My niece and nephew decided it was time to start a family. One of the first things on their agenda was buying a very safe vehicle for the new baby. Of course safety was the major concern as was space.

I’m sure the proud father to be, checked out the Army surplus first looking into the availability of a Sherman Tank! Unable to find a tank to safely transport his baby girl he purchased the next best thing, a 2002 Ford Expedition.

The 2001 Ford Expedition was the only SUV to earn a double five-star rating in U.S. governmental frontal crash testing performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This rating was earned because of new enhancements to the Expeditions restraint system. These enhancements are new technologies called pretensioners and energy management retractors.

“Pretensioners are special devices located in the retractors of the front-seat safety belts. They tighten the belts and help prevent belted occupants from sliding and bouncing around during a crash.

If crash forces rise to severe levels; a metal bar tucked in the center of the spool of the safety belt retractor - called an energy management retractor - twists like a wrung-out washcloth. Such action releases small amounts of safety belt webbing in a controlled manner and helps reduce the
risk of force-related injuries, especially to the occupant's chest.

These technologies build on the Expedition's existing strong structural performance in crashes. Its safety cage is designed to absorb forces from a crash; helping to reduce the forces reaching either occupants of the SUV or
another vehicle that may be involved in the crash.”

The Expedition was also named the segment award winner for Best Full-Size SUV in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.

New to the 2002 Ford Expedition is the Ford’s Beltminder audible warning system to
remind driver to buckle up. The XLT can now have a rear video entertainment system (option $1,345).

The Expedition was first introduced for 1997 taking aim at the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Since the Expeditions introduction has become the best-selling full-size SUV in the U.S.

What I like best about the 2002 Ford Expedition is the easy maneuverability. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to park this rather large vehicle in a city street parking space. Of course the optional Reverse Sensing System (option $200) is a great deal of help alerting you when an obstacle is getting to close.

What I like least about the 2002 Ford Expedition is the step up into that vehicle is a dilly.


The 2002 Ford Expedition can seat 9 people comfortably with the 3rd row bench seat (removable fold tip stow seat with seat roller system). With out the 3rd row seat the Expedition offers a full 110.7 cubic feet of cargo space (best cargo space in class). Since my nephew and niece do a great deal of camping and fishing a great deal of storage space for equipment was high up on they’re shopping list. There are cargo tie downs. To open and close the back end there is a flip-up lift gate window and rear lift gate door. There is a light in the cargo area.

Lots of lights every where under the hood, in the glove box, the front door puddle, and a front dome/map light overhead and as just mentioned in the rear cargo area.


The pay load capacity is 1,955 pounds and the towing capacity is 8,100 pounds. An optional class IV trailer towing group is available for $390.


The second row of seats is the split 60/40 bench with cloth materials that recline and fold flat. There is a center armrest with cup holders. There is plenty of legroom in the second row of seats. There are rear floor heat ducts. It’s nice to know that my little niece will be comfy and warm in her little car seat in the back seat. The car seat will be secure with the child seat anchors.


All doors have power door locks and childproof rear doors. You will find remote keyless entry with two keypads that are illuminated. All windows are power with one touch down on the driver’s side. The power points are on the instrument panel and floor console. All the instrumentation is analog including easy to read voltmeter, oil pressure, water temperature,
speedometer/odometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge.


The first time I have seen the adjustable brake and accelerator pedals was in this Expedition. Who ever finally figure out that body lengths and leg lengths was very different in all people? Who needs to have their knees stuck in the holes in the steering wheel just to reach the pedals?

There are passive restraint driver and passenger airbags; (optional side air bags $395) Speed sensitive wipers, privacy glass, roof rack, rear defogger, and intermittent rear wipers. The side mirrors are power. The cruise control is on the steering wheel. The steering is power and the steering wheel adjustable. (Oh yah and a vanity mirror)

The standard car entertainment is AM/FM cassette stereo with 4 speakers (optional 6-Disc CD Changer $495).


The engine is a Triton V8 , 4.6L, 16 valve single over head cam, which delivers 90% of the torque below 2000 rpm. 90% of the torque below 2000 rpm offers a lot of pull when pulling a boat or a trailer. The Expedition comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission. A larger engine 5.4L V8 engine with 4-speed automatic transmission is available as an option for $695.
The Expedition has front independent suspension plus a front and rear stabilizer bar.

There are five P255/70Rx16 BSW All-season tires. The spare is steel and is located under the body and has a crank down. Brakes are power disc with 4-wheel anti-lock The fuel mileage is kind of a mute point on the Expedition but the mileage is 12/16.


The Expedition competes with the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon with the base price somewhat lower at $33,095. ( Base pricing for the Expedition begins at $30,855 for XLT 4x2 and $33,725 for XLT 4x4. Expedition Eddie Bauer model pricing begins at $37,265 for 4x2
and $41,410 for 4x4) The Tahoe is $35,180 and the Yukon $35,835. Of course there is an impressive list of options that will get the price up as high as you need to go to impress everyone. Though the list of standard features is pretty extensive. The destination charge is $715. The dealer hold back for Ford is 3% of the Total MSRP (total sticker price).



The warranty is the basic: 3 yr. / 36,000 miles, drive train: 3 yr. / 36,000 miles, roadside: 3 yr. / 36,000 miles, rust: 5 yr. / Unlimited miles. Extended warranties are available.

The Ford Expedition has a list of stupendous safety features and I give it an Aunt’s approval for her baby niece. It’s not a Sherman Tank but the tank doesn’t offer airbags, child seat anchors for car seats nor rear heat ducts. The tank certainly doesn’t have the maneuverability that the Ford Expedition does and I have heard that the tank is a real pain to park. For a full size SUV the Ford Expedition offers great balance between comfort and function.
Amount Paid (US$): 40,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: Eddie Bauer