Occupying the middle ground is sometimes just the right place to be — depending on what you're looking for.
The 2023 Ford Expedition MAX isn't quite as long or as spacious as a Chevy Suburban, but it's longer than a Chevy Tahoe, the shorter version of the Suburban. (You can also think of the Suburban as a longer version of the Tahoe, both ways of looking at it being equally accurate.)
The MAX also comes standard with a smaller — stronger — engine than either version of the two Chevys, and a higher standard tow rating (9,300 pounds), too.
What It Is
The MAX is a longer version of the Ford Expedition, which is Ford's full-size SUV. Unlike GM, which markets the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban as two different models, Ford markets the MAX as a version of the Expedition rather than as two separate models, for the altogether sensible reason that the two are the same thing in different lengths.
Whether we're talking about the Ford or the Chevys.
MAX prices start at $55,905 for the base XL trim with 2WD; adding the optional 4WD system bumps the price up to $58,955. From there you can select from XLT ($59,940), King Ranch ($77,170) and Platinum trims ($81,620). The latter comes standard with a stronger version of the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine that's standard in all Expeditions, and this can be upgraded to an even stronger version if you select the optional Stealth package, which includes 22-inch wheels/tires, upgraded brakes, power deployable running boards and a 22-speaker premium audio system.
What's New For 2023
The longer MAX version of the Expedition is now offered with all trims, including the base XL.
What's Good
MAX might be just the right size for your needs.
Standard twin-turbo V6 is more powerful than Chevy Tahoe/Suburban's standard V8.
Gauges rather than displays; knobs rather than screens.
What's Not So Good
Suburban is more spacious — in terms of cargo capacity — and comes standard with a V8.
Another rival, the Jeep Wagoneer, comes standard with a higher (10,000 pounds) tow rating.
Third row isn't standard.
Under The Hood
Unlike its rivals, which offer two or even three different engines, the Expedition comes with the same 3.5-liter V6, irrespective of trim (or length).
However, it does come in more than one output.
The base XL and next-up XLT trims come standard with a 380-horsepower version. The Limited, King Ranch and Platinums trims get a 400-horsepower version, and there's a 440-horsepower version available in the Limited as part of a Stealth Performance Package. The 440-horsepower version of the 3.5-liter V6 is also standard in the Timberline, an offroad/performance model added to the lineup last year that's similar in theme to the Raptor version of the F-150 pickup. (The Expedition and F-150 share a common platform, or basic underlying layout.)
On The Road
Ford probably doesn't want you to know that this Ford does a very good job of emulating a Lincoln — the Navigator, which is the Expedition's luxury-badged brother. Both are essentially the same vehicle — and feel like it. The Lincoln is slightly quieter, a bit softer, and it comes standard with a pair of the most indulgent massaging seats available. (They're better than the ones Mercedes installs in the S-Class sedan). And every Navigator comes standard with the 440-horsepower version of the 3.5 V6 that's optional in the Expedition - so it's stronger-feeling.
But it's also $77,635 to start.
You can own something very similar for about $25,000 less to start. And you can get the massaging seats, if you want - along with the 440-horse engine, a very similar adaptive suspension a 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, deploying running boards and most of the rest that you'd get in a Navigator in a plain brown wrapper, so to speak.
At The Curb
What you get with the MAX is more — and also less.
Relative to the standard-length Expedition, which is 210 inches long, you get about a foot more Expedition. You also get 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, whereas in the regular Expedition, just 20.9 cubic feet. That's still a lot, which is one of the reasons why these big SUVs are so popular relative to cars — which increasingly aren't. Even the big ones have very small trunks relative to their size, and none can accommodate eight people as the Expedition can.
The Max can accommodate even more stuff with its second and third rows folded down, which increases the total available cargo carrying capacity to 121.5 cubic feet vs. 104.6 cubic feet in the standard-length Expedition.
And it can accommodate more easily. A Ford F-150's bed is so high off the ground one needs a ladder to load and unload.
Here, you don't.
The Rest
One thing to be aware of is that the Expedition does not come standard with a third row. The base XL only has two rows. Stepping up to the XLT adds the third row — and endows this rig with eight (rather than five) passenger-carrying capabilities.
Timberlines have almost 11 inches of standard ground clearance vs. 9.8 inches for the other trims. The top-of-the-line Platinum features Ford's (and Lincoln's) BlueCruise self-driving capability; but this capability is only operative on "supported" highways, meaning it doesn't work on those that aren't.
The Bottom Line
It's not the biggest of the bunch, but it might be just big enough.
Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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