The Complete Ford Expedition Guide
Three rows, a body-on-frame chassis, a twin-turbocharged V6, and a tow rating that reaches into territory most three-row crossovers cannot approach. The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV for families who actually use the third row and actually pull something. At Dennis Sneed Ford in Gower, MO, we sell them to Kansas City metro families and northwest Missouri households who need one vehicle to do everything.
Why buy a Ford Expedition?
The Ford Expedition is a full-size, body-on-frame SUV with three rows of seating and a 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Properly equipped with four-wheel drive and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, it tows up to 9,600 lbs, and it offers up to 108.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. It comes in two lengths: Expedition and Expedition MAX.
The case for a full-size SUV instead of a three-row crossover comes down to two things: what you tow and how often the third row carries adults. A crossover handles car seats and a small trailer. An Expedition handles a travel trailer, a loaded boat, and three rows of people at the same time, and it does it on a truck frame rather than a car platform.
What it is not is a vehicle you buy for fuel economy or for easy parking. It is a large SUV and it drives like one. If your third row is empty most of the year and you rarely tow, we will tell you honestly that an Explorer is probably the better buy. The families who need an Expedition usually know it already.
Shopping the 2027 Ford Expedition?
The 2027 Expedition adds three new colors, a 30th Anniversary Appearance Package on Platinum, and 4x2 availability on Platinum and King Ranch for the first time. Our complete 2027 buyer's guide covers all seven configurations, both engines, towing by drivetrain, and the equipment choices that change what the vehicle can actually do.
What models does the Ford Expedition come in?
The Expedition lineup runs Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch. Active is the volume model, Platinum is the luxury flagship, Tremor is the off-road model, and King Ranch is the western-themed luxury trim. Active, Platinum, and King Ranch are also offered in the longer Expedition MAX body. Tremor is offered in the standard wheelbase only.
Expedition Active
The entry point, and the only trim that comes standard with eight-passenger seating in either length. A 3.5L EcoBoost V6 rated at 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft, a 10-speed automatic, and three rows with a 60/40 PowerFold third-row bench. Offered in both standard and MAX lengths.
Expedition Platinum
The comfort and technology trim, and the one that gets the new 30th Anniversary Appearance Package. The High-Output version of the 3.5L EcoBoost, rated at 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft, is available here. Offered in both standard and MAX lengths.
Expedition Tremor
The High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 comes standard, along with a raised ride height. At 10.6 inches of minimum running ground clearance it has nearly two more inches than the 8.7 inches most Expedition models carry, and at 78.9 inches tall it is the tallest Expedition. Standard wheelbase only.
Expedition King Ranch
The King Ranch interior treatment with the full technology suite. Worth knowing before you order: King Ranch is the one Expedition that is not offered with eight-passenger seating, in either length. Offered in both standard and MAX lengths.
What is the difference between the Expedition and the Expedition MAX?
The Expedition MAX is 221.7 inches long against the standard Expedition's 209.9 inches, and the extra 11.8 inches goes almost entirely into cargo space behind the third row. The tradeoff is towing: a properly equipped 4x4 MAX is rated at 9,000 lbs, while a properly equipped 4x4 standard Expedition is rated at 9,600 lbs.
This surprises most shoppers, and it is the single most useful thing to understand before you order. The longer, heavier vehicle tows less, not more. If your priority is cargo behind the third row, the MAX is a meaningful upgrade. If your priority is pulling the heaviest trailer the Expedition can handle, the standard wheelbase is the one to order.
| Measure | Expedition | Expedition MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 209.9 in | 221.7 in |
| Cargo behind third row | 22.9 cu ft | 37.4 cu ft |
| Cargo behind second row | 69.9 cu ft | 84.5 cu ft |
| Maximum cargo | 108.5 cu ft | 123.1 cu ft |
| Max towing, 4x4, properly equipped | 9,600 lbs | 9,000 lbs |
| Max towing, 4x2, properly equipped | 6,000 lbs | 6,300 lbs |
| Tremor offered | Yes | No |
Cargo figures are Ford's available optimized volumes. Towing figures require the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, which is offered on four-wheel-drive models.
Is the drive to Gower worth it for a Kansas City buyer?
For most Expedition shoppers, yes. Dennis Sneed Ford is about 45 minutes north of Kansas City on US-169, and the Expedition is a configuration-heavy vehicle. Length, drivetrain, engine, seating layout, and the tow package all change what it can do. We factory-order, which usually beats settling for whatever is sitting on a metro lot.
Roughly 60% of our business comes from the Kansas City metro, including Liberty, Smithville, Kearney, Overland Park, Lees Summit, and the surrounding suburbs, along with St. Joseph, Maryville, and Savannah to the north. We also sell the Explorer and the Lincoln Navigator, which means the size and luxury conversation can be an honest one rather than a sales pitch for whatever is on the lot.
30 years. Family-owned. Ford Credit Partners in Quality.
Dennis Sneed Ford has been a family-owned Ford dealership in Gower, MO for 30 years, and the recognition behind the name is real:
- Top 5 Ford remarketing dealer in the country, purchasing 1,100+ late-model Ford and Lincoln vehicles directly from Ford each year.
- Ford Credit Partners in Quality, one of roughly 111 dealers nationally recognized for the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- We factory-order, so tell us the length, trim, drivetrain, engine, and seating layout you want and we will confirm it can be built before you commit to anything.
Should you buy a new or used Ford Expedition?
Both are worth looking at. Equipment, seating layouts, and tow ratings have changed across model years, so what you are buying depends heavily on which year you are looking at. Our remarketing program means late-model used Expeditions turn up here more regularly than at most stores our size.
Shopping a new Expedition?
Browse new Expedition inventory across Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch, in both standard and MAX lengths. We can also factory-order one built to your exact spec, including the seating layout and the tow package.
Shopping a used Expedition?
As a Top 5 Ford remarketing dealer we purchase over 1,100 late-model Ford and Lincoln vehicles directly from Ford each year, which is why used Expeditions rotate through here regularly. Call and we will tell you honestly whether new or used makes more sense for what you are after.
The complete Ford Expedition research library
Every Expedition research piece we have published, organized by what you are trying to decide.
Current Model Year Guide
- 2027 Ford Expedition buyer's guide — the complete year-specific pillar with every configuration, both engines, and capability by drivetrain
Configuration & Decision Guides
- 2027 Expedition colors COMING SOON — the full palette with swatches and paint codes, including the three new for 2027
- Expedition trims explained COMING SOON — Active through King Ranch, and which equipment actually changes capability
Use-Case & Buyer Guides
- Expedition towing capacity COMING SOON — what 9,600 lbs requires, and the configurations that tow considerably less
- Used Ford Expedition buying guide COMING SOON — what to check before you buy, and how our remarketing program stocks them
Comparison & Cross-Shopping
- Lincoln Navigator vs Ford Expedition — what the Navigator adds over a loaded Expedition, and whether it is worth it
- Expedition vs Expedition MAX COMING SOON — length, cargo, and why the longer one tows less
More Ford Research
Research guides for the rest of the Ford lineup.
Where can I see the Ford Expedition near Kansas City?
At Dennis Sneed Ford in Gower, MO, at 1046 S.W. Highway 169, about 45 minutes north of the Kansas City metro and roughly 30 minutes south of St. Joseph via US-169.
Expedition configurations vary widely by length, drivetrain, and package, so call 816-409-1975 before you drive up to confirm what is on the lot that day. You can browse inventory online, get a no-obligation trade value before the drive, or get pre-qualified so the in-person visit is quick.
Ford Expedition questions, answered
How much can the Ford Expedition tow?
A four-wheel-drive Expedition is rated to tow up to 9,600 lbs when equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, and a four-wheel-drive Expedition MAX is rated at up to 9,000 lbs with the same package. Two-wheel-drive models are rated at up to 6,000 lbs for the standard Expedition and up to 6,300 lbs for the MAX. The Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package is offered on four-wheel-drive models, so a two-wheel-drive Expedition cannot reach the higher ratings.
What is the difference between the Expedition and the Expedition MAX?
The Expedition MAX is 221.7 inches long and the standard Expedition is 209.9 inches, a difference of 11.8 inches that goes almost entirely into cargo space. The MAX offers 37.4 cubic feet behind the third row against 22.9 for the standard model, and 123.1 cubic feet maximum against 108.5. The tradeoff is towing: a properly equipped four-wheel-drive MAX is rated at 9,000 lbs while the standard wheelbase is rated at 9,600 lbs. The Tremor is offered in the standard wheelbase only.
How many people does a Ford Expedition seat?
Up to eight. Expedition Active and MAX Active come standard with seating for eight, using front captain's chairs with second- and third-row bench seats. Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch come standard with seating for seven, using front and second-row captain's chairs with a third-row bench. Eight-passenger seating is available on Platinum, MAX Platinum, and Tremor through the available second-row bench seat, but it is not offered on King Ranch in either length.
What engine does the Ford Expedition have?
Every Expedition uses a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The standard version is rated at 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. A High-Output version rated at 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft is standard on the Expedition Tremor and available on Platinum and MAX Platinum. Both are rated on premium fuel per the SAE J1349 standard, while Ford lists regular unleaded as the recommended fuel.
Does the Ford Expedition come with four-wheel drive?
Four-wheel drive is available across the Expedition lineup, and it is required to reach the highest tow ratings because the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package is offered on four-wheel-drive models. Two-wheel drive is also offered, including on Platinum and King Ranch, and a two-wheel-drive Expedition is rated to tow up to 6,000 lbs rather than 9,600.
Where is Dennis Sneed Ford located?
Dennis Sneed Ford is at 1046 S.W. Highway 169, Gower, MO 64454, about 45 minutes north of downtown Kansas City and roughly 30 minutes south of St. Joseph via US-169. Call 816-409-1975 for hours and directions.
Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Specifications verified against Ford's published Expedition specifications and Ford's published Expedition towing guide. Horsepower and torque ratings are as published by Ford on premium fuel per the SAE J1349 standard. Towing and payload figures require proper equipment and vary based on cargo, configuration, accessories, and number of passengers. Cargo volumes are Ford's available optimized figures. Feature, model, and package availability changes through the model year. Confirm the exact equipment on any specific vehicle via its window sticker.