Expedition is ideal for those with big holiday plans

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- It's the holiday season and, well, I need some space in my test vehicles. I imagine Santa confronts this all the time.

Thankfully, I recently took delivery of a 2023 Ford Expedition Platinum 4X4, a full-size sport-ute with the cargo-carrying capacity of a mule train.  Ah, problem solved.

Over the years, the Expedition has taken its lumps as a big, gas-guzzling bruiser.  But let's face it, some households (and businesses) have the need for a vehicle of this size. You can't transport a soccer team and all of its equipment in a Honda Civic, after all.

And in numerous ways, the Expedition has a lot going for it.

For example, a suite of max five-start federal crash test ratings stands out.  That includes five stars on the overall score.

And while one might expect the fuel mileage on this three-row SUV to be horrendous, it actually comes in at a fairly surprising 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Power comes from a 3.5-liter turbo V-6 rated at a salty 400 horsepower. Torque is equally saucy at 480 foot-pounds at a mere 2,250 revolutions per minute.  Simply put, power is not a problem.

The tester dug in hard off the line and quickly sprinted into tight spots on the freeway.  Steering was surprisingly light for such a large vehicle.  It can be one-handed in a crowded parking lot.

The biggest benefit, of course, is how much it can carry.  And carry with ease, I might add. Let's start with eight normal-size human beings.  Even packed to the max, there's room to stretch those legs.

Cargo volume behind the first row of seats far exceeds 100 cubic feet, so load those holiday gifts for everybody in one trip.  Need a sizable trailer for the out-of-town presents? The Expedition can be easily set up for that errand as well.

Throw in a monster-size list of functional/safety/comfort/convenience features -- which boosted the bottom line on the tester to $87,345 -- and you have the holiday season transporter of your dreams.

For busy lifestyles and hard-working folks, the Expedition can do large duty for them 52 weeks a year.  Speaking of which, hope all of you have a happy and prosperous year ahead in 2024.