This new appreciation for passenger comfort is best reflected in the new front seats, as captain's chairs with movable armrests are now standard across the three model lines. Leather-upholstered examples are available with an optional heating/cooling feature that makes them a more comfortable companion in winter and summer. Seat travel for the driver's seat has been increased three-quarters of an inch to help accommodate taller drivers, and it's a perfect match for the Expedition's movable pedals, so a wider range of drivers can be accommodated.

The second seating row also reflects Ford's thoughtful approach to passenger comfort, as the standard 40/20/40 bench seat incorporates a center section that slides forward up to eleven inches, bringing a child seat within easier reach of front-seat passengers. Optional second-row captain's chairs with a center-aisle pass-through can be substituted for adult-rated comfort.

The Expedition's available third-row seat is also impressively unique. Packaging advantages afforded by the Expedition's independent rear suspension enable this rear seat to deliver a far more comfortable seating position to adults compared to the accommodations provided by the Chevy Tahoe. Moreover, the three-row canopy airbags ensure the third-row passengers have the same head protection in a collision as passengers in the forward seat rows. As with the previous model, the amount of room afforded to passengers by the standard Expedition is generous.

The Expedition's liftgate with its flip-up glass hatch also makes access to the cargo area very easy. The best thing about the Expedition's bench-type seats in the second and third rows is the way in which they can be folded flat onto the cargo floor, affording a long cargo area that can be easily loaded. This means you don't have to unbolt the passenger seats and leave them on the floor of your garage every time you're making a serious run to Home Depot. The Expedition is available with an optional power-folding third seat and electronically powered liftgate to make it even easier to load cargo. At the same time, the seat squabs of the second- and third-row seats are a little slim in order to allow the seats to fold properly.

Yet the new Expedition is about more than convenience. A new climate-control system dramatically reduces the time required to cool or heat the cabin. A new DVD-based navigation system with sizable 6.5-inch screen is available as an option. The rear-seat DVD entertainment system has an eight-inch screen that flips down from the ceiling and also includes two sets of wireless headphones. A plug-in jack for an MP3 player is standard across the line. The Expedition is even a nice place to be when all the entertainment is switched off, as the combination of thicker glass and a generous amount of acoustic insulation behind the dash and on the floor makes this a remarkably quiet interior, and it's actually possible to have a conversation with the people in the third-row seat while you're at the wheel.

Driving Impressions

Full-size sport-utilities aren't known for their driving manners, but the latest-generation of vehicles from both Ford and General Motors have made real progress in delivering a more car-like impression.

In this regard, the 2007 Ford Expedition is notably superior to the 2007 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, and it tracks down the highway with excellent straight-line stability, negotiates forest roads with surprising agility, and absorbs impacts from bumps or broken pavement without straying from its path. While the Tahoe bounds from bump to bump as its heavy rear axle rebounds from impacts, the Expedition maintains a surprising calm considering its truck heritage.

Most of the magic comes from car-like engineering, a synergy between a chassis frame that's 10 percent more rigid, high-pressure gas shocks that afford excellent wheel control, and a second-generation, link-type independent rear suspension. Moreover, steering effort has been reduced 15 percent, while the brakes have been upgraded to deliver more stopping capability. The two-speed 4WD system is engaged with a simple rotary knob mounted on the dashboard, and it automatically reduces throttle sensitivity in low range for better traction in slippery circumstances.

As before, the overhead-cam 5.4-liter V8 delivers 300 hp, but it's really tuned to deliver 365 pound-feet of torque for towing, a product of variable valve timing and cylinder heads with three valves per cylinder. In the past, this engine has seemed sluggish compared to its competition, despite its excellent power rating, but the addition of a new, six-speed automatic transmission for 2007 has transformed its personality. The seamless transition through the gears keeps the engine from laboring through its rpm range, and the result is an impression of reliable power.

This engine performance also has a notable impact on towing, making it seem like a pleasure instead of a chore. With its optional towing package in place, the standard Expedition will now tow 9000 pounds, the best rating in this class. (A 2WD Expedition is rated 9200 pounds, a 4WD 9000 pounds, a 2WD EL is rated 9000 pounds, a 4WD EL is 8750 pounds.)