2025 Ford Expedition Tremor First Drive

A full-size SUV that doesn't mind getting dirty.

Jack Nerad | 

May 14, 2025 | 7 min read

Jack Nerad

Ford knows its way around SUVs. It's been building them for decades and helped kick off the modern SUV craze with the 1991 Explorer. Ford also knows off-roading. Witness the capabilities of the original and latest versions of the Ford Bronco as testimony to that. Now, with the all-new 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor, the automaker combines those two areas of expertise in a roomy, full-size SUV.

This isn't Ford's first trip down a dirt path with the Expedition. Previously, the SUV was available in a Timberline trim level with extra capability. However, the switch to the Tremor name, which Ford plasters on many of its more serious off-roaders, signals the 2025 Expedition is more off-road-capable than ever. Based on my testing, I can't imagine a full-size SUV could be more so.

The Tremor is one of several versions of the redesigned 2025 Ford Expedition. It also comes in Active, Platinum, and King Ranch trim levels, and prices range from the mid-$60,000s to the mid-$80,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to your local dealership from the Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant.

My Tremor test vehicle included a long list of off-road equipment baked into the vehicle's base price, and had no options. The manufacturer's suggested retail price was $83,025, including the $1,995 destination charge.

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Little Changes Make a Big Difference in the 2025 Expedition

Ford has redesigned the 2025 Expedition, but it remains similar to the previous-generation SUV it replaces. In addition to the revised lineup and new Tremor model, it adds new digital instrumentation, infotainment, driver-assistance technologies, and numerous little changes within the cabin that make a big difference in comfort, convenience, and utility.

For example, the Expedition offers a sliding center console that provides convenient storage for front- and second-row passengers. New Digital Device Holders are available, attaching to the front seatbacks and compatible with smartphones and tablet computers. The Expedition's Third-Row Flexible Seating option adds a split design with a center section that folds down to accommodate long cargo without significantly reducing passenger capacity.

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Another game changer you won't find on the competition is the Expedition's new rear split-gate design featuring an upper liftgate section and a lower tailgate section. The split gate prevents items from rolling out unexpectedly, and you can use the tailgate as stadium-style seating. It supports 500 pounds of weight, according to Ford.

The Expedition continues to offer roomy seating for up to eight people, and its third row is legitimately comfortable for adults. Behind it, you'll find 21.6 cubic-feet of cargo space. That expands to 60.8 cu-ft with the third row folded flat, and maximum capacity is 108.5 cu-ft.

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The 2025 Ford Expedition Is Big but Trail Ready

Proving the Expedition's terrain versatility isn't an easy task because, in my experience, wide vehicles don't typically fit well on narrow trails. Still, I found that the new 2025 Expedition Tremor accomplishes its mission as well as any vehicle I've driven in the full-size SUV segment.

Equipped with plenty of off-roading hardware, the 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor promises genuine trail readiness. For starters, it is the only version of the SUV that has a high-output version of the Expedition's turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 as standard equipment. It generates 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a standard four-wheel-drive system, and delivers the low-end torque necessary for powering up steep grades.

In addition, the Tremor stands tall with 10.6 inches of ground clearance and rides on 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires mounted to 18-inch wheels. Ford also equips the Tremor with an off-road suspension and a complete set of underbody skid plates to shield the front axle, transfer case, and fuel tank. The rugged front tow hooks, Raptor-inspired running boards, and embedded auxiliary lights behind the grille reinforce the SUV's all-terrain identity.

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During my off-road testing, the Tremor's turbo V6, locking rear differential, and Terrain Management System proved their worth on several muddy hillclimbs. On a trail made even more treacherous by an overnight storm, I found the Tremor impressively capable in churning forward over challenging obstacles.

I also tested several of the Tremor's off-roading technologies. They include Trail Control, which acts as a low-speed off-road cruise control, the Trail 1-Pedal Drive system, which enables more precise throttle and brake modulation using just the accelerator pedal, and Trail Turn Assist, which applies braking to the inside rear wheel to reduce the turning radius, a benefit when encountering tight switchbacks. Each feature worked as advertised, making tackling challenging terrain and maneuvering the full-size SUV in difficult situations easy.

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The 2025 Expedition Gets the Ford Digital Experience

All 2025 Expedition models have a new infotainment system called the Ford Digital Experience, and the technology pairs a 13.2-inch center-mounted touchscreen and a 24.0-inch panoramic display that replaces the traditional instrumentation.

Positioned near the base of the windshield, the panoramic display keeps vital information within the driver's line of sight, viewed over the steering wheel rather than through it. This design necessitates a smaller, squared-off steering wheel that looks unusual but takes no time getting used to, and it removes the need for a head-up display.

The Google-based Ford Digital Experience system makes voice control a core feature with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. These voice assistants enable users to manage climate, navigation, media, and phone functions, and can even operate compatible smart home devices. I immediately adapted to the digital voice assistant technology and soon found it natural to use for controlling vehicle functions, getting directions, and even researching trivia like the population of Louisville, Kentucky, where Ford makes the Expedition.

A Ford Connectivity package of connected services supports the Expedition's new digital ecosystem. Buyers can opt into the Ford Connectivity package of connected services by making a one-time payment at the time of vehicle purchase. Alternatively, they can choose a one-year complimentary trial subscription with the option to extend it later.

Highlights include a Wi-Fi hot spot, Google Maps, Google Play apps, and more. The Wi-Fi can support up to 10 devices and is active up to 50 feet from the SUV, making it useful when you're out in the bush and need to know the latest baseball score or find a recipe for campfire cooking. Google Play provides access to streaming music, podcasts, and videos, along with games like the Asphalt Nitro 2 version exclusive to Ford.

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On the safety front, the 2025 Expedition includes Ford Co-Pilot360, a collection of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies. It has the features you expect to find, plus some unusual ones like trailer coverage for the blind-spot monitoring system and evasive steering assist to improve stability during emergency maneuvers. However, while off-roading, I quickly became a fan of the Tremor's surround-view camera, which made navigating trails easier.

The 2025 Expedition also has BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free highway-driving system that pairs adaptive cruise control and lane-centering systems with new enhancements, including lane-change assist and in-lane repositioning when passing. During a lengthy on-road drive in a 2025 Expedition, I found those upgraded BlueCruise features work as expected.

In addition, Ford offers towing-assistance technologies to help Expedition owners take advantage of the SUV's 9,600-pound maximum towing capacity.

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An Off-Roader for the Suburban Jungle

The 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor is an impressive addition to the subgenre of full-size SUVs emphasizing off-road capability. Its primary rivals include the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon AT4, Jeep Wagoneer Overland, Nissan Armada Pro-4X, and Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro. Each is a worthy choice in the segment.

Ford's extensive experience building all-terrain SUVs, though, means the Expedition Tremor delivers all the right stuff to enable your family to continue its journey well after the pavement ends. Add its impressive infotainment and safety technology, roomy and comfortable interior, and powerful engine, and the 2025 Expedition Tremor is ready to satisfy almost any need of a big family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Ford provided the vehicle for this 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

Jack Nerad

Jack Nerad says helping people make good car-buying decisions is one of the great joys of his life. His career has enabled him to do that for a living for decades. During his lengthy stint as an auto journalist, he has served as editor of Motor Trend Magazine, director of publications at J.D. Power, and editorial director of Kelley Blue Book. For the past 30 years he's hosted the weekly automotive radio show "America on the Road," currently broadcast on more than 200 stations across the country, and he claims he still gets a thrill from giving others good advice about cars.