MSRP Range: $31,500 to $41,500

Invoice Range: $27,500 to $36,500
Price Quote

MSRP As Tested: $39,160

Versions: XLT Value, XLT Popular, XLT FX4 Off-Road, XLT Premium, Eddie Bauer

Vehicle Category: Sub compact

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive and optional Four-Wheel Drive

Engine As Tested: 4.6-liter, Single Overhead Cam, V-8 cylinder, 232-horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 291 lb-ft torque at 3,450 rpm. Optional 5.4-liter, 260-horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 350 lb.ft. torque at 2,500 rpm.

Transmission As Tested: 4-Speed Automatic

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 4.6-liter - 14/18. 5.4-liter - 13/17.

Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, front airbags, 4-wheel power disc brakes, Brake Assist, Remote Keyless Entry,

Competition: Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Denali, Toyota Sequoia

Judging from its slightly revamped exterior, you might think little has changed on the 2003 Ford Expedition.

Thank goodness that's not the case.

Struggling to keep up with its recently redesigned competitors like the Toyota Sequoia and Chevy Tahoe, Ford knew its full-size SUV had to see major changes to compete in a tightly packed arena. It's less-than-spectacular engine, clumsy handling and cheap looking interior all became handicaps while the rest of the SUV world made giant leaps in refinement.

Although its engine still doesn't feel as powerful and smooth as the world-class Sequoia and Tahoe, everything else about the Expedition now leads the pack. It has a terrific, high-quality interior that beats everything else in its class, and handling is improved dramatically thanks to an independent rear suspension.

Ford's huge investment in interior design is starting to pay off, as the Expedition's soft materials and improved construction nearly match that of Audi, a company widely regarded as making the best mass-produced car cabins on the planet. It's versatile, comfortable, and almost luxurious while offering the most room for passengers in its class.

A third-row seat that folds flat into the floor is available with the same optional power-fold operation as the expensive Lincoln Navigator, but I found it unnecessary and frivolous -- but cool to watch nonetheless. Other nifty interior features include a fold-down mirror to keep an eye on passengers in the back seat, and storage compartments peppered throughout the cabin.

For such a large vehicle, the Expedition is surprisingly nimble and controllable, no doubt helped by that new rear suspension. It's the first of its kind on full-size SUVs, and it offers a better road feel and less bounce than previous models while allowing more room for legs and hips in the third-row seat than even the larger Chevy Suburban. Look for other manufacturers to follow Ford's lead in independent suspensions in the coming years.

It's disappointing that Ford doesn't offer an engine with more grunt than its 5.4-liter Triton V8 -- the same powerplant as last year -- for people really serious about towing, but most drivers will find it more than adequate for everyday driving. A 4.6-liter engine is available as well.

One big improvement under the hood is reduced noise, made possible by fancy hydraulic engine mounts and balanced transfer case components. Coupled with reduced road noise, the Expedition is whisper-quiet even at highway speeds.

Other than the engine choices, my only complaint is the same as other full-size SUVs -- it's selfish. It gets horrible gas mileage (13 city, 17 highway), can be difficult to park, and it can be dangerous to smaller vehicles on the road in an accident.

MORE DATA

Where Built: USA

Seating: 9

Number of Rows: 3

Crash Test Ratings:

• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Driver Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Passenger Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Front Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Rear Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Rollover Resistance Rating: Not Yet Tested
• IIHS Frontal Offset Crash Test: Untested

Length in Inches: 205.8

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion, 5 years/100,000 mile powertrain, 3 years/36,000 miles free Roadside Assistance.

Weight in Pounds: 5,569

Towing Capacity in Pounds: unknown

Maximum Payload in Pounds: 2-Wheel Drive - 1,481. 4-Wheel Drive - 1,615

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 28.0

Destination Charge: $795

MSRP Range: $31,500 to $42,000

Invoice Range: $27,500 to $36,500
Price Quote

MSRP As Tested: $39,160

Versions: XLT Value, XLT Popular, XLT FX4 Off-Road, XLT Premium, Eddie Bauer

Vehicle Category: Sub compact

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive and optional Four-Wheel Drive

Engine As Tested: 4.6-liter, Single Overhead Cam, V-8 cylinder, 232-horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 291 lb-ft torque at 3,450 rpm. Optional 5.4-liter, 260-horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 350 lb.ft. torque at 2,500 rpm.

Transmission As Tested: 4-Speed Automatic

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 4.6-liter - 14/18. 5.4-liter - 13/17.

Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, front airbags, 4-wheel power disc brakes, Brake Assist, Remote Keyless Entry,

Competition: Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Denali, Toyota Sequoia

WHISTLER VILLAGE, British Columbia -- High in the Lillooet Range of Coast Mountains in the wilderness of Canada's British Columbia, wet snow stacks waist-deep along sides of a narrow trace that twists and rolls down a side of Cougar Mountain.

We're using the low-gear mode of a multi-phase four-wheel-drive system to ensure that all tires stick on snow for constant traction during off-pavement tests in a new generational design of Expedition, the full-size sport-utility wagon from Ford.

Launched late in 1996 as a 1997 product, Expedition in its original treatment endured for six years with two trims and two V8 engine options plus modes for rear-wheel and all-wheel traction.

The redesigned Expedition of 2003 looks similar to its predecessor and also extends to XLT and deluxe Eddie Bauer trim variations, while the 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V8 powertrains carry forward.

However, beneath the boxy four-door wagon format this new Expedition amounts to an entirely different animal.

It has more room in the passenger compartment for as many as nine riders and comes with a third-row bench seat that collapses into a flat cargo floor for a slick disappearing act with optional push-button power.

It contains a myriad of new safety systems to protect the precious human cargo, including Ford's computer-controlled Personal Safety System that can instantly analyze the type and intensity of a frontal crash at the onset and react by deploying different safety devices in a manner appropriate for circumstances of the particular collision.

In addition, a new side curtain air bag system (Ford calls it a Safety Canopy) is optional for any Expedition, while those with four-wheel-drive stock as standard the sophisticated multi-phase Control Trac system plus an optional AdvanceTrac anti-skid mechanism that channels engine torque to whichever wheels need it most.

This new version of Expedition also drives and handles quite differently from the predecessor.

Despite the full-size girth and gargantuan weight, Ford's big wagon acts surprisingly nimble so it's easy to manoeuvre on pavement as well as dirt or snow and it seems entirely pleasant to drive.

A new rendition of the truck frame underpinning Expedition measures far more rigid than the previous frame and forges a core element in the new version.

The platform is composed of single-piece hydroformed boxed rails in the rear for extra strength to support a suspension system rarely found on a truck-based wagon -- there are independent components suspending the rear wheels as well as the front ones.

Width between wheels was expanded to create a broader platform for increased stability, and the steering mechanism was switched to a rack and pinion device that provides more precise control and better feedback to the driver.

For brakes, a big disc mounts on every wheel and all wheels tie to an anti-lock system, plus computer-controlled electronic brake force distribution and a new brake assist device that automatically applies full brake force during emergency braking to abbreviate the stopping distance by as much as 20 percent.

These structural and mechanical changes to Expedition's chassis and suspension virtually revolutionize the ride and handling traits for such a large vehicle.

It feels smooth in ride quality, even when steered over lumps and bumps away from paved surfaces like the snow-encrusted track we find on Cougar Mountain, and it seems well-grounded now like it's a part of the roadbed.

Standard engine for Expedition, Ford's overhead-cam 4.6-liter Triton V8, achieves 232-hp at 4,750 rpm and as much torque as 291 lb-ft at 3,450 rpm.

It delivers a definite kick in the two-wheel-drive version for off-the-line action while still mustering fuel economy numbers as high as 19 miles per gallon on the road.

The optional aluminum-block 5.4-liter Triton V8 -- which historically goes into the vast majority of all Expeditions -- has been revamped with a new cast iron engine block designed for quieter operation. It now makes 260-hp at 4,500 rpm, with the torque extending to 350 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm.

High power and torque ratings for the larger engine make this one the best choice for towing a trailer. Maximum trailer weight on Expedition rises to 8,900 pounds when using the rear-wheel traction mode.

Both of the Triton V8 engines in Expedition link to an excellent four-speed automatic Ford transmission, which shifts with quiet and unobtrusive manners. A transmission high-gear lockout switch set as a button in the tip of the column-mounted shift lever enables a driver to downshift with only the tap of a thumb, which becomes a handy tool when passing another vehicle or reining the momentum on a downhill grade.

Ford's optional Control Trac four-wheel-drive system has a control knob on the dashboard for dialing up a driving mode, from rear two-wheel traction to four-wheel high and low or automatic all-wheel-drive. For pavement ventures the system seamlessly distributes traction to wheels that grip, but when heading off-road the 4WD high and low system locks the differential and applies torque evenly to all wheels.

The AdvanceTrac option brings electronic traction control that can selectively brake a spinning wheel while also rerouting torque to an opposing wheel with traction.

Another option concerns the position of accelerator and brake pedals: They may be moved fore or aft through a power-operated mechanism to improve fit for a driver's feet.

Throughout the vast cabin, car-like details for comfort and practicality may be found -- from cup holders and multiple support handles to hooks and handy levers.

Expedition's trim levels segment the wagon by function, appearance and the array of comforts aboard. The Eddie Bauer top trim provides subdued color-keyed exterior tones and an interior with leather seat upholstery, front bucket seats and consoles for floor and roof, plus many standard luxury elements, including a six-disc CD deck and numeric keypad on the driver's door handle for keyless entry.

Second-row seat, divided 40/20/40 in sections, allows the smaller center seat to slide forward for a child to sit closer to the front row. Seatbacks of the third-row bench split 60/40 and fold separately, with power controls optional for Eddie Bauer trim.

Base prices for this new Expedition fall in the range from $31,295 for a XLT Value series to $41,935 for the Eddie Bauer edition, with all figures including a $740 delivery fee.

MORE DATA

Where Built: USA

Seating: 9

Number of Rows: 3

Crash Test Ratings:

• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Driver Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Passenger Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Front Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Rear Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Rollover Resistance Rating: Not Yet Tested
• IIHS Frontal Offset Crash Test: Untested

Length in Inches: 205.8

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion, 5 years/100,000 mile powertrain, 3 years/36,000 miles free Roadside Assistance.

Weight in Pounds: 5,569

Towing Capacity in Pounds: 8,900 when in rear-wheel traction mode.

Maximum Payload in Pounds: 2-Wheel Drive - 1,481. 4-Wheel Drive - 1,615

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 28.0

Destination Charge: $740