The Ford Expedition is a big SUV that can carry lots of people and stuff. The 2025 version is the newest one with new features and different styles you can choose from.
Trim levels are different versions of the same car that come with more or fewer features. You can pick the one that has what you want and fits your price.
Turning radius is how tightly a car can turn around. A smaller turning radius means the car can make sharper turns, which helps when driving in small spaces.
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a big car that can carry a lot of people and stuff. It has a strong engine and is good if you want to tow trailers or boats. It costs about $59,000 for the basic version.
The Toyota Tacoma is a small pickup truck that is tough and good for driving off-road or carrying heavy stuff. It holds its value well and lasts a long time.
The Lexus ES is a nice, comfortable luxury car that is easy to drive and lasts a long time. Many people like it because it feels fancy inside and is reliable.
The Lexus IS is a smaller luxury car that is fun to drive and has nice features inside. It's a sportier choice if you want a luxury car that feels more agile.
The Toyota Tundra is a big truck that many people trust because it lasts a long time and holds its value well. Toyota makes sure it is built carefully and keeps getting better over time.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a big SUV that many families like because it lasts a long time and can drive a lot of miles without breaking down. It's been made for a very long time, since 1935.
A concours d'elegance is a fancy car show where very rare and special cars are shown off and judged to see which ones are the best kept and most beautiful.
The Toyota Corolla Cross is a small SUV made in Alabama that is easy to drive and good on gas. It has different versions so people can pick what fits them best.
The Toyota RAV4 is a popular small SUV that many people like because it is reliable and saves gas, especially the hybrid version. It costs a bit more but helps you spend less on fuel.
The Subaru Crosstrek is a small SUV that comes with a special system to help it drive better on rough roads and in bad weather. It also has a version that uses less gas to save money.
The Mazda RX-3 is an old sporty car that was special because of its unique engine and light weight. People who like cars often talk about it because it was different and fun to drive.
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All right, let's do our car review now. Mr. Mars has one. Yes, Mars has a car review.
Hope I didn't catch off-card, Mike. It's the Ford Expedition. I never catch you off-card,
do I? I got it, Mike. Not hardly. More than once or twice a day. So yeah, so I had the
chance to drive the 2025 Ford Expedition. Now, this is the cream-grant version that we had,
and it is the new for 2025. It's been redesigned in 2025, and it actually kicks off the fifth
gen of the new Expeditions. So its final assembly location is in Kentucky, USA, which I thought
was kind of strange. We usually see them in some reason. They're all Mexico or Canada or
somewhere. Anyway, so it comes in seven trim levels. You've got the active, you've got the max
active, which is the longer extended version, the platinum, the max platinum, again, the extended
version. The trimmer is more of an off-roading type vehicle, and then the king ranch and the max
king ranch. And we were driving the king ranch. Now, this is a full-size three-row vehicle. Seat
seven people. And so for this year, again, it's new for 25, but the most of the changes were on
the interior and in the technology. There were a few modest updates on the exterior. It does have
LED headlights up front, of course. It's got an active air dam. It's got the signature grille
lighting and tail lights that really look cool at night. And the signature grille, I mean,
it's got some power-deploying running boards that work really well. They're pretty quick to
kick-outs. You can open the door, and they're generally there by the time you want to step
on it. You don't have to wait on them, and I thought that was really good. It has the
panoramic view roof. Now, this is the roof that opens up all the way back down and lets in lots of
sunlight. It rolls on some nice 22-inch bronze aluminum wheels. We've got a bronze look to them
because of that king ranch, and it looks different. And overall, I like it because it's got a nice
professional, I guess you'd say, classy look to it because of the lines on it. And we had the
black, so it was definitely there. Now, on the interior, we had the Mesa del Rio leather trim
seats. Really nice to sit in, comfortable. Has the 24-inch driver info display. Now, this thing
is massive. It goes all the way across there. It's got a 13.2-inch center stack touchscreen that
kind of ties into it to control all your infotainment and your convenience controls. The second row,
we had the heated and power-folding tip-and-slide bucket seats. Captain's chairs, whatever the
proper term is these days, really again, really nice and comfortable to get in and out of. The
third row is a 40-20-40 plex folding. Now, this is a power-folding seat. I didn't make it that far
backs. Can't tell you how comfortable they are, but they look pretty good. Now, the technology,
again, they did a lot of things on the technology for this vehicle. It's got the blue cruise, and it
also has the Ford co-pilot 360 2.0. It's got the wireless charging pad. It's got touch screens. And
it had the B&O Unleashed 22-speaker audio system. I tried to figure out what it would be like
leashed, but I couldn't find that part. Now, up under the hood, it has a 3.5-liter V6 that provides
it with the power. And I will say that it does provide it with plenty of power. It was very
responsive for a very large vehicle, and it's not a race car, never intended to be a race car.
It does have a 10-speed automatic transmission, and properly equipped, it will tow 9,600 pounds.
Now, the EPA says in the city, you're looking at about 15 miles to the gallon highway 22 combined
18. I drove the vehicle 220.3 miles a week. I had it, and I got 16.8 miles per gallon average
over the course of that week. And again, it does respond quite well to the throttle out on the highway,
passing around town. And I also felt like driving it, I was honestly impressed, because it manages
the road really well. Whether you're out on the highway, you're in town, and I really enjoyed
the steering in it. A lot of people saw some things where people said the steering wasn't very
responsive. I thought it was particularly the turning radius. It seemed like I was driving,
or it felt like whenever I was turning the steering wheel, I was driving a much smaller
vehicle. And I really liked that part of it. Now, the base trim price for a vehicle like this is
$83,655. You've got to remember, we're driving the King Ranch edition, so it's in the upper levels
of the trim range. Now, the MSRP, the ticker price has been with $85,000, $650,000. We can have very
many options that King Ranch has a lot of things built into it. Of course, you can get into an
expedition, which a lot of people do look at it because of that active. It's kind of like a volume
leader, if you will. A lot of people buy that because it's $64,995. It's still not cheap by any means,
but now you're talking about a seven passenger, full-size SUV vehicle. If you're looking for
something to compare this to, you might look at the Chevy Tahoe. $59,000 for the base entry level
to get into that. I've always liked the Tahoe, but I also think that after driving this for a week,
I could definitely see you need to look at both of them. Nissan Armada, $57,520. It's been updated
recently, but it's definitely something you'd want to look at. If you go across to the Toyota
Sequoia, this is a hybrid. It's the only way you can get it now, so it's going to be a little more
expensive at $62,425. I firmly believe, again, after driving it, if you're looking at a full-size
three-row SUV, this expedition really should be one of them that you include in your search.
Well, I'll tell you what, going down I-10 from Neaterville to Houston, Texas,
that's got to be like a limo going down the road.
Oh, it is. It's nice, but you don't have that big car feel. That's what I was really surprised.
Some of the big three rows, you know, you're driving a big monster truck. This didn't feel that way.
Well, if you remember way back in the day, you know, basically all they did back in the day,
back in the day, which is a long day ago, they took a truck chassis and kept everything the same
underneath and put a body on the entire truck chassis and just left it alone. They don't do
that anymore. It's all custom made for carrying passengers and not loads of gravel in the back
of it or something like that. So it really, if you've not driven one in a long time,
I would say go check it out. I think you'd be surprised. I was very surprised with it, so I
agree. Hey, congratulations and thank Ken Peabody for giving you some cars. Awesome stuff. Yeah.
Good stuff. All right.
I've got
today. Time to offer Jeff's car culture, four brands that should make a quarter million miles
and three brands that probably won't. Yeah, they're expected to. That's what they say,
but Toyota is the undisputed longevity champion. Toyota dominates the 2025
list of these vehicles and what makes Toyota vehicles last so long. It comes down to the
deliberate engineering, the choices that they make. And when they make those choices,
they stick to it as reliable systems instead of chasing every new trend. They improve the cars
little by little instead of rushing big changes and carefully monitor every step of building that
Toyota. The Toyota corporation, they receive nine model awards every year, including the
Lexus ES, Lexus IS, Lexus NX, and it goes on through that through the Toyota Camry, Toyota Tacoma,
and the Toyota Tundra. Brands approach the quality control and incremental improvements
rather than just radical designs, which other people do. It's paid dividends for the owners
of those vehicles and long haul that they use them for. The next one up would be the Lexus,
the luxuries that last. Kathy's got one and she loves it. Lexus ranks the highest level in the
vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year. Toyota's luxury division, which is Lexus,
brings the same reliability DNA wrapped in a premium materials and refined driving dynamics.
The brands consistently across both new and used vehicles set it apart from the competitors.
In 2026, Lexus is the most reliable brand for used cars, seeing a higher score across older
vehicles than the new ones. A luxury brand owner by Toyota, it was also ranked in the top three
most reliable new cars that they have. So that's good for Lexus. Keep it going. Honda's the next one.
Proven durability across the segments for Honda, it ranks second for the most vehicle rankings,
demonstrates strong longevity potential. The Japanese automaker has built a reputation similar
to Toyota, focusing on practical engineering and reliable powertrains, hint all the other
manufacturers. The Honda Odyssey pilot and Ridgeline are the 12th, 11th and 10th most likely vehicles
to make it beyond the quarter million mile mark. Honda's approach to reliability mirrors Toyota's
philosophy of consecutive updates and proven technology. The brand consists of performance
across sedan's SUVs and trucks. The next one we have, which is the last one in the group of four
and is kind of surprising, Chevrolet, the American contender. Only General Motors managed to break
the Japanese stranglehold in longevity with the Chevrolet model showing a surprising durability
in certain segments. The Chevrolet Suburban remains a reliable choice in the full size SUV
category with a chance of reaching 250,000 miles. And its iconic SUV, which has been around since
1935, continues to be a favorite for families of those who need a vehicle built to last.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 rounds out the chance of reaching 250,000
as the only American made half ton vehicle to make the list. So there you go. Keep it up. Buick
ranks second among the challenges for the small SUVs. It's the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Equinox
and Chevrolet Traverse all make that list contending for the 250,000 mile mark. The ones that didn't
make it, Mike, are the struggling long term reliability would be the Dodge Ram. Despite
marketing emphasis, toughness and capability, the Ram trucks face reliability challenges that
prevent them from achieving a quarter million mile longevity rate at the rates compared to
its competitors. Moving on to the next one, Mike, we're going to wrap this up for the Jeep off-road
prowess on road problems. Jeep's reputation for ruggedness doesn't translate to long term
reliability with the brand consistently ranking near the bottom of dependability studies.
The focus of off-road capability and lifestyles marketing hasn't resulted in the vehicle
that rack up that many miles without significant mechanical issues. Now, the one thing I see also
in this is that they use them for other things. I mean, there's a lot of events that you can take
your Jeep to and, you know, those things tend to destroy parts and pieces of the body. The last
one, Mike, Tesla, innovation meets growing pains. Tesla ranks the last place among 26
brands for its used model driven by numerous issues with older models. And while Tesla's new
vehicles rank ninth across the new cars reliability, it plummets meaning the plummet given several
issues with older models. The electric vehicle pioneer faces significant reliability challenges
and they're working on it as best they can. So there you go. That's interesting. Yeah. Yeah,
unfortunately, I've heard about Ram and I've heard about Jeep having some serious issues
in multiple fashion with reliability issues across the board, not just one thing,
not just an engine, not just a transmission, not just with electronics, but a combination of all
those things. There's many more out there, Don. These are just some that pop up consistently on
the ones that we'll make it in the ones that won't. So Mr. Mars now has a special for us.
And that would be the top five concours events. Is that across the United States, Mike? Yes, sir.
I kind of broke it out into time of year just because these take a little planning because
of where they're at. So, for example, in the spring, the Amelia concours de l'orance is down in
Amelia Island in Florida. Mike, is this driving destinations? I don't have the right slide up.
How about this one? Oh, yeah, I got it. Okay. All right, got it. Great. All right. So the Amelia
kicks off the concours season, typically held in March. And it happens at the Oceanside Ritz
Carleton down there. Now, this, of course, has got your blue chip collector cars,
motorsports legends, auctions, and a lot of seminars, but it's all in that coastal area with
the spring weather. So it makes it really nice for open top cruising around and going out on the
beach evenings and stuff. It makes it for a real nice event to happen there. And if you're down
there and you want to do something else while you're down there, you might go explore Fort
Clinch State Park for coastal drives and some Civil War history while you're enjoying it.
Now, in late spring or early summer, Greenwich concours de elegante. Greenwich, Connecticut.
Typically, this happens in late May, early June. This is on the Long Island Sound Waterfront.
And it's in the Northeast, so it doesn't really have all the Monterey crowds per se, but it's got a
lot of carefully curated classes from the pre-war classics up to the modern hypercars.
And it's kind of a smaller show, but it makes it easier to see everything if you're down there
only for a day. And you can get some VIP luxury receptions if you want to get into those or some
showcases if you really want to go for over the top event. And if you're up there in that area
and you want something to do while you're there, take a quick train into New York City and go check
out Broadway. Now, during the summer, you want to go to the Cincinnati concours de elegante. Now,
this is typically in June. So down south, it's a little warmer. Nice time to be up, maybe a little
further north. And this is a Midwest concours. It handles, brings in a lot of prestige with a friendly,
relaxed atmosphere with over 200 vehicles that compete across their theme classes.
Now, the park's got a hilltop pavilion, so it creates a nice view looking down over the whole
setting there. And if you really want something to go see with some top tier cars without having to
go to the coast on either side of the country, this is one that's typically in the middle of the world
that you can see. There's also the National Museum of United States Air Force, if you happen to want
to do something else while you're in that area. Now, late summer, this is whenever you can start
looking for the Pebble Beach concours de elegance. Now, this is out of Pebble Beach, California,
of course. Now, this is considered the crown jewel of the American concours events. Now,
this is held during the Monterey Car Week, and it showcases the rarest and the historically
significant cars in the world. Now, they do this on a golf course, and the 18th Fairway overlooks
the Pacific Ocean. So it really gives a nice surrounding there of elegance as well as seeing
the beach and things. So they have auctions, they have unveilings during this thing. And
they do a lot of satellite events actually to bring things in now to really round out the full
automotive festival week. Then in the fall, if you're looking for something up there, go to the
Ironstone concours de elegance. Now, this is up in Northern California, Murphy's, California.
Typically, this is in September, and it's considered California's gold country
at the Ironstone Vineyards. Now, this combines vintage automobiles with wine country hospitality.
They have over 300 classic cars, motorcycles, historic race machines, and it's in a really
nice, relaxed vineyard setting. So with the cooler autumn weather, it makes it really comfortable
to go out and be in the scenic landscape. And they have a lot of other things going on in that area,
including this year of foothill, back roads and places that nicely drive and enjoy the
vineyard and the surrounding part of the country there. Very cool. All right. Thank you, sir. All
right. Time now for this hour's car review. Had a chance to drive the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross
built in Huntsville, Alabama. Comes in three trim levels, the S, the SE and the XSE. The reviewed
trim level is the HV, which is a hybrid XSE top of the line. Small or subcompact SUV is what it
categorizes as. Seats, five of them, including the driver, exterior changes from last model year.
It was all new in 2022. Exterior, new body colored grille is unique to this brand,
reminds of some of the Lexus products. Side body sculpting is subtle, but adds some
differentiation there, makes it unique. Hatch and taillights look like all the rest. Two-tone paint,
black roof panel, looks great. What I liked about it, the overall look gets high marks.
And I'm not sure about roof rails these days. Does anybody use those things anymore?
It's not a really... They're just the looks. I guess. Well, just leave the rails up there,
but forget the cross hatches. What could use improvement? Not sure on the outside. Inside,
the dash is simple and mostly easy to use. The trip display has to drill down into several menus
to find that. A changeable instrument cluster is nice. Radio has push button volume controls,
which I had a hard time trying to find. Okay, where do you turn the radio up? Well,
it's at the bottom of the screen. It says increase or decrease the volume. Seating is comfortable
with unique louvering. That's not right. With unique coverings.
Well, I like louvering. Louvering is good. It's kind of like what you buy at Walmart.
You know, those web chairs, got them all stocked up and ready for summer. Yep, louvering.
Cargo room, small, especially with the rear seat up. What I liked about it,
size, shape, and comfort, what could use improvement? I don't know. Two liter engine,
196 horsepower doesn't sound like a lot. 151 pound feet of torque, but it does have a CVT
transmission in it. And it is all wheel drive. So there's that. So the CVT is going to make up for
under horsepower car. City 46 miles per gallon in the city, 39 the highways, what it's rated for
combined to 42. I got 39.1 miles per gallon over 430 miles. What I liked about it, mileage.
Hello. What could use improvement? You got the mileage. What more do you want?
Not a lot of grunt, but that's what this is all about. What I liked about it, nice comfortable car.
What could use improvement? I say here, don't touch it. Base trim price, 33,030 dollars. Wow.
That's base trim. Yeah. Prices tested 37,449 and it was top of the line all the way. Base model
price, 29,395. So they managed to squeeze it in under the $30,000 mark. Competitors, the Keaniro,
the Subaru Crosstrek hybrid, and the Toyota RAV4 hybrid, which is the most expensive
in the comparisons. Next week, I'll review the Mazda 3 sedan. Yes, they still do. All right.
About this episode
The discussion covers a detailed review of the 2025 Ford Expedition King Ranch, highlighting its redesign, interior luxury, technology features, and driving experience. The hosts compare it to competitors like the Chevy Tahoe and Toyota Sequoia, emphasizing its strong performance and comfort. They also explore vehicle reliability, naming Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Chevrolet as brands likely to reach 250,000 miles, while Dodge Ram, Jeep, and Tesla face reliability challenges. The episode concludes with a rundown of top concours car events in the U.S., offering enthusiasts travel and event planning insights.
Big SUVs don’t have to drive like buses. We put the 2025 Ford Expedition King Ranch through a real week of miles and came away surprised by the steering precision, quiet ride, and how easily the cabin tech fades into the background so you can actually enjoy the drive. From the panoramic roof and bronze 22-inch wheels to a 24-inch driver display and 13.2-inch touchscreen, this full-size three-row blends comfort with capability, towing up to 9,600 pounds while returning honest, real-world fuel economy.
We break down what matters for buyers: how BlueCruise and Co-Pilot360 2.0 help on long stints, how the B&O Unleashed 22-speaker audio fills the cabin, and why the second-row captain’s chairs and power-folding third row make life easier for families. Then we talk money and matchups. The Expedition’s pricing strategy ranges from a value-forward Active trim to the fully loaded King Ranch tested here, so cross-shopping the Chevy Tahoe, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia is essential. We explain who wins on base price, where hybrids shift the math, and why the Expedition’s driving dynamics could be the tiebreaker.
Durability fans get a deep dive into longevity. We outline why Toyota and Lexus dominate 250,000-mile lists, how Honda’s practical engineering earns consistent high-mile results, and where Chevrolet proves its mettle with Suburban and Silverado. We also call out the pain points that keep RAM and Jeep from climbing the charts and explore why Tesla’s older models struggle in used reliability rankings even as newer ones improve.
To round out the enthusiast calendar, we map five standout concours events—from The Amelia and Greenwich to Cincinnati, Pebble Beach, and Ironstone—so you can plan your year around the cars that made history.
Finally we look at the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, one of those SUVs that just makes sense. It’s compact enough for tight parking spots but roomy enough for groceries, road trips, or the daily commute. The hybrid option boosts fuel economy, the ride is smooth and quiet, and the tech is easy to use. It’s practical, affordable, and ready for everyday life without drama.
If you love smart car shopping, long-haul ownership tips, and a little dream-garage inspiration, you’re in the right place. Hit fol
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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