Vehicle Overview
Ford’s full-size sport utility vehicle debuted as a 1997 model and is built off the F-Series pickup chassis. The Lincoln Navigator is the Expedition’s luxurious corporate twin and offers a more powerful engine, standard leather upholstery and some convenience features not offered on the Expedition.
Interior
The 1999 Expedition and Navigator were the first production vehicles available with power-adjustable pedals, a feature that allows moving the pedals over a three-inch range to accommodate shorter drivers. For 2000, the adjustable pedals are standard instead of optional.
Seats for six are standard on the XLT model. New this year are optional captain’s chairs for the middle row, replacing a split-bench seat. Dual front captain’s chairs are standard on the Eddie Bauer model and optional on the XLT. The Eddie Bauer version also comes with a removable three-place rear bench for nine-passenger capacity, a feature optional on the XLT.
Exterior
Available only in four-door styling, the Expedition has a rear liftgate with a window that opens separately. Though the Expedition has a different grille and front-end trim, it shares major styling cues with the F-Series pickup.
Under the Hood
Two engines are available. A 215-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 is standard on all models except the 4WD Eddie Bauer, which comes with a 260-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8. The latter is optional on other models. Two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models are available. The 4WD system engages automatically and can be used on smooth, dry pavement.
Safety
Side-impact airbags for the front seats will be offered as an option later in the model year. Also coming later in the year is the Reverse-Sensing System, which detects objects while the vehicle is backing up. The system, also used in the Ford Windstar minivan, alerts drivers that objects behind the vehicle are within 5.9 feet with warning beeps. As objects become closer, the beeps sound more frequently and become a continuous tone when the object is within 10 inches.
