Off-Road Package for 2020 Ford Expedition Limited Boasts Best of Both Worlds
Ford has announced that, for the 2020 model year, the brand is making the FX4 Off-Road Package an option on the Limited trim of both the Expedition and Expedition Max. Previously, it was only available on the XLT trim, but apparently demand for a capable off-road-ready SUV that also has considerable levels of creature comforts has driven the company to expand its offerings. Or perhaps it was simply the arrival of the new 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe in Z71 off-road trim — but it’s probably the former rather than the latter, as Ford says that market research indicates 1 in 5 Expedition owners use their SUVs for off-road adventures, and nearly half of them take them hunting, camping or fishing.
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Shop the 2019 Ford Expedition near you
Regardless of why you’d want a fancier off-road Expedition, now you can get all the off-road package’s bits and pieces to help you out in the muck on the more luxurious Limited trim. So, what do you get when you click that option box?
Off the Road
You get a lot more off-road protection, for one thing. Seven underbody skidplates are added, including a new sand shield to protect the standard 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6’s turbochargers. The other plates protect the steering gear, engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank. The chin spoiler under the front bumper is different, too: It’s shorter than the standard one so as to provide better approach angles for off-road obstacles. Down the sides, the Limited FX4 has chrome running boards with angular step bars for protection and ease of ingress and egress.
Under the Hood
The engine remains unchanged and is still mated to Ford’s excellent 10-speed automatic transmission, but a new electronic limited-slip differential is part of the deal. The rear-end is still a 3.73:1 gear ratio, and if you specify the max towing package, you’ll be able to haul up to 9,200 pounds even with the standard-length Expedition. The wheels aren’t the big blingy ones you might expect on a Limited, however — they’re 18-inch metallic gray-painted cast aluminum rims with 32-inch all-terrain tires, which are better for off-roading. They work with the premium off-road shock absorbers and Ford’s electronic Terrain Management System to help the Expo get where you want to go.
In the Cabin
Inside, the Limited’s upscale appointments carry over, with leather-trimmed seats and wood accents, but an element of ruggedness is introduced with rubber floor liners front and rear. The entire Expedition line gets the Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system as standard, bringing pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and a rearview camera to all models. The Limited adds standard Co-Pilot360 Assist, which includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, voice-activated navigation and enhanced park assist. Ford’s pretty amazing Pro Trailer Backup Assist is optional (but worth it).
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At the Register
The new 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4 joins the XLT FX4 and is on sale at Ford dealers right now. It’s a $2,035 option package on top of the already pricey Limited 4×4, but it also requires you to add option package 301A (panoramic moonroof and the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist system), which means it’s actually a $4,000 option. This means the least expensive FX4 Limited you can get rings in at $71,865 (including a $1,395 destination charge) without selecting any other options.
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