Ford Expedition

Generations: what actually changed between them

Body type is SUV 5-doors on every generation. The buy/don’t-buy split is drivetrain, not silhouette.

Body type is SUV 5-doors on every generation. The buy/don’t-buy split is drivetrain, not silhouette.

1 generation (1996-07-01 – 2002-03-31) is the lightest era: kerb 2200 kg on 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD. Eight versions: 4.6 AT at 218 and 243 hp, 5.4 AT at 232 and 263 hp, Automatic 4 gears, RWD or AWD. Tank 98 L. Ground clearance 200 mm. Fuel 92. Boost No. Cylinders 8, layout V-shaped.

2 generation (2002-03-01 – 2006-12-31) keeps Automatic 4, tank 106 L (+8 L vs 98 L), clearance 225 mm (+25 mm). Six versions: 4.6 AT 235 hp, 5.4 AT 263 hp (displacement 5398), 5.4 AT 305 hp (displacement 5408). Top speed on the 305 hp AWD row is 163 km/h, below the 170 km/h of the weaker 4.6 AT rows.

3 generation (2006-08-01 – 2014-07-31) drops the 4.6 AT. Only 5.4 AT 310 hp, 495 Nm, Automatic 6, RWD or AWD. That is +47 hp versus the 263 hp 5.4 AT of 1 generation / 2 generation, and +5 hp versus the 305 hp 5.4 AT of 2 generation. 0–100 km/h 10 s RWD and 8.5 s AWD. Top speed 180 km/h. Tank still 106 L. Clearance 225 mm.

3 generation, restyling (2014-01-01 – 2017-12-31) is the first turbo 3.5 AT: 370 hp, 569 Nm, Automatic 6, displacement 3496, fuel 95. Versus the 310 hp 5.4 AT, that is +60 hp and +74 Nm from 1902 cm³ less capacity. Tank jumps to 127 L. 0–100 km/h 6.6 s RWD, 7.5 s AWD.

4 generation (2017-01-01 – 2021-09-30) keeps 3.5 AT 3496, Turbo, Gasoline, 6 cylinders V-shaped, Automatic 10 (+4 gears vs restyling), tank 87 L (−40 L vs 127 L), clearance 248–249 mm. Six 3.5 AT rows at 405 hp or 380 hp.

4 generation, restyling 1 (from 2021-10-01, end not measured) adds 400 hp and 446 hp 3.5 AT rows. 380 hp rows still have 0–100 km/h; 400 and 446 do not.

5 generation (from 2024-10-01, end not measured) lists eight 3.5 AT rows at 406 hp or 446 hp. Kerb is 2469 kg on every row, including AWD. 0–100 km/h, top speed, and consumption are not measured on all eight.

Engines and specs

Every later 3.5 AT is Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), 4 valves per cylinder, Automatic 10, fuel 95, compression 10, tank 87 L. Earlier 4.6 AT / 5.4 AT are Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, boost No, Automatic 4 or 6, fuel 92.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 446 / 3.496 ≈ 127.6 hp/L on the peak 3.5 AT; 405 / 3.496 ≈ 115.8 hp/L; 370 / 3.496 ≈ 105.8 hp/L; 310 / 5.398 ≈ 57.4 hp/L; 305 / 5.408 ≈ 56.4 hp/L; 235 / 4.601 ≈ 51.1 hp/L; 218 / 4.601 ≈ 47.4 hp/L. The turbo 3.5 AT more than doubles specific output versus the 5.4 AT 310 hp.

On 4 generation, two 3.5 AT rows share 380 hp and RWD but not the same kW: 279 kW (kerb 2515 kg, mixed 12.4 L/100 km, highway 10.7) versus 280 kW (kerb 2469 kg, mixed 11.7, highway 9.8). Name both 3.5 AT; pick by kW and mass.

5 generation lists 406 hp RWD, 406 hp AWD, 446 hp RWD, and 446 hp AWD twice each, with the same measured fields (kerb 2469 kg, tank 87 L, clearance 248 mm). There is no extra number in the file that separates the duplicates.

Performance and economy

Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest:

• 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp RWD: 5.8 s, 244 km/h, city/highway/mixed 13.8 / 9.8 / 11.8
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp AWD: 6.0 s, 242 km/h, 13.8 / 10.2 / 12.4 — +0.2 s, −2 km/h, +0.6 mixed, +113 kg (2582 vs 2469)
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp RWD (279 kW and 280 kW): 6.0 s, 239 km/h
• 4 generation, restyling 1 3.5 AT 380 hp RWD: 6.0 s, 239 km/h, mixed 11.7
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp AWD 279 kW kerb 2628 kg: 6.2 s, 234 km/h, 14.7 / 11.2 / 13.1
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp AWD kerb 2582 kg: 6.3 s, 236 km/h, 13.8 / 10.2 / 12.4
• 3 generation, restyling 3.5 AT 370 hp RWD: 6.6 s, 230 km/h, 14.7 / 10.7 / 13.1
• 3 generation, restyling 3.5 AT 370 hp AWD: 7.5 s, 230 km/h, 15.7 / 11.8 / 13.8 — +0.9 s and +0.7 mixed vs its RWD twin
• 2 generation 5.4 AT 305 hp AWD: 8.2 s, 163 km/h, mixed 14.7
• 3 generation 5.4 AT 310 hp AWD: 8.5 s, 180 km/h — consumption not measured
• 2 generation 5.4 AT 263 hp RWD: 9.5 s, 170 km/h — consumption not measured
• 3 generation 5.4 AT 310 hp RWD: 10 s, 180 km/h, 16.8 / 11.7 / 14.7
• 1 generation 5.4 AT rows: 10 s; top speed 180 km/h at 232 hp, 165 km/h at 263 hp
• 2 generation 4.6 AT 235 hp: 10.3 s RWD, 10.5 s AWD, 170 km/h
• 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD: 11.3 s, 170 km/h — slowest measured sprint

Not measured (do not treat as “no such figure”): 0–100 km/h on 2 generation 5.4 AT 263 hp AWD, 2 generation 5.4 AT 305 hp RWD, all 400 hp and 446 hp 3.5 AT rows, and every 5 generation row. Top speed not measured on 2 generation 5.4 AT 305 hp RWD and on those same 400 / 446 / 5 generation rows. CO2 and eco class: not measured on all 38 versions.

City/highway/mixed not measured on most 1 generation and 2 generation rows; exceptions include 1 generation 4.6 AT 243 hp AWD and 5.4 AT 263 hp RWD (18.1 / 13.1 / 15.6), 2 generation 4.6 AT AWD (16.8 / 13.1 / 15.0), 2 generation 5.4 AT 305 hp AWD (16.8 / 13.1 / 14.7) and RWD (16.8 / 12.4 / 14.7). 4 generation, restyling 1 400 hp has only mixed: 12.4 RWD, 13.1 AWD.

Lowest measured mixed among complete triples: 11.7 L/100 km — 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp 280 kW RWD and 4 generation, restyling 1 3.5 AT 380 hp RWD. Highest complete mixed: 15.6 L/100 km on those two 1 generation rows, and 15.7 city on 3 generation, restyling AWD (mixed 13.8).

Dimensions and weight

Wheel sizes: not measured on every version. Front suspension Independent, spring, rear Independent, spring, front brakes Ventilated disc, rear Disc ventilated on the listed rows.

Kerb kg per hp (lower is denser):

• 5 generation 3.5 AT 446 hp: 2469 / 446 ≈ 5.54 kg/hp (kerb listed; 0–100 not measured)
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp RWD: 2469 / 405 ≈ 6.10
• 4 generation, restyling 1 3.5 AT 400 hp RWD: 2435 / 400 ≈ 6.09 — lightest kerb in the file after 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD (2200 kg)
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp AWD: 2582 / 405 ≈ 6.38
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp 280 kW RWD: 2469 / 380 ≈ 6.50
• 3 generation, restyling 370 hp RWD: 2490 / 370 ≈ 6.73
• 3 generation 5.4 AT 310 hp RWD: 2490 / 310 ≈ 8.03
• 2 generation 4.6 AT 235 hp AWD: 2590 / 235 ≈ 11.02 — densest-worst among rows with both figures

Gross weight is listed on generations 1–3 and 3 generation, restyling, not measured from 4 generation onward. Highest gross: 3493 kg (1 generation 4.6 AT 243 hp AWD). Payload where both exist, e.g. 3 generation, restyling RWD: 3220 − 2490 = 730 kg; AWD: 3310 − 2605 = 705 kg. 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD: 3350 − 2200 = 1150 kg — largest arithmetic payload in the file.

Clearance: 200 mm (1 generation), 225 mm (2 generation, 3 generation, 3 generation, restyling), 248–249 mm from 4 generation. +49 mm from first to 4 generation 405 hp (249 mm).

Tank and crude mixed range (tank ÷ mixed × 100), only where mixed is measured:

• 3 generation, restyling RWD: 127 / 13.1 × 100 ≈ 969 km
• 3 generation, restyling AWD: 127 / 13.8 × 100 ≈ 920 km
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp RWD: 87 / 11.8 × 100 ≈ 737 km
• 4 generation 3.5 AT 380 hp 280 kW RWD: 87 / 11.7 × 100 ≈ 744 km
• 3 generation 5.4 AT RWD: 106 / 14.7 × 100 ≈ 721 km
• 1 generation 4.6 AT 243 hp AWD: 98 / 15.6 × 100 ≈ 628 km

The restyle’s 127 L tank more than offsets its higher mixed figure versus the 87 L 4 generation.

Which version to choose

Need a measured sprint and the highest listed top speed. Take 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp RWD: 5.8 s, 244 km/h, 651 Nm at 3250 rpm, kerb 2469 kg, mixed 11.8. The AWD twin costs 113 kg, 0.2 s, 2 km/h, and 0.6 L/100 km mixed. That 405 hp tune is +25 hp and +14 Nm versus the 380 hp 3.5 AT in the same generation; versus 3 generation, restyling 370 hp RWD it is +35 hp, +82 Nm, −0.8 s, +14 km/h, and −1.3 mixed, with −40 L of tank.

Need AWD and a complete 0–100 figure. Best measured AWD sprint is 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp AWD (6.0 s, 242 km/h). Next: 380 hp AWD at 6.2 s (2628 kg, mixed 13.1) or 6.3 s (2582 kg, mixed 12.4). Do not assume 5 generation or 446 hp is quicker: those 0–100 values are not measured.

Buying new-shape power on paper. 5 generation and 4 generation, restyling 1 3.5 AT 446 hp / 691 Nm / 328 kW are the peak outputs (+41 hp and +40 Nm vs 405 hp / 651 Nm). Restyling 400 hp RWD is the lightest modern kerb (2435 kg) with mixed 12.4. You are trading away measured 0–100 km/h and top speed.

Maximum range in the arithmetic above. 3 generation, restyling 3.5 AT 370 hp RWD: 127 L, mixed 13.1, ≈969 km, 0–100 6.6 s. You give up 4 gearbox ratios, 35 hp, and 24 mm of clearance versus 4 generation 249 mm.

Need gross mass in the sheet. Stay in 1 generation, 2 generation, 3 generation, or 3 generation, restyling. From 4 generation gross is not measured.

Older V8, boost No, fuel 92. 3 generation 5.4 AT 310 hp is the last of that line: Automatic 6, 180 km/h. RWD 0–100 10 s is slower than this generation’s AWD 8.5 s — the only generation here where the AWD row is the quicker measured sprint. 2 generation 5.4 AT 305 hp AWD is 8.2 s but 163 km/h. 2 generation 4.6 AT 235 hp is the weakest engine of that era (394 Nm). 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD is the lightest Expedition in the file (2200 kg) and the slowest measured 0–100 (11.3 s). 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp AWD has kerb and gross not measured.

If the goal is kg/hp and you accept unmeasured sprint. 5 generation 3.5 AT 446 hp at 2469 kg is ≈5.54 kg/hp. Same kerb is listed for 406 hp and for AWD, so the file does not charge an AWD weight penalty on 5 generation (unlike 113 kg on 4 generation 405 hp).

Problems and reliability. This dataset has no failure rates, service intervals, or recalls. Treat reliability as not measured. What is measured is hardware: Turbo from 3 generation, restyling onward; boost No before that; 10-speed Automatic from 4 generation; 6-speed on 3 generation and its restyling; 4-speed on 1 generation and 2 generation.

Short map: measured speed → 4 generation 3.5 AT 405 hp (RWD unless you need AWD); paper peak power → 3.5 AT 446 hp in 4 generation, restyling 1 or 5 generation; tank → 3 generation, restyling 3.5 AT; listed payload and light kerb → 1 generation 4.6 AT 218 hp RWD; last non-turbo V8 with a full consumption triple on RWD → 3 generation 5.4 AT 310 hp RWD. Keep the version names exactly 3.5 AT, 5.4 AT, and 4.6 AT, and split twins by hp, kW, RWD/AWD, and kerb as above.