The 2025 Ford Expedition Max is a large SUV that can fit many passengers and has a lot of room for luggage. It's built to be strong and can handle heavy loads.
Body-on-frame means the main part of the vehicle (the body) is built on a strong frame underneath. This makes it tough and good for carrying heavy things or going off-road.
A front skid plate is a piece of metal or plastic that protects the bottom of a car from getting damaged when driving over rough ground or obstacles. It keeps important parts safe from rocks and other things that could hit them.
Lower profile tires are tires that are shorter from the rim to the ground. They can help a car handle better when turning and make it look sportier, but they might make the ride feel bumpier on rough roads.
A two-piece tailgate is a type of back door on a truck that can open in two parts. This makes it easier to reach into the truck bed and load or unload things without having to open the whole door.
A movable center console is a part of the car's interior that can be adjusted to make it easier to reach or store things like bags. It can slide back and forth to fit your needs.
The third row is an extra row of seats in some larger cars, like SUVs. When you fold those seats down, you get more space for things like luggage or groceries.
EcoBoost is a type of engine made by Ford that uses turbocharging to give more power while using less fuel. The 'high output' version is even more powerful.
A 10-speed automatic transmission is a type of gearbox that automatically changes gears for you. Having 10 speeds means it can shift more smoothly and help save fuel.
The GMC Yukon XL is a large SUV that provides lots of space for people and their belongings. It's great for families or anyone who needs to carry a lot of stuff.
The Nissan Armada is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and stuff. It's great for families or anyone who needs a strong vehicle for towing things like trailers.
The Ford Expedition Max is a bigger version of the regular Expedition SUV, which means it has more room for passengers and luggage. The 2025 model has new tech and safety features.
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Welcome to another In-Wheel Time Podcast.
All right, time now for this hour's car review.
Had a chance to drive the all-new 2025 Ford Expedition Max.
It was assembled in Louisville, Kentucky.
Here are the available trim levels.
The active, the max active, the platinum, the max platinum, the tremor, king ranch, and max king ranch.
We drove the Max Platinum.
This is a standard or full-size SUV body on frame.
Old school, but boy, it works great.
Seats, well, three rows that hold seven seats, including the driver.
Exterior changes from last model year redesigned for 2025.
You have to ask yourself, though, first, will this fit in the garage?
It's huge.
It's an aircraft carrier.
It's massive.
So keep that in mind.
And if that's what you're looking for, boy, I'll tell you what, this should be at the top of the list.
Exterior features include subtle design changes on the exterior because how do you mess with success?
Let's keep it kind of looking like the one that's outgoing.
Lots of horizontal design elements throughout the body.
Grill, more streamlined now with a full front skid plate on this particular model.
It's modern.
It's attractive.
The wheel design works for this.
It has lower profile tires on it, which I noticed.
So it's got to be significant if you can notice the lower profile tires.
Two-piece tailgate works well.
I'll tell you about that more in a minute.
Two-toned gate, though.
I'm not exactly sure why they did that with the paint, but hey, if it works for them, maybe it works for us later on.
But I liked the new tailgate.
It holds the cargo in.
So if you go to the grocery store, you put the groceries in, you know, how the old tailgates worked.
You open up and you slide everything in.
Well, it also slides right out if you happen to get jostled about on your way home from the grocery store.
This one, it's a little short tailgate, probably about a foot tall.
And it lowers.
When you open the big gate, it lowers with it as well.
So it works well.
Interior highlights.
All new interior for 2025, spacious cabin, quality surfaces throughout.
Two screens now to accommodate the high-tech features that this comes with.
It has a movable center console.
Yeah, you can slide it back and slide it forward.
Not just the lid.
I'm talking about the whole thing, which is kind of cool.
It allows for big purses cargo right up there by you.
Cargo and trunk room.
Well, it's big back there with the third row down.
Obviously what I liked about it, again, the spaciousness of it because it's big engine.
Well, this comes with a three and a half liter high output EcoBoost V6 engine that turns out 400 horsepower and 480 pound
feet of torque through a 10 speed automatic transmission.
Tow rating is up to 9,000 pounds with the right hitch on it.
Miles per gallon, you know, if I got to tell you, I will.
15 miles per gallon in the city is what it's rated.
22 on the highway for a combined of 18.
I got 18.2 miles per gallon over 469.8 miles.
What I liked about it, the power, plenty of it there right at your right foot.
What could use improvement?
Hmm.
Hey, Ford, how about adding a hybrid powertrain just up the mileage a bit?
Just a thought.
Ride and handling.
Well, this is an extra large vehicle and it rides like one.
Boy, I tell you what, that ride is awesome.
What could use improvement?
I don't know.
I think they did a really good job considering its size and its weight.
Boy, it's really nice.
All right.
Here's what you've been waiting for.
The pricing on this base trim price, $80,445.
Prices tested.
$85,970 and clearly that is before taxes.
Base model pricing.
Get into one of these for as little as $57,400.
If you call that little competitors, I'll think you know what they are.
The Chevy suburban or the GMC Yukon XL, they're kind of go down the same assembly line.
Just a little bit different look, but $61,500 is where they start.
The Toyota Sequoia, not quite as big, but it depends on who you ask what is big.
The Sequoia starts at $62,425 and then there's the Nissan Armada.
It starts at the bargain basement price of $57,520.
And that is my review of the brand new 2025 Expedition Max.
We're going to start with one for Jeff.
Now this is the road trip Chicago to Frankenmuth.
Frank, is that my saying that right?
Frankenmuth.
Chicago is right.
Yes.
Yeah.
Chicago at Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Now this starts off in Chicago because they have all the big markets, the ice
skating, the downtown lights display.
It's really a big city set up and it's really very Christmas oriented.
But then the road trip takes you over to Frankenmuth, Michigan.
It's often called Little Bavaria.
Now here's, they've got all the architecture.
They got horse-drawn cages.
They got nonstop seasonal music.
But the main thing they have is Bonner's Christmas Woodland by Wonderland.
And this is the largest Christmas store in the country.
And they year round holiday spirit.
And then from there, we're going to drop them.
We're going to go south where it's a little warmer.
To the Texas Hill Country.
Now we're going to start in Grapevine.
Now this is called the self-proclaimed Christmas Capable of Texas.
But a couple of magazines and CNN and some other people have covered it as such.
So they've got theme train rides and parades.
They've got all kinds of things going on up there.
But you can take from there, you want to go west through the Hill Country
to Fredericksburg.
Now this is where you're going to find the German heritage with all the
Christmas pyramids, the markets, and the lighting ceremonies that go on
for several days.
And then finish down in San Antonio because the River Walk and all around
town, there's lots of places with lights they're going and very festive.
And the weather is usually mild with great food and a lot of different
traditions.
Then if you really want to go to some place far off, go off to
Seattle and where you're going to start and go through the Cascade
Mountains and go over to Leavenworth, Washington.
Now again.
Leavenworth.
Yeah, yeah.
No, no, that's your other, that's your summer house.
You know, the Leavenworth, Washington is where they have.
The other Leavenworth.
Yeah, yeah.
Now this is again another place that's set up like a Bavarian Village.
They've got all kinds of lights going on and white, while the
carolers walk through town, they've got nutcrackers and holiday
music in the streets.
And you generally they have snowfall, which is going to really
kind of make it more Christmassy to a lot of people.
I wouldn't want to live in the snow, but I like going up their
business for a couple of hours.
Then again, if you want to go someplace else, the other side
of the country, Asheville and cutting across the Blue Ridge
Parkway.
Now Asheville is a little bit slower paced, but it's got
the iconic Biltmore Estate.
And that's really what lights up for Christmas, the
holidays.
I've never been there.
I've heard a lot about it, but haven't made the trip yet,
but Christmas might be the time to go.
And then when you go through the Blue Ridge Parkway, of
course, they got the winter views even without the
snow.
You can get cabins.
There's a lot of little breweries along the way and it
just kind of a more of an outdoory type cruise is
cost going through Christmas.
The last one that I found interesting was going from
Philadelphia to New York City.
Now this is of course the East Coast road trip.
Philadelphia, they have a Christmas village with European
style stalls and seasonal treats, handcrafted gifts and
lots of historic streets there in Philadelphia.
And then you go to New York City.
Now I've been to New York City during the holidays one
time for about four hours, had a nice little tour real
quick, saw the big Christmas trees and everything at
Rockefeller Center, ice skating rinks, window
displays and all that Broadway lighting and things
that go on around there.
It's just really enhanced during the Christmas season.
So these are a few places.
If you're close, you want to make a quick trip to get
away, maybe try some of these for Christmas.
Time now for Jeff's car culture.
Five things that could be against the law while
driving your RV.
That's right.
An RV living and travel are booming like never before.
According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry
Association, there is one out there.
There are now more than 11 million households in
the United States with an RV.
There's at least tens of thousands more people to
the open road each year.
RVing is free, adventurous and comfortable.
Yet there are a variety of rules to keep the
traveler and the local community safe from you
and them and clean as well.
Here we go.
Driving an overweight RV is wrong.
It's against the law.
You'll have a weight limit to prevent any accidents
based on recent way station inspections at
RV rallies more than 85% of the RVs exceeded
gross vehicle weight capacity recommendations.
Just overloaded too much stuff in them.
The risk of overloading can be summed up in the
fact that overloading compromises breaking,
handling and tire safety, which increases the
chances of accidents.
The overweight vehicles are heavily penalized
by most states who fines and are prohibited
from traveling further until their fault is
That reminds me of the Isle of Lucy movie,
the long, long trailer, where she loaded up all
the rocks along the way.
That was out recently too.
Using the bathroom while the RV is moving,
although it may not seem like a significant
issue, using the restroom or walking around
an RV in motion may be against the law in
most states.
There are differences in laws depending on
where one lives, but there are many
mainly concerns relative to safety since
any time and one may be in the vehicle
with a brookly stop or hit a road bump
and might result in injuries.
And splash content is also possible.
Belting up and sitting will be required
when the car is moving on the road,
so you have to put a seatbelt on that door.
Don't eat burritos before you go.
The next one is parking your RV.
A residential street or driveway.
Many local ordinances prohibit the overnight parking
of RVs, and residential curbs, or even in
driveways.
In other cities parking an RV in front of your
house or street or driveway can result in
fines or even towing.
Specific neighborhoods require permits
limiting the parking duration.
These regulations aim to control neighborhood
congestion and preserve the neighborhood
aesthetics.
Although we prefer to park near home,
RV owners should review existing laws
and consider alternatives like RV parks
or storage areas.
There's a lot of those around.
Driving with the propane on.
Don't do that.
Another subject is a lot of controversy
is towing or RVing your RV with
propane tanks on.
It is permitted in most states, but certain
states impose restrictions and
specific conditions such as time-off
operations.
Due to the risk of fire and explosion,
such safety advocates sound warnings of
the dangers posed by propane leaks or
accidents.
If you have a leak in the RV, you
could die.
You could use the fixate yourself.
So keeping that off is a good thing
for the RVers.
Next one is using helium.
That's why that's what I say.
Or other type of gases.
Strap yourself into the commode there.
A boom docking is prohibited in many areas.
Overnight camping without hookups or
unmarked areas is becoming increasingly common.
So you take your creeper van or whatever
you park in somebody's house overnight.
That's all boony.
In restricted areas and privately owned lands.
It's against the law.
National Forest and Forest Services declared
that dispersing camping and specific
regulations at the time of restrictions.
Violators risk fines and are forced
removal.
By adhering to these regulations, the
natural spaces can be maintained and
no tensions with the locals or land
owners can be created.
So always know where you're going to park it.
Don't just pull up to somewhere and
throw your chair out there and flush
your commode and all that stuff.
A lot of people used to while they
were traveling use Walmart or Kmart
parking lots overnight.
Yep, exactly.
I think some folks still do.
Ignoring speed seat belt laws for
passengers.
Even though being inside an RV may
resemble being at home and household
on wheels, seat belts are required.
This also includes items like seat belts
on the couches or benches while
they have been installed.
So all the gray matter in the vehicle
in the containers don't just leave
the valves open and continue to
drive down the road.
So there's a lot of stuff.
Be careful.
You will get caught and then we'll find you.
You're talking about overweight RVs.
Well, in some cases, if you got your
mother-in-law in there though.
Yeah, that didn't count though.
Yeah.
So that's it for this podcast episode
of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
I'm Don Armstrong inviting you to join
us for our live show every Saturday
morning, 8 to 11 a.m. Central on
Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and
our InWheelTime.com website.
Podcasts are available on Apple podcast,
Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart podcast,
addict, tune in Pandora and Amazon
music.
Keep listening and we'll see you soon.
About this episode
A detailed review of the 2025 Ford Expedition Max highlights its spacious interior, powerful EcoBoost engine, and modern design features. The hosts discuss its impressive towing capacity and fuel efficiency, while also suggesting the addition of a hybrid option. The episode transitions into a holiday road trip guide, featuring festive destinations like Frankenmuth, Texas Hill Country, and Leavenworth. Additionally, the episode covers important RV rules, including weight limits and safety regulations, making it a comprehensive listen for those interested in road trips and RVing.
Big power, big space, and even bigger holiday plans. We put the all-new 2025 Ford Expedition Max under the microscope, from its streamlined grille and clever two-piece tailgate to a fully revamped interior with twin screens and a sliding center console that actually changes daily usability. With 400 horsepower, 480 lb-ft of torque, and up to 9,000 pounds of towing, the Max Platinum proves it can haul, cruise, and carry with confidence. We share true-to-life fuel economy, where it shines on ride quality, and why a hybrid option could be the smartest next step. Plus, we stack it against Suburban, Yukon XL, Sequoia, and Armada to help you decide what belongs in your driveway.
Then we hit the map with road trips that wrap driving fun in holiday magic. Start in Chicago and glide to Frankenmuth’s Little Bavaria charm and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Chase lights and live music across the Texas Hill Country, from Grapevine to Fredericksburg to San Antonio’s River Walk. Crave snow? Cross the Cascades to Leavenworth, Washington, for carolers, nutcrackers, and alpine energy. Prefer a slower pace? Wander Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the Biltmore Estate sparkle, or make a quick East Coast run from Philadelphia’s Christmas Village to New York City’s iconic tree and window displays.
We close with a no-nonsense guide to RV laws that keep your holiday rolling instead of ruined. Learn why overweight rigs are dangerous and costly, where parking gets you ticketed, how propane rules shift by state, why belts matter for every passenger, and what boondocking boundaries you must respect. Whether you’re picking a full-size SUV or plotting a festive escape, you’ll leave with practical insight, smart safety tips, and a shortlist of destinations worth the drive. If you enjoyed the ride, follow the show, share it with a road trip friend, and drop a review telling us where you’re heading next.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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