2008 Ford Expedition King Ranch

Boasting just 300 horsepower but weighing in at 6104 pounds, the 2008 Ford Expedition seemed a lock to be a total slug. But thanks to a six-speed automatic, 365 pound-feet of torque, and four-wheel vented disc brakes, the Ford hustles to 60 and back to zero. Nevertheless, even with 20-inch wheels wearing 55-series Pirellis, the Expedition was unable to cheat the laws of physics, at least in a curved line, posting a slow figure-eight time (31.0 seconds) and low lateral acceleration (0.68 g).

Out on the twisty roads through Kennedy Meadows, the Expedition's moves supported these numbers, its soft suspension responding with plenty of roll and dive. And squat? Not enough oomph for that. "Feels sluggish right out of the gate," opines Truck Trend's editor-in-chief Mark Williams. "You can tell there's a lot of weight here, and the engine doesn't seem interested in compensating." Sure, there are six speeds, but without a true manual mode, the tranny hunts with the same fervor as Dick Cheney."

Still, the Ford handles well for such a big girl. Says editor-at-large Arthur St. Antoine, "Although it rolls into corners, it doesn't plow like a tractor -- it hangs on impressively and even shrugs off mid-corner undulations that can set the other rigs heaving up and down." The steering, while heavy in feel and slow on turn-in, did deliver linear response, and the brakes felt strong and a match for the cumbersome curb weight. Off road, the Expedition handled the snow with aplomb. "This is where the massive weight helps push the tires to the ground for grip," claims Williams. Senior editor Ed Loh adds, "It's reassuring over snowy roads-no slipping, no sliding."

Inside our King Ranch tester, every editor was impressed by the luxurious "Chaparral" leather, the ultraquiet ambiance, the rearview mirror with integrated backup video screen, and the capacious cabin, the last trumping the others' third-row headroom and legroom. For transporting Eddie and the entire Bauer clan, the Expedition is tough to beat. Plus, the third row comes with a powerfolding feature, alleviating any back-breaking exercises, and the second row boasts a useful "Cargo Mode," which lays the middle row flat with the pull of a lever.

From the driver's seat, though, the view is somewhat disappointing. The instrument panel, with its mix of round and rectangular gauges and chrome, plastic, and wood trim, appears retro for the sake of being retro and at the expense of good function. But with its roomy interior, clever packaging, and commendable offroad performance, not to mention being the only one with cooled front seats and power runningboards, the Ford presents a strong package overall.