It is that exciting time of year when more and more brands are releasing information on the upcoming model year. Sometimes, the updates for any given model will be very subtle, and you have to dig deep to find the changes for the new model year. But, every now and then, a vehicle undergoes changes so significant that you simply can’t hide them. There is a specific all-new vehicle that is catching some eyes, and it comes from what one could argue is America’s favorite brand. I am, of course, referring to the Ford Expedition. Now, I have to admit that I was previously not very enamored with Ford as a brand—while I didn’t have any inherent distaste for the brand, I had never experienced first-hand the value of a Ford vehicle…that was until I became a Ford SUV driver.
I now have to admit that I was missing out, as Ford SUVs capture a wonderful combination of performance, efficiency, design, and technology. Coming back to the 2025 Expedition, if you go into a Ford dealer, look at the 2024 Expedition, and compare it to the 2025 Expedition, you’ll see that there are some serious changes, meriting the “all-new” title. So, what do we know about the 2025 Expedition, and what are the significant updates for the new model year?
High-Level Updates
Let’s start by taking the 30,000-foot view of the 2025 Expedition to get a feeling for the general direction Ford is taking. If you’re not already familiar with the model, the Expedition is Ford’s full-size SUV. Able to seat up to eight people, there is no doubt that this SUV has a specific target audience: families. As such, Ford is really leaning into the Expedition’s family-friendly nature for the 2025 model year. Having spent over 1,100 hours of conversations with customers, Ford has really worked hard to identify how it can improve the Expedition to maximize family-friendliness, efficiency, and enjoyability.
Ford’s efforts in this area include not only flexibility in terms of the driving experience itself but also in the way that the vehicle can become a multipurpose tool, whether it’s mobile or stationary. Positioning itself as an outdoor-oriented vehicle, perfect for camping trips, the Expedition has added some features to make itself more useful to families in an outdoor setting. Notably, the Expedition has added the Tremor trim to its lineup. For those who aren’t familiar with it, the Tremor trim is an off-roading option well-known from the F-150, Super Duty, and Maverick pickup trucks.
This is a bit of a surprising addition, especially given the way Ford is emphasizing the family-friendly nature of the Expedition. The Tremor does not mess around when it comes to off-roading, and it will be interesting to see how this new off-roading trim performs with families. No doubt, it will make for more exciting hiking excursions and camping trips. But what are the other nitty-gritty details of the all-new 2025 Expedition? What are some specific features you can expect to see? Let’s dive in.
Improving Versatility
Second to family-friendliness, a significant theme of the 2025 Expedition is versatility. After all, if there is one thing that growing families require, it is, indeed, versatility. As such, cargo hauling and cargo management are a key part of this year’s updates. Something I’ve often alluded to is that SUVs and trucks are part of the same family; any given brand’s leading full-size SUV and leading full-size truck often have similar architecture and performance. One just has a pickup bed, while the other has a covered passenger and cargo space. The 2025 Expedition really emphasizes this close relationship, taking its cargo strategy inspiration from pickup beds.
The 2025 Expedition debuts the new Ford Split Gate, which combines the usual SUV liftgate with a pickup truck tailgate. The top three-quarters of the rear hatch goes up, like it would in any other SUV, while the bottom quarter folds down like a tailgate. Now, you may ask, “What difference does that make? It’s the same amount of cargo space either way.” Ah, but that’s where you are wrong!
The tailgate portion is able to support 500 pounds, meaning that if you’re having a tailgate party or tying down a heftier piece of cargo, you’ve got extra support. Speaking of tailgate parties, the available Cargo Tailgate Manager provides a flip-up seatback, which can transform into a serving table. If you’re wondering about the difference that the new Ford Split Gate can make, the difference is that your family SUV has the potential to include built-in dining space.
For anyone making full use of this tailgate and the increased cargo management it provides, chances are their hands will be full. Nothing is more annoying than having to set your stuff down in order to open the rear hatch. But 2025 Expedition drivers won’t have to face this annoyance anymore as long as they have their key fob in their pocket, purse, or bag. With Open-On-Approach technology, the liftgate and tailgate will open automatically after a few seconds once you approach the rear of the vehicle. The 2025 Expedition proves that we do indeed live in the future.
One of the less tech-forward but still innovative solutions the 2025 Expedition provides is the available new Third Row Flexible Seating, which provides a 40/20/40 split-folding seat. This alleviates a huge pain point for a lot of SUV drivers, as you often feel like you have to compromise seating for storage space. But, since nobody ever likes sitting in the middle in the third row anyway, that seat can now be folded down independently, allowing longer items to be stored straight up the center of the vehicle all the way up to the front row. One could fairly wonder why it took the automotive industry so long to develop this innovation since it has more to do with mechanics than modern technology, but rather than dwell on that point, let’s just be happy that it exists now.
A More Tech-Savvy Ride
As we track vehicle changes and updates from year to year, I think we all have a special curiosity about technology. Technology is no longer a luxury restricted to high-end vehicles but a standard offering; the question is not whether a vehicle has tech features but how many and what kind. As the 2025 Expedition is expanding its versatility through cargo management, it is, of course, making itself more tech-savvy as well.
With the new Ford Digital Experience, the drivers are immersed in their own tech oasis. With personalized profiles for individual drivers, the Expedition will have each individual’s favorite apps ready to go for the ride, making sure that they can enjoy the drive with their preferred media. This media will also be easier to enjoy with the brand-new 24-inch panoramic display. Stop and digest that for a moment: 24 INCHES! That is huge!
What you also need to understand is that this 24-inch display replaces the gauge cluster. Do you know what that means? That means that this 24-inch display is in addition to the regular 13.2-inch infotainment center, which is already quite large. So, screen capacity is going way up in the 2025 Expedition. This large panoramic display serves a dual purpose of providing vital driver information (such as speed, gear, odometer, etc.) and extra media control. Its position on the lower edge of the dashboard keeps the drivers’ sightlines on the road, allowing for easier control and a safer ride.
Some drivers are more enamored with performance than tech, and there is a lot to take in with the new screens and features in the 2025 model. But there’s no denying that the Expedition’s tech advancements are cutting-edge. You won’t believe the new panoramic display when you see it. While some may call it overkill, it’s sure to be a tech-lover’s dream.
Pushing Forward
The Expedition is a family vehicle, no doubt. Ford is not shy about admitting that. But you don’t have to have a large family to appreciate what the 2025 Expedition is doing: it’s tearing down the boundaries between trucks and SUVs, increasing capability in a number of areas. While the cargo management advancements are certainly inspired by trucks, the addition of the Tremor trim is a huge move for the Expedition; traditionally, this has been a trim catering to a very different audience than you would think of for the Expedition. But I think what Ford is doing proves that you don’t have to choose between your adventure vehicle and your family vehicle. With a similar structure, SUVs can take on some of the beloved (and helpful) features of trucks. It will certainly be interesting to track if this step forward for the Expedition leads to a greater shift in the SUV market as a whole: perhaps Ford is, once again, pushing the industry forward towards a new trend.
