As is true with the 2020 Ford F-150, the 2020 Ford Expedition’s King Ranch trim level sits in a sweet spot in the lineup. It’s neither too inelegant to appeal to refined palettes nor too fancy to appeal to more rugged types. On top of that, Ford has given the model the type of accommodations that are good for children and adults.
As tested, the 2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch came in at $74,885, That includes the $72,895 base price, $595 paint color surcharge, and a $1,395 destination and delivery fee. Granted, that’s a lot of money, but it’s not nearly as expensive as the Expedition’s more premium rivals like the Cadillac Escalade. Out of the Expedition’s four trim levels, the King Ranch sits three out of four with only the Expedition Platinum being better appointed and pricier.
The Expedition mirrors the last-generation Explorer in the looks department.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The Expedition, for all intents and purposes, is the SUV version of Ford F-Series. While its exterior looks more like the last-generation Explorer than the F-150, it’s setting foot in the interior that tells the true story. The entire dashboard, center console, and seat design is straight from the F-150 and Super Duty playbook. This isn’t a bad thing. The F-Series lineup is filled with very good trucks.
The exterior of the Expedition King Ranch has a more panache than the trucks. From its standard 22-inch six-spoke painted machined-face aluminum wheels with dark tarnish-painted pockets and King Ranch center caps to the Stone Gray-colored grille mesh, lower bumpers, power running boards, rear bumper skid plate, trailer hitch cover, roof. rack side rails, and side mirror caps, the model wears a bit of its upscale sheen right up front where all those near the Expedition can see it.
The King Ranch theme continues to the interior of the Expedition where Ebony Del Rio leather covers the door trim and Mesa Del Rio leather covers the armrests and steering wheel. Kingsville stitching, named after the town where the historic King Ranch is located in Texas, features on the steering wheel. The center console is a combination of Del Rio leather and Ziricote wood veneer.
The interior of the model is richly appointed.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The result is a look that rivals the materials in the redesigned 2021 GMC Yukon and 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, the Expedition’s chief rivals. The seats in the Expedition’s front and second row are just as comfy and small item storage is just as available.
Where the competition has the edge is the Expedition’s infotainment system. The standard 8.0-inch screen is small compared to what others in the vehicle’s class now offer. That being said, the roster of tech that accompanies the screen is good and includes satellite radio, voice recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Upgrading gets a buyer keyless entry, remote start, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, two additional USB ports, wireless device charging, a Bang & Olufson sound system, HD Radio, and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard on all Expeditions. The suite of driver assist and safety technology includes automatic high beams, blind spot warning with cross traffic alert, lane keep alert and assist, pre-collision assist with emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and a rearview camera. Upper tier models gets adaptive cruise control. The system works as advertised and doesn’t prove too annoying during daily use.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel features Kingsville stitching.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Driving the Expedition King Ranch is easy but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a large SUV based on a truck platform. Driving the Suburban and Yukon is an easier, more connected experience. Still, driving these SUVs is nowhere near as taxing as it was 15 years ago.
The Expedition is powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque for use. Acceleration off the line creates confidence, but you won’t see the SUV making any speed records any time soon. The larger engines in the General Motors rivals deliver a more inspiring effort but are slightly less fuel efficient (19 mpg vs. 17/18 mpg for the Suburban when similarly equipped).
The 2020 Ford Expedition King Ranch is the most premium model you can get without going full Platinum. For daily driving, it’s all the Expedition you’ll need, coupled with higher-end appointments and sophisticated looks.
The second-row seats in the Expedition are nearly as comfortable as those up front.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
However, if you’re looking to spend $70,000 or more on an SUV, it is worth cross-shopping the new Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon. Both offer compelling reasons to choose them over the Expedition. That being said, if you’re a Blue Oval family and opt for the Expedition, when you go out to your driveway and hop inside, you likely won’t be disappointed.
