2018 Ford Expedition: Photo Gallery

CARS.COM — Ford has finally gotten around to updating its largest SUV, the Expedition, and we recently had a chance to drive it in California.

Related: 2018 Ford Expedition: First Drive

Taking aim squarely at the kings — the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban — the Expedition keeps its body-on-frame construction and is nearly identical to the F-150 pickup truck under the skin. While that means it also shares the F-150's aluminum body, any weight and fuel-economy savings are canceled out by additional equipment and sound-deadening materials. But, look: This isn't the segment to be concerned about fuel economy.

Here are five more things to consider:

1. An F-150 on the Inside, Too

This comes with pros and cons. On the one hand, you get great visibility and a user-friendly control setup. On the other hand, the seats are short along the bottom and can be uncomfortable over long drives — one of the chief purposes of a vehicle like this. Materials quality is also mixed, which is unfortunate at this price point.

2. Speaking of Price ...

XLT trims — likely the cheapest nonfleet trim you'll find available — will start at just under $53,000 for a two-wheel-drive model including delivery and destination charges. Add all the options you want, including four-wheel drive for an additional $3,100 or $3,200 depending on trim, and you could be looking at more than $70,000. A fully loaded Expedition Max Platinum will drain your bank account of nearly $90,000.

3. Modern Looks

The 2018 Expedition certainly looks modern, however. The body lines are neither overly round nor overly sharp, flowing together nicely into a smooth shape that still evokes a trucklike toughness.

4. Modern Tech

Inside, you'll find a bevy of safety tech to protect you and your passengers, as well as help protect other drivers in smaller vehicles from being flattened due to carelessness. Passengers also get available entertainment systems that include Slingplayer compatibility for those who just can't miss their stories. There's also Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist to make hooking up a trailer and maneuvering with it much easier.

5. It Doesn't Need Roads ... Kinda

The 2018 Expedition is available with an FX4 package that adds all-terrain tires and off-road shocks, as well as underbody protection and a two-speed low-range transfer case, among other goodies. That won't make a new Expedition a hardcore rock-crawler out of the box, but it's a start for those who want to explore more unbeaten paths than a complex of soccer fields.

Check out the gallery above to get a good look at the new 2018 Ford Expedition, and see if you think it can best Chevrolet and take the crown.

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