A Ford Expedition is something that’s usually purchased to make the family work. But at the end of the day, it’s still a big/exciting purchase. So let me tell ya – the Ford Expedition Tremor surpassed my expectations.
The Ford Expedition Tremor is something everyone in the family can appreciate…
It’s dialed in. The Tremor spec gives the Expedition rugged capability. And in my opinion, much more style & appeal. This is something that mom or dad can drive, and NOT feel like they’re driving another forgettable/invisible soccer mom’s car. When Ford first revealed the new Expedition with its black rear tailgate, I thought it was a cop car lol. But it’s grown on me. And especially with the Tremor packaging, the Expedition transforms into something with genuine presence. Ford is really succeeding in the off-road market. And I think a lot of the reason is: Ford has taken a motorsports approach to off-road. It’s not just bulky… it’s an all-around performance-oriented mindset.
The Ford Expedition Tremor allows you to travel with ease…
It’s rugged-yet-comfortable, forgiving, smooth, and incredibly versatile. Not just versatile in its size/cargo… but versatile in where it can go. The Expedition Tremor is built to do legitimate 4×4 stuff. We’re not pretending it will conquer the most rutted-out, narrowest, steepest, rockiest trails. But you can absolutely take the dirt roads less traveled, work on the farm, explore the backcountry, find your perfect beach spot, etc. … without being out of your element.
Tremor off-road specs…
Aside from the interior & visual attractions, the Tremor comes with 33” General Grabbers on 18” wheels. Tremor gets its own dedicated springs, shocks, and steering tuning… along with a locking rear diff, Trail Turn Assist, & crawl control. It uses modified Raptor skid plates under the front & the transmission… as well as added protection for the fuel tank. Tremor models also get a heavier-duty, better-flowing radiator. For more details on the Expedition Tremor, check this article on Ford’s From the Road.
Ford Expedition tech…
The Ford Expedition rides a fine line between the latest tech, and old-school 4×4/SUV peacefulness. And I think Ford executed very well here. In my opinion, tech has become a dangerous & disengaging annoyance in many modern vehicles. To add insult to injury – most car manufacturers today can’t think outside the box of stuffing an iPad into the dashboard of every car. But the Ford Expedition, with its stadium/stacked panoramic screens… it just works! I can’t really explain how, but navigating through the screens was very intuitive. It didn’t cause too much friction; it just made sense.
The steering wheel in the Ford Expedition is oblong…
Almost oval/square rather than round. I assume it’s designed that way for visibility to the forward screen… which are ALSO the gauges by the way. It feels a little foreign at first, and it might throw you for a loop on a test drive. And – I’m not even gonna say I fully got used to it. But I kind of low-key liked it lol.
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- Showing a tailgating/snack configuration…
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- …or a daily cargo configuration
directional flood lighting
I love the foresight that Ford put into the Expedition…
It’s the little things. The split rear tailgate works so well from a functionality standpoint. You can open the upper section to gain easy access, without having all your things (like soccer balls, baseball bats, helmets, eggs, wine, whatever) spilling out of the back hatch when it opens. But – you can also open the bottom part – and it becomes a handy counter-top/shelf of sorts. There’s even a separate modular shelf hidden/stored under the lift-panel in the back that can be used in various configurations (tailgating, layering, etc.). See – not to get on a soapbox, but when carmakers became fixated on tech & iPhones, they STOPPED innovating in other cool/creative ways. Everything became tech & apps. This counter ‘counters’ that notion (no pun intended), and even though it’s fairly simple… it’s downright refreshing.
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- sliding console (forward)
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- sliding console (back)
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The entire center console of this Ford Expedition Tremor…
Moves back electronically, revealing a lockable safe. Sure – we can debate how that could be an other electronic fail point in the future… but it’s pretty darn cool right now. And it was a neat party trick that my daughter loved demonstrating to her friends. And on that note – the interior lighting is very well done as well. It’s not overdone. Not gaudy or tacky… just futuristic & fresh… almost like Tron. On the back of the headrest, is some sort of contraption that securely holds all sorts of different iPads, iPhones, and screened devices – good for the kids. And it’s worth noting – I really also enjoy the flat lay-out of the dial gear selector & volume controls (see photos above).
The Ford Expedition Tremor is both refined and burly…
There’s a noticable confidence & satisfaction & realness behind the wheel of this SUV. All Expeditions currently run a 3.5 Ecoboost (turbo) engine making 400 horsepower and 480 torque… mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. No hybrid; no EV, and no nonsense (besides the auto start/stop crap lol). You don’t get lost cross-shopping powertrain options, like some of the newer Toyotas. Just one realistically efficient & powerful internal combustion engine. Expedition uses independent front & rear suspension for a comfortable ride, and real rack & pinion steering (not software/wire driven). Properly spec’d 4×4 models can also tow up to 9,600lbs.
I didn’t expect to crush on the Ford Expedition Tremor so hard…
But within the first few miles, I felt something. I felt like I could really see myself owning this 4×4 SUV. And if you know what kind of cars I have, you know why that’s significant lol. I typically don’t like big plush vehicles. Most of my cars are old-school, manual, physical, and/or on the weird/wild edges of the spectrum. But there was something about the Expedition Tremor that made me feel like it was already mine. It just fit… like a comfortable sweatshirt. But also – like a fashionable sweatshirt that you could dress-up or dress-down. The Ford Expedition Tremor makes a statement, but it also blends in anywhere. It’s high-end, but without trying too hard. And it’s also ruggedly capable… but ALSO without trying too hard lol. It’s Goldilocks; it fits just right. And I gotta say… I didn’t expect that. Not from “”a generic carpool SUV with a little bit of copper/bronze accenting””.
