Although gas prices continue to climb, full-size SUVs are still selling well. All of them, from the Chevy Tahoe to the Sequoia to the new Grand Wagoneer have also been recently refreshed. The latest to get a refresh is the 2022 Ford Expedition with new looks and a new off-road Timberline trim. 

Performance

Engine – The Ford Expedition is only available with one engine; a 3.5L EcoBoost (twin-turbocharged) V6. Power output, however, varies depending on the trim level. It starts from as low as 380 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque (283 kW & 637 Nm) to as much as 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque (328 kW & 691 Nm). Guess how much this Timberline has? Yep, it’s the full bananas. This big house on wheels really gets shifting once the engine’s rpms reaches the 2,250 sweet spot. That is where the peak torque figure is reached. The engine produces power so effortlessly that you often overlook the fact that you’ll be speeding most of the time. The high seating position skews your sense of perspective so 100 km/h feels like 60 km/h. It takes almost no effort from your right foot to get this 2,550 kg (5,621 lbs) barge moving.

Fuel Economy – Unfortunately you’ll be paying a very hefty price at the fuel pumps. This 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline is rated for 14.5 L/100km (16.2 MPG) in a city and 12.3 L/100km (19.1 MPG) on a highway. While those numbers are a little bit better than the V8 competitors, it’s hard to achieve the rated city fuel economy rating. On highways, it is a bit easier. The majority of my driving was in a city environment with some highway runs so my average fuel economy rating was 14 L/100km (16.8 MPG). But because of the high cost of fuel in 2022, it cost me almost $120 CAD to put in just over half a tank. Imagine how much more a full tank would be.

Transmission – The V6 engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. For the most part, the transmission does its job pretty well. But it does have some odd characteristics. For example, if you’re gentle on the throttle pedal, it will skip 2nd gear. Apply more throttle when setting off and it won’t skip it. Thankfully, the jump from 1st to 3rd is barely noticeable unlike in the F-150 Powerboost. 

Braking – Stopping this big SUV is no easy feat. For the most part, the brakes are strong. However, when lightly applying pressure to the brake pedal, it feels a bit “squishy”. Like as though it’s not doing much. Only when applying a more moderate pressure does the brake pedal feel firm.

Handling – This Timberline trim of the 2022 Ford Expedition has 33” all-terrain tires. These do a good job of getting the big SUV through rough terrain but they don’t provide as much grip on paved roads. The Expedition will easily understeer if you’re too aggressive with the steering inputs. So it’s best to take those corners carefully and leisurely. 

The Timberline also comes equipped with skid and underbody panels, a locking rear differential, 4-high & 4-low modes, and trail turn assist. This feature locks the inside rear wheel while taking tight turns to better rotate the big SUV. It’s the same feature that is found on the Ford Bronco.

Comfort

Ride Comfort – Big SUVs like this tend to have smooth and plush rides. This 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline is no exception. Bumps are easily absorbed by the suspension and the chunky tire sidewalls further dampen the shocks from driving over bumps.

One thing that I don’t like is the positioning of the front seat side bolsters. It feels like they dig into my back and they are not adjustable.

Interior Space – If you need to carry a lot of people often, this is the full-size SUV to get. It is extremely spacious on the inside. Front occupants have loads of space with a tall driving position that lets you see over small CUVs. The second row is available with either captain’s chairs or 40/20/40 folding bench seats. Headroom and legroom is also plentiful in this row and the floor is completely flat so those that have to sit in the middle have plenty of leg space. Also, the 2nd row seats can recline and slide, all 3 positions can do it independently. Getting into the 3rd row is simple. Pull on a lever on top of the 2nd row seat and the seat springs forward. The 3rd row is of course the tightest of the bunch but moderately tall adults will still find enough space without feeling too claustrophobic. The 3rd row backrests can electronically be reclined for added comfort.

If you need to carry cargo often, then this is not the SUV for you. The Expedition only has 593 L (20.9 cu-ft) of space behind the 3rd row with the backrests upright. With the power 3rd row seats folded, the cargo increases to 1,800 L (63.6 cu-ft) if the 2nd row seats are fully forward. And finally with the 2nd and 3rd rows folded, total cargo capacity is 2,962 L (104.6 cu-ft) which is about 500 L (17.7 cu-ft) less than the GMC Yukon.

Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Over paved roads, the all-terrain tires induce a bit more noise into the cabin than the standard road tires. It’s not too loud but you definitely notice it. The other noise that you may notice on highways is wind noise. Again, it’s not too loud but it’s there. 

Odds and Ends

Pricing – The 2022 Ford Expedition starts at $69,840 CAD ($53,875 USD). This Timberline trim begins at $84,840 CAD ($70,705 USD) and can get pretty close to the 6-figure mark. This demo vehicle for example was equipped to $95,535 CAD ($80,520 USD). 

Gadgets – The first thing that you’ll notice when stepping into the Ford Expedition is the new 15.5” infotainment touchscreen. This is the same one that was first seen in the Ford Mach-E. It runs on Ford’s Sync4 infotainment system which looks a little bit different on this larger screen but it’s pretty easy to navigate around. This also supports wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity. 

One thing I don’t like about this infotainment system and screen is that it integrates the climate controls into the screen. I personally find that using the touchscreen controls to change the climate to be distracting while driving. I prefer the tactile feel and simplicity of physical buttons.

The rest of the 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline comes equipped with everything a family would need for a full-size SUV. Leather upholstery, heated & ventilated front seats, heated 2nd row seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, surround view cameras, power folding 3rd row seats, satellite navigation, wireless phone charging, and many more features that I don’t want to bore you with. This is a very well equipped SUV for the almost 6-figure price tag.

Interior Design – The cabin of the Expedition looks like other Ford models. Most of the upper panels are covered by leather with orange highlights in this Timberline trim. The lower portions are hard plastics that don’t feel as nice but are strong enough to withstand the bashes of heavy and dirty boots. There are a lot of small and medium sized item storage compartments including two glove boxes. There’s also a decent amount of physical controls for some functions of the SUV. In my opinion though, the climate controls should also be physical buttons. In all, it’s not the prettiest interior but it is one of the most functional. 

Exterior Design – The Expedition received a facelift for the 2022 model year which includes an updated headlight design, new grille with orange highlights for this Timberline trim and orange recovery hooks with a steel skid plate, again for this Timberline trim. This is a physically big SUV so on some city streets or off-road trails, you have to tread carefully as to not scratch the paint. 

Safety – The 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline is equipped with standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 which includes everything from automatic emergency braking to lane departure warning to blind spot sensors. Optional is Co-pilot Assist 2.0 which adds Intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-start capability, Lane Keeping Assist, Speed sign recognition, Steering assistance during evasive maneuvers, Intersection assistance, and Navigation system with touch screen and voice command. One Feature that this Timberline doesn’t have, but the Platinum trim does, is Blue Cruise. This is Ford’s hands-free highway driving assist feature. Perhaps in the future, lower trim levels of the Expedition will also receive this system.

Warranty – The 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. In America, these warranties are 3 years / 36,000 miles and 5 years / 60,000 miles respectively. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.

Conclusion – So why are full-size SUVs like this 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline still popular despite the current state of gas prices? It’s because they can do pretty much everything. Carry a lot of people, carry their cargo, go off-roading, take long family road trips, you name it. This is the right tool for the job. But the Expedition has stiff competition from GM. The Yukon/Tahoe have a bit less passenger volume but more cargo volume. They can also be equipped with air suspension but the Expedition has a more powerful engine. So it comes down to what features & characteristics you place above others that should make the decision in going for something like this Expedition Timberline or something like the Yukon AT4.

Thank you to Ford Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Ford.ca

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2022 Ford Expedition Timberline Gallery