The Most Versatile SUV of 2025: The Ford Expedition Max

March 10th, 2025 by

A dark blue 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX parked at a campsite at night.

SUVs are one of the most important vehicle categories. Perhaps you’re an SUV owner, or maybe you drive something else but have noticed that, as time goes on, you see more and more SUVs on the road. As SUVs sweep the industry by storm, their available performance, technology, and design features have increased in quantity and quality. There are a lot of great candidates for anyone seeking a full-size SUV with stellar combinations of truck-like capabilities, flexible interior layouts, gorgeous aesthetics, and great technology.

While there are a number of great options, there is one in particular that really strikes this combination in a special way and offers practical utility for families in a way that competitors don’t quite capture. It’s a vehicle that, strangely enough, doesn’t seem to have the same level of media hype around it as some of its competitors, despite it being a premier SUV from America’s favorite brand. Yet, if you seek out a Ford Expedition for sale, you’ll see that this model truly exists in a class of its own, especially with its redesign for 2025.

The Expedition is a hearty full-size SUV. It’s certainly not lacking when it comes to size and spatial capacity, but many people don’t realize they can make the Expedition even bigger with the Expedition Max, which provides a longer wheelbase. For many families, there’s real value in this upsize, and it may be worth the extra price. So, let’s take a look at the 2025 Expedition, what’s new about it, and why you should consider bringing home the Expedition Max specifically. Learning about this great vehicle will show you why it stands above the rest, so let’s get started!

A Full-Size SUV in Good Company

Ford offers more SUVs than most other brands; if you take a gander at its SUV lineup, you’ll be amazed at the volume of options, covering every possible category of SUV, from subcompact to full-size. While compact and midsize SUVs make up a good portion of the SUV market, full-size models are in a class of their own. The Expedition is Ford’s flagship SUV. An interesting perspective to keep when analyzing a full-size SUV is that there’s often an overlap with the brand’s full-size truck counterpart—and Ford’s full-size truck needs no introduction.

The Ford Expedition and the F-150 share several architectural, performance, and design similarities. While trucks and SUVs are certainly different vehicle types that serve different markets for different purposes, the main difference is that one has a pickup bed while the other has extra interior seating and storage capacity. With the F-150 being America’s favorite truck, the Expedition has all of the workings to become America’s favorite SUV. For anybody who’s enthralled by the F-150 but needs to go with an SUV for practical reasons, know that you’re in good company with the Expedition.

Three rows of seating in a 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX.

What’s New and Improved for 2025?

Speaking of the similarities between trucks and full-size SUVs, the 2025 Expedition is making the line between the two a little bit less distinct in an excellent way. Newly designed for this model year, the Expedition is leaning even more heavily into flexible storage solutions for families with ever-changing needs. Perhaps the most distinct way you’ll first observe this is with the brand-new Ford Split Gate.

With this new system, the SUV liftgate meets the pickup tailgate. Three-quarters of it operates just as any other liftgate would, while the bottom quarter folds out, providing all the helpful utility of a tailgate. Now, for those of you tempted to think that a tailgate would just get in your way when trying to access your SUV’s rear storage area, this tailgate is designed to do more than just sit there. With this, you can have a great place to sit on outdoor adventures, and with that seat back also turning into a serving table, you have a place to gather for food; and, with the tailgate being able to hold up to 500 lbs, you certainly don’t have to worry about overloading. The Expedition is the only SUV on the market to offer such a feature. Those of you who need the SUV but want the truck may find that you have both desires satiated.

Now, once you’ve entered the rear storage area through the Ford Split Gate, you may need to adjust the arrangement a little bit so as to optimize the balance between seating and cargo capacity. You’re likely expecting to read that the Expedition offers a standard 60/40-split rear seating arrangement, but you would be wrong. Even better, the Expedition innovates with an all-new 40/20/40-split arrangement. In practice, this means that the rear-middle seat folds independently. With the 60/40 split, you can only seat up to five passengers total, but with the 40/20/40 split, you can comfortably seat six while still storing all of your cargo. It seems so simple, but once again, Ford thinks of it first!

As you can plainly see, we’re not exaggerating when we say that the Expedition exists in a class of its own. While these features only begin to scratch the surface of the Expedition, they are a perfect representation of the vehicle’s foresight and innovation. Being oriented around utility and storage, it makes sense that you may want to consider having extra length in the Expedition Max.

The digital command center and steering wheel in a 2025 Ford Expedition for sale.

Taking the Best to the Max

To clarify for those of you considering the Expedition Max, the Max is not a trim; it’s a size variant. So, purchasing the Max won’t affect your options in terms of performance, aesthetics, or technology, but it will affect the length of the vehicle and its interior space.

The traditional 2025 Expedition is not lacking in size or space. It’s 209.9 inches (about 17.5 feet) long, which equates to a total interior cargo capacity of 108.5 cu.ft. That’s an outstanding measurement and nobody will be disappointed with that, but some families simply need more. Depending on your lifestyle, your hobbies, and your kids’ activities, you may want the maximum amount. Well, look no further than the Expedition Max.

Adding nearly a foot in length, the Max body variant makes all the difference in the world for those looking for extra interior space. While a foot of length may not sound like much, the difference is noticeable, and the interior contrast equates to an additional 14.6 cu.ft. of cargo space for a total of 123.1 cu.ft. That’s one of the best cargo capacity ratings you’ll find in any SUV anywhere. Families will have the space they need for their adventures and active lifestyles. The Max generously offers extra space for those who need it without affecting other factors. If you find yourself constantly in need of more space, the Expedition Max is for you.

Breaking Boundaries for the Expedition

Full-size SUVs are designed to be versatile, capable, and flexible, but none are as versatile, capable, or flexible as the Ford Expedition. That’s not just a claim we’re making to try and rope you in; if you actually look at the facts we’ve presented, such as the Ford Split Gate, the 40/20/40-split rear seating, and the Max’s stellar cargo capacity, you won’t find them in other vehicles. Ford is always ahead of the curve, inventing new features before other brands even know they’re possible. The 2025 Expedition is Ford’s freshest innovation, and it provides the absolute maximum in utility. Any family seeking a fun, flexible, and spacious SUV need not look any further than the 2025 Expedition Max.