2009 Ford Expedition

As everyday transportation, monstrous sport-utilities will one day be remembered as just another laughable cultural curiosity -- and rightfully so. No matter how far they fade from the mainstream, though, there will always be a handful of people who need the size and strength of the biggest four-wheeled beasts, and those folks could do worse than a Ford Expedition.

First, let's be clear that the Expedition generally lives up to all the negatives of vehicles of its ilk. It's feels bulky and ponderous, and its tires squeal easily. The steering needs to be reminded how to walk a straight line, and parking can be a problem (especially in the extended-length Suburban-fighting Expedition EL model). It gets 13 miles to the gallon.

What keeps the Expedition relevant is that it lives up to every promise a full-size SUV can make. It can tow up to 9,200 pounds, and thanks to Ford's decision to fit the Expedition with an independent rear suspension -- something that also pays dividends in ride quality -- it has adult-size seating in all three rows (truly a rarity). That third-row seat is also convenient, vanishing flat into the floor like in all the better minivans. This makes the Expedition a great solution for, say, an eight (or nine)-member family that tows a boat or carries massive cargo loads.

The Expedition doesn't stand out so much in the smaller stuff, but it gets by. The interior design looks pretty &#!@, but it works. The seats are allright. The Expedition rarely makes a wrong move on the road, and it seems to be getting more reliable. The price is also lower than it was a few years ago (starting in the low 30s), and you can surely count on rebate checks to make it lower still.

If you can get by with a lighter duty SUV (like Ford's own Taurus X), do yourself a favor and go for it. But if you need something that can do it all, now you know where to look.