Got some extra folks to tote around? Check out the 2012 Ford Expedition EL XL. Boasting 221.3 inches of overall length, 3 rows of seating for up to 8 and almost 131 cubic feet of total cargo room, this is one big full-size SUV.
Packed outboard are 17-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, step running boards, a trailer hitch and wiring, and heated power-adjustable mirrors with integrated blind-spot indents, all standard, while the spacious cabin boasts cloth upholstery, a 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, simulated alloy accents, full power accessories, reclining second-row seats and air conditioning, front and rear. Cruise control and tilt-wheel steering help comfort the driver, with a 160-watt stereo system powering an MP3-capable single-CD player, 6 speakers, satellite radio and rear sound controls.
Workman-like options for the 2012 Expedition EL XL, meantime, include a heavy-duty trailer package and 3.73 non-limited-slip rear axle, while more prosaic add-ons include remote engine start, rear-seat DVD entertainment and Ford’s ballyhooed SYNC AppLink infotainment system.
Once again, standard power for this stretched ute comes from a Flex Fuel 5.3-liter V8 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) coupled with the standard 6-speed automatic transmission. This pairing nets 310 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, with mileage in the rear-wheel-drive-only (RWD) XL EL estimated at 14 mpg city/20 highway. Towing remains maxed out at 9,200 pounds with the proper equipment.
Standard safety features aboard this big ute…besides its heft…include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and front and 3-row head airbags. Front fog/driving lights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm are complemented by Ford’s net-nanny-style MyKey system, which allows folks to program such things as speed and audio limits into their extra-length Expedition when one of the kids wants to borrow it for the evening.
