2026 Ford Expedition Max King Ranch Review

Some SUVs promise room. The 2026 Ford Expedition MAX King Ranch could practically rent it out. The Expedition, Ford's largest SUV, first arrived for 1997 and is now in its fifth generation. At 221.7 inches long, this extended-wheelbase MAX is aimed directly at the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, dressed here in Ford's top Western-themed trim and configured for seven passengers. It is big, luxurious, powerful and loaded with family-friendly ideas. It is also one of those vehicles that makes a normal-size garage suddenly feel like a compact-car space.

The Expedition was completely redesigned for 2025, and I reviewed a very different Platinum MAX soon after it arrived. The 2026 changes are mostly feature updates: Ford added the Security Package with one year included when activated, expanded the availability of the Split Gate with hands-free Open On Approach, and added some rear-seat technology choices. My review vehicle is a MAX King Ranch 4X4 in Space Silver Metallic with a black-painted roof, and I like this two-tone combination much better than the Wild Green and black treatment on my 2025 Platinum tester.

Exterior

This is a handsome SUV in a very Texas way. The front end is broad and upright, with a large grille finished in Sinister Bronze, signature grille lighting and LED reflector headlights.

The bronze theme continues with the 22-inch Sinister Bronze aluminum wheels wearing P275/50R22 all-season tires. King Ranch badges sit on the front doors, power-deployable running boards make the climb into the cabin easier, and the black roof and black rear trim visually break up a lot of sheet metal.

There is no disguising its size, but Ford has done a good job keeping the MAX from looking like a rolling storage building.

Performance

Under the hood is Ford's 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 producing 400-horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. This is the standard-output engine, not the 440-horsepower High Output version in my 2025 Platinum MAX, but before you question a V6 in an SUV this large, 480 lb.-ft. is still a serious amount of torque. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and intelligent four-wheel drive. The standard heavy-duty trailer tow equipment, two-speed transfer case, trailer sway control, hill descent control and selectable drive modes give this King Ranch real capability beneath all the leather and bronze trim. The four-wheel-drive system allows 2H, automatic 4A, locked 4H and low-range 4L operation. Ford rates the Expedition MAX 4X4 to tow up to 9,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Interior

The King Ranch cabin is the real showpiece. I had an honest-to-goodness OMG moment the first time I opened the door of the redesigned 2025 model, and the reaction is much the same here. Mesa Del Rio leather covers the seats, door panels, steering wheel and center console, and the familiar King Ranch "W" is embossed into the seatbacks.

The rich brown leather, contrast stitching and dark trim look upscale without feeling delicate. Both front seats are heated and ventilated, the steering wheel is heated, the pedals and steering column are power adjustable with memory, and tri-zone automatic climate control is standard. The seats are broad and extremely comfortable, and the high seating position gives you the commanding view buyers expect from a full-size SUV.

The first thing that grabs your attention is Ford's huge 24-inch panoramic driver display mounted high and close to the driver's line of sight. It shows fuel level, speed and the speed limit, while the configurable right side (called widgets) can display gauges, fuel economy, media, tire pressures or towing information. It does such a good job that a head-up display is not missed. When you signal a lane change, mirror-mounted cameras can put a sharp wide-angle view on the driver display to help show what may be beside you, and it’s large enough to really be helpful.

The 24-inch display works in tandem with the 13.2-inch center touchscreen, where you choose much of what appears in front of the driver. The center screen runs Ford Digital Experience and manages media, navigation, climate, vehicle settings and apps, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The graphics are crisp, and useful physical controls remain below the screen. The 22-speaker B&O Unleashed audio system has enough hardware to make the cabin feel like a concert hall - a very large concert hall with cupholders.

Then there is the steering wheel. It is small and rectangular, which was a gutsy move, but I came to love it in the 2025 Platinum. It feels terrific in your hands and somehow makes this enormous SUV feel easier to drive. Its controls handle audio, cruise and voice functions, and also help operate the power steering-column and pedal adjustments. THIS is where Ford loses me. It is entirely too hard to maneuver what should be simple tasks, like moving the steering wheel. I am a tech-savvy guy, but this takes way too much concentration.

The Flex Powered Console is another feature I loved in the 2025 model. At the push of a button, the big console can slide rearward nearly eight inches, revealing hidden storage large enough for a purse or bag, opening more aisle space and moving cupholders closer to second-row passengers. A wireless phone charger sits behind a sliding cover, and nearby are large cupholders, a deep padded storage compartment, the rotary gear selector and real buttons for frequently used features. Add the standard 400-watt Pro Power Onboard system, and this is an interior designed for road trips, not merely decorated for them.

Utility

The second row consists of two heated captain's chairs with fold-down armrests. They slide, recline, power-fold and use a tip-and-slide function for third-row access. Rear passengers get their own climate controls, a power outlet and USB-C charging ports built into the front seatbacks. Headroom and legroom are abundant, and the open aisle between the captain's chairs makes it easy to reach the back. This is a legitimate second row, not a waiting room for the good seats up front.

Third-row access is also easy from the door opening, and the 40/20/40 PowerFold bench has enough width for three adults. The backrests power-recline, the head restraints power-fold, and the center section can fold independently so longer items can ride between two passengers. Ceiling vents help keep the far-back occupants comfortable. Cargo-area controls let you fold the left side, right side or both sections, and everything settles into the flat load floor shown in the photos.

The Ford Split Gate may be the feature owners appreciate most. The upper section raises like a conventional liftgate while the power lower section folds down like a pickup tailgate and can support up to 500 pounds. It can keep groceries from rolling out, serve as a bench, table or loading platform, and make loading more flexible. This vehicle also has the $405 dealer-installed Cargo Tailgate Manager, which can act as a backstop or work surface when the lower gate is deployed.

The MAX body is the reason luggage does not have to stay home when all three rows are occupied. Ford lists 37.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 84.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 123.1 cubic feet behind the first row. The standard cargo management system adds organization beneath the load floor, the long cargo area looks ready for everything from vacation luggage to a truly irresponsible warehouse-store run, and a full-size spare tire is mounted under the body.

Safety & Features

Standard comfort and convenience equipment on the King Ranch includes the panoramic Vista Roof, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, 360-degree zone lighting, ambient lighting, four-door intelligent access, remote start through the Ford app or key fob, the 24-inch panoramic display, 13.2-inch center display, 22-speaker B&O Unleashed audio, the Flex Powered Console, 400-watt Pro Power Onboard, continuously controlled damping and the Terrain Management System. The King Ranch also comes with heated second-row seats, power-folding second- and third-row seating, and power-deployable running boards.

Safety equipment is extensive. Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 includes driver-assistance technology, and the sticker also lists AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, front and side-impact airbags, Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system, LATCH child-seat anchors, a rear-occupant alert, the Personal Safety System and SOS Post-Crash Alert. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving equipment is included with a one-year plus 90-day plan, but BlueCruise remains a driver-assist system and the driver must stay attentive and ready to take control.

Options

My review vehicle has $9,695 in options. Space Silver Metallic is $495, tray-style floor liners for rows one and two are $200, the one-time seven-year Connectivity Package is $745, and SiriusXM with 360L for three years is $300. The dealer-installed Cargo Tailgate Manager adds $405.

The big-ticket item is the black-painted roof at $7,550, a ridiculous amount of money for a painted roof. Granted, it’s a big roof, but I could Picasso to paint it for less if he were still alive. I hate price-gouging no matter what. My advice, and I do love the look: Get the top wrapped, it’ll likely run $1,000 or so.

Ride and Drive

This Expedition drives with surprising ease for such a large SUV. The 400-horsepower EcoBoost does not hit quite as hard as the 440-horse High Output engine in my 2025 Platinum, but its 480 lb.-ft. of torque still moves the MAX with authority. The 10-speed automatic shifts silky smooth and finds the right gear without drama. Continuously controlled damping softens rough pavement without making the body feel floaty, and the steering is light enough to make traffic and parking lots less intimidating. The 22-inch wheels look terrific, although their lower-profile tires inevitably give up some cushion compared with the smaller-wheel combinations. On the open road it settles into a quiet, confident and very comfortable cruiser. BlueCruise can take some fatigue out of compatible highway stretches, while the elevated driving position and camera views help manage the size.

EPA rating is 15 MPG city, 22 highway and 18 combined. Nobody buys an Expedition MAX to win an economy run, but at least the fuel tank is sized for the assignment. The base price is $87,060. Add the $9,695 in options and the $2,595 destination charge, and the total MSRP is $99,350. That is serious money, and the $7,550 black roof alone costs more than some memorable used cars I have owned. Still, this King Ranch brings together genuine three-row adult space, huge cargo capacity, 9,000-pound towing capability and a first-class cabin in a way few vehicles can.

Verdict

The 2026 Expedition MAX King Ranch is best suited to buyers who regularly need all three rows, tow a substantial trailer, or simply want their luxury SUV served Texas-size. The standard-wheelbase Expedition is easier to park and still roomy, but the MAX is the one to buy when cargo space behind the third row is non-negotiable. It is not subtle, inexpensive or easy to hide from the neighbors. It is, however, exceptionally capable and wonderfully comfortable. Take my tip on the roof color, throw in the Ford incentives, and this SUV stacks up extremely well to the competition.