nearly eight inches, opening a secure place in front to store a bag, purse or other valuables and giving second-row passengers easier access to a console with audio and climate controls and cupholders.
Hauling long objects such as skis, fishing rods, lumber, and even kayaks is now easier thanks to the available new Third-Row Flexible Seating. The middle of the rear bench seat folds down independently to open a long center aisle that extends from the Split Gate clear to the front center console to help customers manage their cargo and people-moving needs.
Expedition offers an available new Digital Device Holder mounted to the back of the first-row headrests. The device most digital devices including smartphones and large tablets.
Expedition Drive Experience
During the media event, we drove several Expedition trims, including Platinum and on a fun off road course in the Expedition Tremor.
Under the hood lies a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission that pairs with two or four-wheel drive. The base engine makes 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, while Tremor delivers 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque.
All base Expeditions are underpinned with an independent rear suspension while the Tremor model gets a raised suspension system with passive shocks that adds 10.6-inches of ground clearance over base trims, an electronic locking rear axle, underbody protection skid plates, tow hooks, Raptor inspired running boards, electric power-assisted steering, and 18-inch wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires.
During the drive to the Kentucky assembly plant in a Platinum trim, we found the ride quality to be very good, and not bouncy as is the case in some large Sport-Utes. We especially enjoyed using Ford’s improved BlueCruise self-driving system. The new system, dubbed BlueCruise 1.4 delivers a more natural feeling drive, with less of the “side-to-side” effect of prior version; and more smoothly operates when you choose Lane Change Assist, allowing you to switch lanes hands-free, and In-Lane Repositioning, which helps provide more space from vehicles in adjacent lanes.
During the media drive, we travelled to the Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area in Lynnville Indiana. Interlake is a multi-use recreational facility focusing on off-road vehicle recreation, set on 3,550 acres with nearly 100 miles of trails. There, a phalanx of Tremors was at the ready so media could get down and dirty.
During the Interlake drive, we experienced several Tremor-only features, including a Rock Crawl driving mode, a cruise control system designed to help maintain speed during steep hill descents, a Trail Turn Assist feature that helps swing the rear end around through select wheel braking when navigating a tight trail turn and Trail 1-Pedal driving.
Trail 1-Pedal Drive is a feature that uses hydraulic brake torque to assist in stopping the vehicle without using the brake pedal. When the accelerator is lifted, Expedition will automatically slow down and can even come to a complete stop, making it easier to control in challenging terrain. This feature works in conjunction with Trail Control and G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) modes, improving low-speed crawling and overall off-road capability.
Expedition Tremor is definitely well-suited to getting muddy!
Trailer Towing Capability and Technology
The 2025 Expedition is also a very capable tow rig as four-wheel drive Expeditions can tow up to 9,600 pounds when equipped with the Heavy-Duty Tow Package and a weight-distributing hitch. Models without the heavy duty package can tow up to 7,000 pounds, and rear-wheel drive models can tow up to 6,100 pounds.
The available Heavy Duty Tow Package includes an integrated brake controller, a larger radiator, and a two-speed automatic four-wheel drive transfer case with neutral towing capability. New Lane Change Preview, in vehicle towing apps, integrated trailer brake controller, and 360-degree camera with reverse guidance and trailer side view angles help provide towing confidence.
Additionally, advanced hitching technology is available, including:
Pro Trailer Hitch Assist: Utilizes the rear camera and corner radars to align the hitch with the trailer coupler while simultaneously controlling the truck’s speed, steering, and braking to stop when properly aligned with the hitch ball.
Pro Trailer Backup Assist: This super useful feature allows the camera to track the trailer position while the driver backs up and guides the trailer by rotating a control knob left or right in the direction the trailer needs to go, allowing the system to control the steering wheel.
Expedition Trims and Pricing
- Expedition Active – $62,000
- Expedition Platinum – $74,430
- Expedition Tremor – $81,030
- Expedition King Ranch – $83,655
For Platinum trim, additional packages are available offering performance, tech, styling, wheel size, interior upgrades and more:
- Ultimate – $13,570
- Stealth Performance – $6,545
- Stealth Appearance – $3,570
- Driver’s Package – $2,810
All trim prices are exclusive of a $1,995 Destination Charge.
In a very crowded large SUV market that includes the Jeep Wagoneer, Nissan Armada, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, the 2025 Ford Expedition is a solid, comfortable, dependable offering.
