5th Gen Ford Expedition vs. 5th Gen Lincoln Navigator

Ford's flagship full-size SUV, the Expedition, has reached its fifth generation. It's now more rugged and more luxurious enough to tackle uncharted heights while rewriting the rules of what a luxury SUV should be.

2025 Ford Expedition

Starting at $62,320 plus additional costs, the fifth-generation Ford Expedition is now more Republican than before with new and exciting ways to keep this flagship SUV going for more.

2025 Ford Expedition

The all-new Ford Expedition shows us what a luxury full-size SUV should be. On the outside, you'll find a front end inspired by today's F-150, taillights that echo those on the Toyota Verossa, and a body shape that's still decidedly boxy. It's still the Expeditions that rich Texans and Republican politicians can't get enough of, even in its new off-road-oriented Tremor variant.

2025 Ford Expedition interior

2025 Ford Expedition interior

The new interior showcases the business class of this Republican-friendly SUV. Behind the wheel, you will be greeted by the new Panoramic 24-inch display that tells important driving info from navigation to entertainment. Although you still get a touch screen with smartphone connectivity and knobs for the radio controls, it offers a Flex Powered Consle that slides up for more storage and aisle room. On the comfort side, it can accommodate up to eight people, and it features a power-folding second-row bench seat with a Tip-and-Slide feature for easier third-row access. Go for the MAX variant and you'll have a boot space big enough for almost everything. There are other new useful features for the all-new Expedition, such as the all-new Multifunction Ford Split Gate, the available Cargo Tailgate Manager with backrest, and a 360-Degree Zone Light, among others. Handy for almost every situation.

2025 Ford Expedition

The all-new Expedition is still powered by the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 turbo engine, but it now produces 400HP of power and 480lb-ft of torque. Some models have a High Output version of the said engine with up to 440HP of power and 510lb-ft of torque. They're all mated to a 10-speed Automatic with SelectShift.

Underneath, the all-new Expedition features Continuous Control Damping Suspension and Independent Suspension for better stability and dynamics. Sounds luxurious, but if you go for the Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System, not only is it good everywhere, it's better for towing thanks to its Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, giving it up to 9600lbs of towing capacity. The Tremor variant gives off-road capability for the all-new Expedition thanks to its 3.73 electronic locking differential and modified higher-ride suspension with Premium Passive Shocks.

Such features really put the "common sense" for the new model, and to add some more common sense, the all-new Expedition features Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assist tech as well as a 360-degree camera.

So, what can I say about the all-new Expedition? With its powerful styling, luxurious interior, the new off-road-oriented Tremor variant, and numerous features, it's safe to assume that the new model is more Republican than the previous model. If you're a Red State politician, consider the all-new Expedition the one for you, but if you're an A-list celebrity, you'd be better off with this.

2025 Lincoln Navigator

2025 Lincoln Navigator interior

This is the all-new, fifth-generation, $99,995 Lincoln Navigator. It's the ultra-expensive, all-American, luxury full-size SUV that rewrites the rules of what a luxury SUV should be.

At first glance, the new model is similarly sized to today's Ford Expedition, but with Lincoln's new design language to differentiate it, this is the ultimate essence of luxury.

The biggest surprise is the new interior, which feels like you’re driving a concept car from the future. The Lincoln Digital Experience features the largest panoramic display in its class, as well as an 11.1-inch center-stack touchscreen with Google software. Call it flashy, but its futuristic dashboard layout does showcase the loud and proud side of Lincoln’s usual calm, cool, and collected status.

Offered with a choice of seven or eight seater, the seven-seater variant takes the credit for the Navigator's luxury status, with the available Tailored Seats delivering Business Class comfort while on the move. Not only that, the all-new Navigator comes with the available split gate, the available Cargo Tailgate Manager with backrest, and a 360-Degree Zone Light, among others.

Under the hood, the all-new Navigator is powered by the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost High Output engine with up to 440HP of power and 510lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a 10-speed Automatic with SelectShift. Not only that, it also features Continuous Control Damping Suspension, Independent Suspension, and the Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System. It even comes with Lincoln BlueCruise driver assist tech as well as a 360-degree camera, among others.

So, there you have it. The all-new Expedition appeals to the Reds while the all-new Navigator appeals to the Blues. Either way, they're both benefited by their ultra-luxury characteristics that made them alphas of the luxury SUV market. Welcome to the new normal.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

4th Gen Ford Expedition vs. 4th Gen Lincoln Navigator

To the eyes of Americans, the Ford Expedition is part of everyday life much like every big SUVs in the neighborhood, especially if it feels at home in red states where everyone's free to wear their cowboy hats to express their Americanism. For third-world countries, especially the Philippines, an Expedition became a status symbol for the upperclassmen, especially if it was used to escort politicians from one government establishment after another. With this new version, the flagship SUV just got even more serious while reflecting the American values of today. So, what's it all about?

2018 Ford Expedition

After so many years, Ford's flagship full-size SUV, the Expedition, has been regenerated from the ground up and it's now an oversized Explorer made to cater to cowboys and billionaires alike, especially politicians like it always does in third-world countries. With prices start at $51,695. it's hard to face the fact that the all-new Expedition is about a grand more than its chief rival, the Chevrolet Suburban, but there's one thing the Expedition does that the Suburban does not; cleverness.

First and foremost, despite being a big SUV for the strongmen within them, the new Expedition is powered by the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 turbo engine, which is kinda small compared to the past Expeditions in history where V8s became mandatory but hey, tough times ahead. This turbocharged engine produces 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, that's more than what you get from the Suburban and as a result, a class-leading towing capacity of up to 9,300lbs. That is a good mark for Ford and to help those who want to get the most of their towing needs, it's been given the necessary tools such as the 10-speed automatic with Tow/Haul mode, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and integrated Trailer Brake Controller. With things like these, the new Expedition is for those who like to carry stuff with ease or go ballsy against the Suburban in the middle of a tug-of-war.

2018 Ford Expedition interior

2018 Ford Expedition interior

The interior is still typical Ford and it puts you into a reminder of the F-150 but because this is a big SUV for those who love to wear cowboys in weddings and carry rifles on a day-to-day basis, it's surprisingly comfortable for up to seven or eight passengers. Not only it work as a family car but also a limousine for the VIPs and in terms of boot space, it's big enough to fit most of the outdoorsy stuff and that's Ford standards to you. If you go to the long-wheelbase MAX variant, boot space is up to 121.5 cu. ft., which is annoyingly slightly shorter than the Suburban's, but unlike its rival, the new Expedition has an available Advanced Cargo Management System that will help owners stow their stuff securely in their place. Great for tailgating if you ask them and thanks to SYNC Connect, the Expedition becomes a wifi hotspot for your gadgets wherever you may go. There's even a wireless charging spot where you can charge your gadgets without sacrificing your cords to the chopper as well. With so many features, the Expedition works as either a family car or a VIP escort in so many ways and it's way beyond luxury in so many levels.

2018 Ford Expedition

I already mentioned the engine but what I didn't mention are the dynamics because it utilizes the same platform as the current F-150, handling is slightly improved compared to the old Expedition and because of its use of high-strength lightweight material construction with some aluminum involved in it, it's surprisingly lighter as well, although I'm a bit worried about the tug-of-war part against the Suburban.

To make sure it can handle like a proper SUV, it's been given an Independent Rear Suspension so it can handle road conditions in its own right and when given with the FX4 Off-road package, Continuously Controlled Damping,  and Terrain Management System, the new Expedition matches the same adaptability as the Land Cruiser or the Range Rover and coupled with a wide array of safety features, the Expedition is fit on almost any road conditions, be it rain or shine, come what may.

The new Expedition may have emerged from the red state with right-wing nutjobs who supported the fat man who controls our lives, but while it disappoints the Suburban in terms of pricing and spacing, it makes up with its towing capacity, creature comforts, and performance that sets the new standards to American full-size SUVs. I'm amazed that Ford finally made the Expedition even more luxurious than ever that will accommodate all kinds of people but if you are part of the billionaires' club and if you think the new Expedition is a bit too cheap for your exquisite tastes, perhaps consider this...

2018 Lincoln Navigator

This is the all-new Lincoln Navigator, the posher version of the Ford Expedition for those who think the new model is too Republican for its own right. Of course, it comes with the same choice of either short or long wheelbase, the same aluminum bodywork that lost almost 200lbs of weight, and the same EcoBoost V6 as the Expedition as well as its 10-speed gearbox, but unlike the Expedition, it can accommodate up to seven people, it's got more posh features than the Expedition, and more importantly, the V6 engine that powers it is more powerful than the Expedition, so powerful, its 450HP power output matches the same output as the old F-150 Raptor.

2018 Lincoln Navigator

As a result, the new Navigator will eat the Cadillac Escalade for breakfast, lunch, and tea, although not as powerful as the Range Rover and it has lesser towing capacity than the Expedition because of so many posh features that emphasize luxury over practicality. It may not be suitable for family trips because of its $72,055 price tag but it's a grand less than the Escalade rival it's targeting, so it's the perfect heavyweight SUV for barons, industrialists, moguls, even politicians.

It's great to say that with its lightweight aluminum body, adaptive suspension, and available four-wheel drive, the new Navigator no longer feels like the old one. In fact, it's slightly better than the old model in so many ways in terms of comfort, drivability, spacing, and convenience that makes it on par against the European opposition. Looks like the Q7, the GLS-Class, and the X5 would be shaking their underbodies right now every time they see this Navigator parking alongside them. Now that's America being, oops. Sorry. Shouldn't say that term because everybody's reading.

2018 Lincoln Navigator interior

2018 Lincoln Navigator interior

For the super wealthy with exquisite tastes, they can spec out their Navigator with the new Black Label experience featuring bespoke interior treatments as well as membership privileges such as trips to five-star restaurants, a stay at a posh hotel, or a trip to a country club. Now there's your "out on a limo" feeling that will make your inferior siblings mad over your newly found behavior after your recent stay with the billionaires' club, don't you think?

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. These new full-size SUVs may have emerged from a state famed for their fried chicken but the new Expedition and the new Navigator will showcase just how hospitable they really are for their occupants. The new Expedition is all about showing its cowboy charm to almost everyone while the Navigator has some Golden State charm to the big shots who want to stand out from the rest. You have to give them credit though that even if America is in a state of decay, they sure know how to make big SUVs like these. The more we know...

Photo: Ford Motor Company