Test Drive Ford Expedition since 2007 SUV

Snacking "Elephants" in Russian snow

In the range of models, each manufacturer's company has the most-leader, the flagship, in which all the efforts of engineers, technologists, designers have concentrated. This model is the face of the company. We called one of the monsters-duelists because of the ocean, from Detroit, the second was invited from the east, from the Japanese islands. Connectitive, Expedition-San Hello, Mister Land Cruiser, exchanged greetings. We also dreamed of a modest role of secundants.
As usual, I wanted to collect more classmates in a bunch of more cars. But it turned out as always two super jeeps with a Novorusky bias. Sufficiently fresh, but already in charge of Ford Expedition and Toyota Land Cruiser 100 monsters, not cars. Powerful, prestigious. American and Japanese who is who?
Both have even more cheap, luxury modifications Lincoln Navigator and Lexus 470 LX. But we decided not to chase the prestige and take the basic versions.
So, are you familiar with Ford? And are you ready to go on it to the expedition? Though in the remote, snow-covered, forgotten by God, the village to get into the bath, even at the nearest supermarket, in order to download five or six car in the indifferent vehicle with top of the filled carts.
Probably, the size of this SUV is amazing even to all the usual Americans. It does not cover one glance. At the same time, rounded friendly forms hint at the non-aggressive herbivorous essence of this dinosaur.
We have a symbiosis of purely American giantism and a rather balanced, rational design of the binding of centuries. In addition, quite a lot in common with the younger brother Explorer (especially in the back and in the profile).
Toyota is also similar to his relatives. Obviously, the hundredth kruzak rose from eight-dimensional, its exclusively successful predecessor, which produced eight years in a row. Appearance, as it is now accepted, has become somewhat more peaceful. But many believe that Land Cruiser 80, especially the most charged version of VX, was more stylish and perfect on design. Add here an explicit roll with a Prado model, which is a step below the hierarchical staircase.
Both tested machines are loved in our country and are used both representatives of business and crime. Often you can see them in the escort of the accompaniment of high-ranking specials, bankers and other strong peace. They are a symbol of power and influence, like a satellite phone, a suit from Versace or a girlfriend-supermodel.
By the indoor Ford space, unconditional leader. Even a large-sized man is lost in the car's cabin, as in the tram car. It is impossible to reach the passenger door from the driver's seat, and three citizens in the winter toulups on the second row of the chairs will not be thrown on each other's shoulders. There is also a couple of seats behind. It is easy to get there. It is not necessary to just fold the section of the middle row, but the knees will have to be placed in the ears level. However, the head will not reach the ceiling, even when the uhabs pass.
This third is removed, flawed (albeit the same beige-skinned skin, like the whole interior), a series is very simple. It is enough to open up and down the double-minded fifth door and pull for the rope. The whole design will immediately leave on the wheels to your hands. True, it is advisable to work out in the gym before that: this construction may well push you if you remove it alone.
Ahead of all American is comfortable. All at hand and kocher switching the machine, and a rather laconic beard with music and climate control. A huge glove box, covered with armrest, pays a CD changer. Soft, but elastic, fairly profiled chairs reliably hold the body in a convenient position.
And numerous frees and drawers on the central ceiling console, as well as two-layer sun visors (one you can turn the sideways, and the other omit), remind you that you fell in the bowels of the purebredannaya Yanka. On the ceiling at the second and third row of seats, blowing with adjustment, and even the most rear side windows are opened with the help of electric drives.
The review is unexpectedly good, even, oddly enough, compared with the smaller Ford Explorer, about which we wrote two months ago.
Perhaps the only inconvenience place for legs on the right front chair. The legs do not stick under the torpedo, as is customary, and rest in the feet in the invisible barrier, so you have to drive back more than what you want. Although do it, using servo drives, is easy.
The interior of the Land Cruiser produces a dual impression. On the one hand, comfort and luxury, on the other hand, and stiffness, especially from behind. Of course, all this relative: depending on what to compare. But there is a feeling that the inner space is significantly less than it should be with such an impressive external dimensions. In part, it is compensated by driving away from each turn off the engine deep and up the steering column. The range of its adjustment, as well as adjusting the front chairs, is even wider than it can be useful to people of any complex.
The most rear row is not folded as in Expedition, but to side windows.
Catch and install chairs for passengers No. 6 and No. 7 is not so easy to need a certain skill.
What is the most interesting, sitting behind the wheel, do not realize the dimensions of the car. And maneuvering on it is easier than on the American.
True, Ford pleased. It is even unclear where the traditional overseas validity was done. When you drive around a complex trajectory, besides on the snow-covered track, the car goes, like on rails, showing neutral turning. And without praying, the turnover is gaining, not forcing it to shine about a leisurely box.
Special sensations cause movement along the left row. To not scare anyone, we deliberately avoided aggressive ride manner. And nevertheless, any interference on our way as the wind fouled, only our giant appeared in the rearview mirrors in front of the cars.
Toyota, of course, also gives advantages on the road: After all, it is not lower than a competitor. But still ride for Ford Expedition This is nothing to compare.
As expected, the Japanese during the passage of the holes and bumps behaves rightest. However, the difference is minimal. Both machines are superbly quenched both large and small oscillations.
If on the dynamics of both cars left about the same impression is quite vigorous, then in braking Land Cruiser seemed preferable. Long braking path, at least visually the characteristic feature of both Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition.
Unfortunately, these SUVs rarely see the real off-road routes. We were also unable to find decent jeeps and dirt because of snow and frost. But breaking through the drifts left on the sides of the Greiders-cleaners near Moscow, the cars not only did not eat, but almost and did not slow down.
Because both have a hefty clearance, permanent four-wheel drive and coarse wide tires, the search for a real virgin will have to postpone until summer. And our snow for these Mahin is just seeds.
But it is interesting how applicable these monsters are precisely to domestic, almost foreseen on foreign standards, conditions? Believe me, according to our impressions, it is exactly what is needed for snow-covered and destroyed by almost insurmountable obstacles of Russian roads. Where is less! Ford So then the bus, compared to which my house is my fortress, that is, the apartment in Khrushchobe that the house for guests. And Toyota is one of the most massive and beloved SUVs, although it is crazy in comparison with the American, but also has its own dignity and allows you to talk with pedestrians from top to bottom.
And what is easy to shudder the Land Cruiser body when setting the gas, when you stand still, and the eighth-grid engine play muscles!
In essence, what do we buy for this considerable amount of sixty thousand? First of all, prestige, size, lack of headaches when driving tramway and open well hatches. At the same time, philantropuses will be pleased to remember the non-depth customs wonders, which, perhaps, will reach siery and poor.
And seriously, these cars are not just good, and the best, and if anyone has accumulated extra money buy, you will not regret!
If you summarize, I confess, we were initially somewhat pregnuratively tuned to the Americans and enchanted looking at the beauty of Toyota. Not to say that our views are diametrically changed, but it was better to decide what is better, more comfortable, it turned out very difficult. And yet the scales bowl is inclined in favor of Ford Expedition. Not last place here played a monstrous capacity and a slightly more affordable price. But behind the Toyota steering wheel, you feel more confident and clearly ...
P.S. Something we can not believe in the passport consumption of gasoline in Ford. It seems we just did that they fled it all these days. We think he eats liters 25, no less!
 
Vladimir Smirnov
Photo by Alexander Nosdrin
The specificity of the SUVs is such that the function determined in their appearance and evolution is much larger than in any other class of automotive technology. They were created to perform well-defined tasks in full conditions, i.e. These tasks and conditions were originally well adapted. Powerful sparheads, rigid bridges, spring suspensions, relatively simple and unpretentious units that could be repaired in the field ...
What has changed since then? Somewhere it became more roads and service centers, and people tired of civilization fell in love with nature. Somewhere still not what to get, it's not easy to pass, besides the profession of the builder, Lesterka and geologist, no one canceled, and in the concept of rest in nature, you can invest different meaning.
And SUVs, as necessary, equipping electronics and automation, patiently adapt to everything. Including national features and habits of citizens around the world.
Land Cruiser 100 typical internationalist and serious passing.
Traditional spa rim and hard rear axle on springs, four jet rods and Panar rods. Depending on the local conditions, there may be an independent double-end torsion front suspension and a rush steering, and maybe the hard bridge on the springs and the wheel of the screw type ball nut. Comfort and good manageability enthusiasts (but not in Russia) can pay for hydropneumatic elements that allow you to change the body level (+/- 50 mm), and electronic shock absorbers.
The choice of three engines: gasoline V8 (4.7 liters, 235 hp), turbodiesel (4.2 liters, 204 or 250 hp) and the same diesel, but without boost (4.2 l, 135 L.S.). Gearbox 5-speed mechanics or 4-range automatic. And there is always a constant four-wheel drive with the possibility of forced blocking of the mid-sieve differential. Rear axle with differential increased friction, but on request, mechanical locks of differentials of both bridges can be installed
Ford Expedition Typical American for a large family. The same spar ray and hard rear axle, springs, jet rods from behind. Independent two-dimensional front suspension, and if you buy an incomplete option (in the states a very cut phenomenon), then the springs will stand instead of torsion. By request, you will install an adjustable pneumatic suspension, and the back of the spring changes to the pneumators, and in front of the special shock absorbers with an additional pneumatic elastic element.
Engines only gasoline, impressive V-shaped eights (4.6 liters, 243 hp and 5.4 l, 264 hp). Transmission is only automatic, 4-range. The all-wheel drive version with a two-stage dispensing box, known as Torque-on-Demand: The torque is transmitted to the front axle through a multi-disc clutch, controlled by a computer, but full blocking is possible. For the rear axle there is a differential of increased friction.
Dmitry Filonov
 

A source: Cars