2002 Ford Expedition: Big, Prestigious, and Expensive

Author's Rating:

Pros: Safety ratings are high; prestigious; roomy interior

Cons: High price tag; few colors; difficulty in parking; annoying seat belt warning beeper

Handling And Control:

The Bottom Line: 
This is a prestigious SUV, but unless you really need something this large and this expensive, you should probably pass.

Author's Review
Are you in the market for a sport utility vehicle? Do you need an SUV that has lots of room, for both passengers and for hauling? If so, then the 2002 Ford Expedition might be just the vehicle you’ve been looking for. Ford introduced this line of SUV in 1997, to compete in the large SUV market. This class of SUV would include models like the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Dodge Durango.

Features of This Vehicle:

Like other Ford SUV’s, the Expedition is available in several different trim levels: XLT 2 wheel drive; XLT 4 wheel drive; Eddie Bauer 2 wheel drive; and Eddie Bauer 4 wheel drive. The Eddie Bauer trim levels are more luxurious than the XLT, offering more standard features and more optional equipment.

All trim levels of the Expedition come with a 4.6 liter 232 horsepower, V8 engine. On the Eddie Bauer edition, you have the option of upgrading to a 5.4 liter, 260 horsepower V8 engine (actually, this is standard on the Eddie Bauer 4wd, but optional on the other three trim levels). The maximum towing capacity of the Expedition is 8,100 pounds. Depending on what you plan on using your Expedition for, the additional 28 horses and larger engine can come in handy.

Each of the different Expedition models comes complete with a standard set of options that you would expect in a vehicle of this size and this price level. All four trim levels offer air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, cruise control, power seats, cassette player, luggage rack, etc. With the Eddie Bauer editions, you have other options that come as part of the standard package, like CD player and leather seats. These options are also available on the XLT trim level, but they are standard on the Eddie Bauer.

Dimensions:

Ford’s Expedition is a large vehicle, measuring 17 feet, 2 inches in length; 6 feet, 7 inches in width; and 6 feet, 6 inches in height. This truck has a curb weight that ranges from 4,900 pounds (XLT 2wd) up to nearly 5,700 pounds (Eddie Bauer 4wd). There’s more than 20 cubic feet of cargo volume and room for 7 to 9 passengers, depending on the trim level.

Fuel Economy:

Expedition is a large truck and, as you might expect, the fuel economy isn’t that impressive. On the 2wd models, the gas mileage rating is 15 in the city and 20 on the highway. If you opt for the 5.4- liter engine, with a 2wd, the gas mileage ratings drop to 13 and 18. With the 4wd models, the ratings are even lower- 14 city and 17 highway with the smaller engine; 12 city and 16 highway with the larger engine. As you can see, the Expedition is not going to help you save money on gasoline. It's a large, heavy vehicle and it needs a good amount of fuel to run.

Warranty Information:

All Expeditions come with a standard 36,000 mile, 36- month warranty. There’s also a 60 month warranty against rust corrosion. If you want more warranty coverage, you will need to purchase extended coverage.

Handling/Ride:

Because of the large size of the Expedition, it can feel a little intimidating at first, when you jump in the driver’s seat. I have driven this vehicle a few times, and I approached with caution at first. After a few times, though, it became routine.

When you first drive this vehicle, you get the feeling that you’re handling a bus. With each turn, you are careful to give yourself plenty of room to make sure that you that you can navigate the turn with no problems. There is a somewhat “top heavy” feel to this vehicle, although I don’t think it’s as bad as it is with the Ford Explorer. With I drove the 2002 Ford Explorer, I felt more of a tipping sensation, when I made turns. Expedition isn’t quite that bad, although you still need to be careful and make sure that you make it a point to slow down, when you make a turn.

Ford equips this vehicle with adequate mirrors, but I found that I still needed to look over my shoulder, to make sure it was safe to change lanes. I didn’t trust the mirrors, like I usually do in other, smaller vehicles.

The ride of this vehicle is smooth, and the engine is fairly quiet. There’s a decent amount of power, for a vehicle of this size, although it doesn’t have the quick acceleration that you experience in smaller vehicles. I have only driven the 5.4- liter engine, so I can’t comment on the ride or acceleration of the smaller engine.

Final Thoughts:

Ford Expedition is a large truck with lots of versatility and lots of luxury options. It’s great for those who want a vehicle with plenty of room for passengers, cargo, and good capacity for towing.

Everything is not perfect about the Expedition, though. One bad thing is the available colors. There are only six exterior options: black, red, blue, white, beige, and silver. Another bad thing is what a purchase of an Expedition can do to your wallet. The basic XLT model, with minimal options, will cost you at least $31,000. A fully loaded Eddie Bauer 4wd can cost you over $40,000. On a 60- month loan, with $4,000 down and an interest rate of 7 percent, your monthly payment would be $712.84. That’s more than many people pay for their monthly mortgage!

Another potential problem is with parking. With the dimensions being what they are, you might find that you cannot easily fit the Expedition into parking spaces that used to be easily accommodating to smaller vehicles. Also, if you’re parking in a lot that has parking spaces at right angles, you need to have plenty of room to turn, to fit the Expedition into the space. Without adequate space, you will have to engage in the “forward, back” routine, putting the vehicle in reverse, then moving forward, then reverse, then forward, several times, in order to ease into tight parking quarters.

The Expedition is an impressive vehicle, and it does give you a feeling of power and prestige when you drive it. It also gives you a safe, secure feeling that you don’t get in a smaller vehicle. With nearly three tons of weight, you feel like you’re driving a tank. It also helps that the Expedition has finished above average in crash- test results. These factors will give most drivers a greater sense of confidence and security that you don’t get with a small, lightweight vehicle.

Unless you really need a vehicle of this size, you should probably consider a smaller SUV. Ford Expedition is prestigious, yes, but it will really take a toll on your personal finances. Buy it, only if you really need it and if you can afford the high price tag.