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2026 Porsche Macan Review2026 Ford Expedition King Ranch Offers Big Luxury, Big Capability
The 2026 Ford Expedition King Ranch delivers roomy three-row comfort, upscale Del Rio leather, and full-size SUV capability.
A Big SUV With an Even Bigger Personality
The full-size SUV segment is relatively small, populated by the likes of the Chevy Tahoe, Nissan Armada, and Ford Expedition. These are SUVs that dominate the capability charts with huge everything: Footprint, powertrain, cabin space, and towing. After a week spent behind the wheel of the 2026 Ford Expedition King Ranch, I can tell you that the Blue Oval’s offering is a strong competitor in this oversized arena.
Fully overhauled last year, the Expedition brings fresh tech in the form of a panoramic gauge cluster, massive twin-turbo power, a slick split tailgate design, and up to 9,600 pounds of towing capacity. Like the rest of this cohort, you’re looking at around $65,000 to start. But the King Ranch stands atop the Expedition range with a breathtaking $87,000 sticker. It seats 7 in the lap of luxury and driving it feels like owning the road. This trimline is certainly not a vehicle for everyone, but for those with disposable income, it really is a do-it-all SUV.
Bronze Accents, Big Wheels, and a Tailgate Trick
Like the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, the Ford Expedition is available in two sizes. “Regular” size, like this one, and Max, which adds $3,000 to the bottom line and about a foot of extra length out back. Base Expeditions ride on 18” wheels, but the King Ranch sports 22s and leans into its southwest vibe with a two-tone treatment that features Sinister Bronze highlights. I happen to love the color, if not the name, and think it looks extra sharp against the Agate Black Metallic finish.
A power tailgate comes standard on the 2026 Expedition, one that splits horizontally in a roughly 75/25 ratio. The smaller section is on the bottom and can be opened independently. This design is tremendously helpful for loading cargo, especially bags of groceries, as you can open up the back without having to worry about those groceries sliding out in the process. But you can also flip this section down as a prime tailgating seat with a 500-pound capacity. One other notable exterior feature that is included on the King Ranch, and optional elsewhere, are the power-deploying running boards. They make ingress a breeze and operate automatically.
Inside the Expedition King Ranch
On that note, getting into the Expedition is made easier by doors that open nearly 90°. On the King Ranch, the front seats are climate-controlled and the second-row captains chairs are heated. These middle-row seats slide fore and aft, recline, and flip out of the way for third-row access with a one-touch button. The wayback seats on three-row SUVs are renowned for being best-suited to children, but on a full-sizer like the Expedition, even adults can sit there in relative comfort. Ford’s Del Rio leather is exclusive to the King Ranch and looks snazzy with a two-tone scheme and stitched Running W logos in the seatbacks.
The entire center console can slide backward, under power, to reveal a large hidden storage bin and simultaneously make HVAC and USB access easier for second-row passengers. It’s a well-designed and easy-to-use system. As is the cargo bay management gadget. It adds $405, but this large plastic surface can be stowed under the rear floor when not in use or opened up for three uses: As a backrest while sitting on the tailgate, as a table with a 35-pound rating and access to 120V power, or as a split-level cargo bay shelf. It’s pricey but works great.
Big Screens, Smart Storage
Across the board, Ford fits the Expedition with a 24” digital gauge cluster screen that spreads over the dash, a 13.2” central touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring, and access to a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot. The panoramic cluster display is tucked up close to the windshield, making it easy to read while driving and eliminating the need for a head-up display. One tech feature I found tricky were the dual steering wheel touchpads. Each one has a single icon that, when tapped, brings up a digital version on the big display showing the full range of touchpad options. One handles adaptive cruise control, and the other, steering wheel and pedal adjustments.
Figuring out where to tap the pads while looking at the screen and driving took some getting used to. The thundering Bang & Olufsen 22-speaker audio system, on the other hand, was immediately amazing. I highly recommend. The wireless phone charging pad is well-placed within the center console where it cradles the phone out of the way, but within easy reach. As for connectivity, USB-C ports are spread all over the interior of the Expedition, including on the front seatbacks. With an available device holder that mounts to the back of the front seat headrests, rear passengers can clip their phone or tablet into this space and keep it plugged in with the port just below.
Still Properly Truck-Based
A 3.5L twin-turbo V6 making 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque comes standard on the 2026 Ford Expedition. It pairs with a 10-speed automatic to spin the rear wheels, though four-wheel drive is included on the King Ranch. On other models, you can opt for a high output variant making 440 hp and 510 torques, but given the incredible power this base motor provides, it would seem to be overkill. There is a sense of endless torque, which comes in handy on the highway. This is also a key aspect of the 9,600-pound max tow rating the Expedition offers when properly equipped.
As you might expect, a nearly 6,000-pound SUV with this much punch is thirsty. The EPA rates it at 18 mpg combined, but I saw 12 mpg in mixed driving. Fortunately, it does run on 87 octane. Highway drives are smooth and quiet from behind the wheel, but I encountered a fair amount of cabin shake at low speed over rough pavement. Though the Expedition King Ranch features adaptive dampers and, like all Expeditions, independent rear suspension, it is still a body-on-frame SUV.
Luxury Muscle for the Right Driveway
Giant SUVs like the Expedition are unbeatable for large families that regularly tow large loads. Being able to spread out inside is a given on a vehicle like this, and when trimmed in King Ranch spec, you can add luxury levels of comfort to the mix. For the King Ranch audience that can swing the $87,000 price tag, go for it, but you can get into a new Expedition Active model for some $20,000 less.
It misses out on all the exclusive King Ranch touches that are genuinely impressive, but still brings the capability and the same array of screen real estate. The Expedition’s size makes it ideal for those with plenty of room to operate – think wide roads, big parking lots, and easily accessed driveways – but regardless, Ford has built a comfortable, capable rig that should be on the radar of anyone shopping the full-size segment.
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