Comparison: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe vs. 2008 Ford Expedition vs. 2008 Nissan Armada vs. 2008 Toyota Sequoia
The Expedition's busy dash was scored least attractive, but its heated and cooled front seats were welcomed.
Labored Expedition
Boasting the least horsepower (300) yet the most pounds (6104), the Expedition seemed a lock for slug of the group. But thanks to a six-speed automatic, 365 pound-feet of torque, and four-wheel vented disc brakes, the Ford managed to outhustle the Tahoe to 60 and outbrake it back to zero. Nevertheless, even with 20-inch wheels wearing 55-series Pirellis, the Expedition was unable to cheat the laws of physics, at least in a curved line, posting the slowest figure-eight time (31.0 seconds) and the lowest lateral acceleration (0.68 g).
Out on the twisty roads through Kennedy Meadows, the Expedition's moves supported these numbers, its soft suspension responding with plenty of roll and dive. And squat? Not enough oomph for that. "Feels sluggish right out of the gate," opines Williams. "You can tell there's a lot of weight here, and the engine doesn't seem interested in compensating." Sure, there are six speeds, but without a true manual mode, the tranny hunts with the same fervor as Dick Cheney.
Still, the Ford handles well for such a big girl. Says St. Antoine, "Although it rolls into corners, it doesn't plow like a tractor -- it hangs on impressively and even shrugs off mid-corner undulations that can set the other rigs heaving up and down." The steering, while heavy in feel and slow on turn-in, did deliver linear response, and the brakes felt strong and a match for the cumbersome curb weight. Off road, the Expedition handled the snow with aplomb. "This is where the massive weight helps push the tires to the ground for grip," claims Williams. Senior editor Loh adds, "It's reassuring over snowy roads-no slipping, no sliding."
Inside our King Ranch tester, every editor was impressed by the luxurious "Chaparral" leather, the ultraquiet ambiance, the rearview mirror with integrated backup video screen, and the capacious cabin, the last trumping the others' third-row headroom and legroom. For transporting Eddie and the entire Bauer clan, the Expedition is tough to beat. Plus, the third row comes with a powerfolding feature, alleviating any back-breaking exercises, and the second row boasts a useful "Cargo Mode," which lays the middle row flat with the pull of a lever.
From the driver's seat, though, the view is somewhat disappointing. The instrument panel, with its mix of round and rectangular gauges and chrome, plastic, and wood trim, appears retro for the sake of being retro and at the expense of good function. With its roomy interior, clever packaging, and commendable offroad performance, not to mention being the only one with cooled front seats and power runningboards, the Ford presents a strong case. Just not as strong as the next two.
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