Driven: 2026 Ford Expedition Tremor

The 2026 Ford Expedition Tremor is a substantial three-row SUV that manages to combine enormous passenger and cargo space with genuine off-road capability, plentiful technology, and impressive comfort. After a week of extensive driving, the ’26 Tremor proved to be one of the most well-rounded full-size SUVs we’ve experienced in years.

At more than 17 feet long, nobody will mistake the Expedition for a compact crossover. It has a commanding presence that suits its mission, and the Tremor adds just enough ruggedness without going overboard. Its 18-inch dark Carbonized Gray wheels are wrapped in chunky 33-inch all-terrain tires, while orange tow hooks and accents add some visual pop. The Tremor also gets skid plates, running boards, and auxiliary lights hidden behind removable covers in the grille. Those lights are easy to overlook until somebody points them out, but they’re a welcome addition when heading down an unlit trail. With 10.6 inches of ground clearance, this giant Ford can venture much farther off pavement than most family SUVs.

But the Tremor is more than an appearance package. Its off-road suspension features unique springs, passive shocks, control arms, and stabilizer bars, along with a higher ride height. It also has a two-speed transfer case, an electronic locking rear differential, and several trail-focused driving aids. Rock Crawl mode optimizes the drivetrain for low-speed terrain, Trail Control acts like off-road cruise control, Trail Turn Assist tightens the Expedition’s turning radius by braking the inside rear wheel so this long SUV can pivot more sharply, and Trail 1-Pedal Drive lets the driver accelerate and slow using mostly the accelerator pedal. Those features give the Expedition legitimate off-road credentials despite its considerable size.

Power comes from Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, producing an ample 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque. It works with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. This is exactly the kind of engine a vehicle this big needs. Acceleration is strong, passing power is abundant, and there’s never a sense that the engine is struggling with the Expedition’s mass. In fact, this beast will go from 0 to 60 mph in just about 5 seconds flat. Fuel economy is unsurprisingly less exciting. The EPA rates this Tremor at 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. Whether loaded with people, luggage, or towing a trailer, there’s a deep reserve of torque waiting under the accelerator.

That muscle also makes the Tremor an impressive tow vehicle. Properly equipped, it can pull up to 9,300 pounds, slightly below the 9,600-pound maximum of some other Expedition 4×4 configurations. Heavy-duty towing equipment is standard, including an integrated trailer brake controller. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist also simplifies reversing with a trailer by letting the driver use a dashboard knob to steer the trailer in the desired direction while the Expedition automatically handles the steering wheel. Tow/Haul mode adjusts the powertrain for the extra load.

Despite its trail-ready hardware and General Grabber all-terrain tires, the Expedition Tremor is surprisingly civilized on pavement. The suspension absorbs broken asphalt and highway irregularities without feeling sloppy, while the steering makes this huge SUV reasonably easy to place on the road. There’s no disguising its width or weight in tight parking lots, but the surround-view camera system helps considerably. At highway speeds, the cabin isn’t as quiet as some dedicated luxury SUVs, but noise levels remain entirely acceptable for a rugged full-size SUV.

Ford’s BlueCruise system makes long interstate trips much less tiring. On mapped divided highways, it allows true hands-free driving while monitoring the driver’s attention. It does a good job maintaining lane position and following distance, and a tap of the turn signal can prompt the Expedition to execute a lane change automatically. Blind-spot cameras provide additional reassurance by displaying the adjacent lane when a turn signal is activated.

Inside, the Expedition feels appropriately substantial. The dashboard combines a distinctive textured material with soft-touch surfaces and a long, metalized finisher across the bottom edge that adds a touch of class. There are storage cubbies everywhere, a huge center console bin, and no shortage of cupholders. Ford says there are 15 beverage holders throughout the cabin, which should prevent any arguments over where somebody’s Big Gulp gets to ride.

Our test vehicle came with another trick up its sleeve. The powered center console can slide forward and backward at the push of a button, opening up extra room between the front seats and making it easier for second-row passengers to reach the console area. Hidden beneath its front section is an optional locking Console Vault, providing a secure place to stash valuables or other items you don’t want left out in plain sight.

The Tremor features premium leather seating surfaces in Black Onyx with bright Electric Spice stitching. These smooth textile surfaces look great and feel durable enough for messy family adventures. The front seats are heated and ventilated, and the ventilation is exceptionally effective. They get genuinely cold, rather than providing the vague suggestion of airflow that passes for seat ventilation in some vehicles. And given the summer we’ve been having, this is quite welcome.

Getting into those seats does require some climbing. The fixed exterior steps and grab handles aren’t just decoration, particularly given the Tremor’s extra ground clearance. Once inside, visibility is quite good, other than peering over the typically tall hood. The squircle-shaped steering wheel creates more knee room while making it easier to see the broad 24-inch panoramic instrument display mounted far forward on the dashboard. Its placement keeps important information near the driver’s line of sight and leaves enough room to display navigation maps alongside vehicle data.

A 13.2-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen handles multimedia functions. The arrangement works nicely, though the reliance on touch-sensitive climate controls isn’t ideal. Thankfully, Ford retains physical buttons for volume and several frequently used vehicle and safety functions. The cabin also gets subtle adjustable ambient lighting and an enormous panoramic Vista Roof with an opening front section. Surprisingly, there’s no wireless phone charging pad. That’s an odd omission in an $86,000 SUV, although wireless chargers are inconsistent enough in quality that it hardly feels like a deal breaker.

Device charging is otherwise abundant. The center console has two USB-C ports, while another USB-C and USB-A port sit near the cupholders. Second-row passengers get access to seatback USB-C ports and, new for 2026, clever adjustable device holders on the front seat headrests that can grip a phone in landscape or portrait orientation or support a small tablet. That’s an especially smart feature for families whose kids want to watch movies on long trips.

This particular Expedition swaps the Tremor’s standard second-row captain’s chairs for an optional 40/20/40 power-folding bench, increasing capacity to eight passengers and improving cargo-handling versatility. The third row is unusually accommodating for a three-row SUV and provides dual cupholders, a phone holder, and USB-C charging on both sides. Tri-zone climate control helps keep everyone comfortable.

Ford also provides a wealth of nighttime exterior lighting, including bright LEDs beneath the mirrors and on the liftgate that make a real difference when loading gear or walking around the SUV after dark. The mirror-mounted lights cast a wide pool of illumination along the sides of the vehicle, while the liftgate lighting helps brighten the cargo area. Both are far more useful than the decorative logo puddle lamps found on some upscale vehicles.

Cargo handling might be the Expedition’s strongest family-friendly trick. There’s up to 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 69.9 cubic feet behind the second, and a cavernous 108.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. With three occupants inside, we managed to load nearly everything needed to furnish a college student’s studio apartment, leaving out only the mattress and couch.

The split tailgate itself is great, too. The upper liftgate can open automatically as the keyholder approaches, while the smaller lower section provides a convenient loading shelf and keeps loose items from tumbling out when the hatch opens. Drop it down, and it becomes a useful place to sit while changing shoes, tailgating, or taking a break on the trail. The optional Cargo Tailgate Manager can divide the space horizontally to create two levels, serve as an organizer, or become a backrest when sitting on the split tailgate.

The 2026 Expedition Tremor isn’t inexpensive, fuel-efficient, or easy to squeeze into small parking spaces. But judged by what it sets out to accomplish, it’s exceptionally good. It combines space for a large family, serious towing, solid off-road capability, strong performance, smart cargo solutions, excellent highway driving technology, and a comfortable cabin into one extremely versatile package. Few SUVs genuinely feel like they can do just about everything, but this one is firing on all of its proverbial cylinders.

The Expedition Tremor starts at $81,400 before destination. The Oxford White test vehicle added the eight-passenger second-row bench, lockable console vault, seven-year Connectivity Package, three years of SiriusXM 360L, and the Cargo Tailgate Manager. Including its $2,595 destination charge, the final sticker came to $86,400. It’s a lot of money and a lot of SUV, but for a family that routinely piles in people, luggage, outdoor gear, and maybe a trailer, the Expedition Tremor makes a compelling case as the ultimate road-trip machine.