Meet our off-road expert, Kapil Sachdeva. At the age of 4 years, he drove his first vehicle off the road—a tractor—and has been driving as much off-road as on-road ever since.

Having been banned from motorcycling by his family in 1991 after a near-fatal high-speed crash, he started racing go-karts in 1993 in India, Dubai, and Europe. He has been rallying in India from 2001 to 2006, including the “Rally Desert Storm” and “Raid-de-Himalayas,” winning several awards and ranks in the Group N category (non-modified cars). He has been bashing dunes, wading through muddy rivers, and rock crawling in India and the UAE since 1998, gaining in-depth knowledge and understanding of on-road and off-road vehicles and techniques.

Ford Expedition Off-Roading

Drive

The Ford Expedition is often considered the ‘Underdog’ of the full-size SUV segment in the Middle East, especially in the off-roading arena. The powerful 5.4L V8 engine delivers 310 HP and 495 Nm of torque, with about 85% of the torque available at 1500 RPM, enabling it to accelerate effectively.

We achieved a 0-100 km/h sprint in less than 9 seconds in rear-wheel drive mode, with an electronic cut-off at 178 km/h. Here is the sprint test:

The Expedition offers an overall mileage of 17-18L/100 km and has four selectable driving modes:

2 Wheel (Rear-Wheel)
4A (4 Wheel – Auto)
4H (All-Time 4x4)
4L (All-Time 4x4 LOW Range)

Each mode can be selected via a rotary control dial on the dash, with the first three modes changeable while driving up to speeds of 100 km/h. To switch to 4L, one must stop and change.

On the road, the Expedition behaves nicely with very precise steering and minimal body roll. It remains almost flat during braking. Although the brake pedal feels a little spongy, the braking itself is impressive for such a large vehicle, with the ABS engaging even on dry roads. This may be linked to Ford's decision to reduce tire width from 275 to 255, which also causes some squealing during fast turns. The Expedition stops from 120 to 0 km/h in about 4 seconds! Check out our braking test video here:

We took the Expedition to the vast dunes in Dubai and Sharjah, driving in 4A, 4H, and 4L modes. The flotation is commendable, but keep in mind the long front overhang and a ground clearance of only 8.7 inches. Despite this, it performs well while ensuring reasonable comfort for occupants. The automatic four-wheel drive system includes a two-speed dual-range transfer gearbox and an intelligent locking center multi-disc differential, capable of sending up to 100% of the torque to the front wheels when needed. The dedicated microprocessor detects different terrain and surface conditions, predicting traction loss before it occurs. In various uphill climbs, the 4A (Auto) mode exhibited faster climbing times than the 4H (lock) mode. Here are a couple of videos demonstrating this:

The four-wheel electronic traction control system simulates front and rear differential locks by applying brakes to the wheel with less traction, allowing a four-wheel drive Expedition to keep moving, even if only one wheel has traction. This system allows the Expedition to continue moving even if two of its drive wheels (one front, one rear) are airborne. Utilizing ABS brakes rather than mechanical limited-slip devices ensures quicker response and enhanced durability, although this traction control system is disabled in 4L mode and cannot be turned off manually.

The four-wheel independent long-travel suspension, a purpose-built version found on off-road desert race vehicles, provides a full 9.4 inches of suspension travel, enabling it to traverse uneven terrain with improved control and ride quality.

Expedition 4x4s undergo testing alongside the F-150 and Super Duty trucks at Ford’s California and Arizona proving grounds. The Expedition is subjected to the same durability tests and evaluations to meet the same standards as its pickup truck counterparts, complete with off-road underbody skid plate protection.

Interior

The interior of the Ford Expedition is spacious and comfortable, even in the third row of seats, which can accommodate three average-built adults and child car seats without cramping their feet. The air conditioning functions well, but when parked in the sun or driven around town in the intense Dubai heat, it takes some time to cool down. Keeping the engine above 2000 RPM helps speed up the cooling process.

However, the top two trims with leather seats could benefit from a seat cooling system, which is only available in the Lincoln Navigator here. The front dashboard material and fit do not meet the expectations for a vehicle in this class, appearing inferior to even the 2nd generation Expedition, with squeaks and chirps at the slightest touch. Additionally, the buttons on the steering wheel are relatively small and require a firm press for action.

The Expedition includes the Ford SYNC factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system, allowing users to make hands-free calls, control music, and perform other functions with voice commands. It provides drivers the ability to operate Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players using voice commands, the vehicle's steering wheel, or radio controls. The system can also vocalize received text messages and provide vehicle health reports, traffic updates, and more.

Verdict

With a base price of AED 125,000, the Ford Expedition offers significant value for money. Other trims include the XLT at AED 139,000, AED 149,000 for the XLT Leather, and AED 189,000 for the Limited. Standard equipment across the entire range includes keyless entry keypad, heated power mirrors, air conditioning, an electrochromic rearview mirror, illuminated visors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Notable features include Ford's MyKey system and SecuriCode keypad-entry system.