Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Ford Expedition EL

Suburbanites looking to shuttle families and groceries around without resorting to a minivan will find a suitable alternative in the crossover. But when your honey-do list also includes heavy hauling, towing and terrain conquering, Cars.com reviewer Aaron D. Bragman says accept no substitute for the 2013 Ford Expedition EL. The SUV is old school in every way: old-school V-8 power and fuel economy, deliberate acceleration and numb handling. Heck, even interior and tech features are still partying like it's 2007. The big-SUV market ain't what it used to be, but the Expedition doesn't know or just doesn't care.

2013 Ford Expedition EL Review

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Perhaps using its imposing makeover for 2013 to scare off competitors, the Toyota RAV4 continued its reign of terror atop our list of most-read reviews of the week. The compact crossover's nearest opponent, the 2013 Ford Fusion, generated a little more than a third of RAV4's reader interest. Maybe newcomers to the list, including the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid (No. 6) and the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid (No. 10), will gain enough confidence in coming weeks to face down the RAV4.

Until then, check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Ford Fusion
3. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
4. 2013 Ford Explorer
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
7. 2013 Toyota Avalon
8. 2013 Nissan Altima
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

Recall Alert: 10,500 Ford Vehicles

Ford is recalling more than 10,000 vehicles because the transmission range sensor may be improperly calibrated for Reverse gear, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects the vehicles listed below:

• 2012 Ford Expedition
• 2011-12 Ford F-150
• 2012-13 Ford Mustang
• 2012 Lincoln Navigator

In the affected vehicles, the transmission may not go into Reverse, or the vehicle may go into Reverse but the "R" may not illuminate on the dashboard when the driver pushes the shift lever into Reverse in the F-150, Expedition or Navigator. In certain cases, the backup lamp may not illuminate in the F-150, Expedition, Navigator or Mustang. This condition increases the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck.

Ford will begin notifying owners June 25, and dealers will inspect and repair the transmission range sensor for free. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

Ford is recalling 569 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from the 2012 model year because the head restraints may have inadequate welds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2, 2011, the welds on the second-row head restraint’s support brackets in the right-hand seat may not provide enough strength, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

The recall is expected to begin around Feb. 20, and dealers will replace the head restraint if necessary at no charge. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Ford F-150, Fusion among vehicles to get Sync AppLink

AppLink, the software that lets Ford owners with the Sync system stream the Pandora Radio application while driving, is coming to more 2012 models.

Ford says the 2012 Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Fiesta, F-150, F-150 SVT Raptor, Super Duty, Expedition, E-Series and Shelby GT 500 will offer the system, along with the 2012 Mustang.

Currently, the Sync-enabled apps are Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBreak, but as we've reported, Ford is looking at other uses for the phone/car interface.

Ford also announced that it is working with Nuance Communications to help Sync better understand the intent and meaning of what a driver is asking. 

The idea is that users won't have to speak with stilted syntax to get the information they want from Sync. 

That’ll be important when the day comes that the system that's giving you the pollen count is also telling you your sports scores.

Ford Limits Orders on Black and Red Paint Colors

Since Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, we’ve learned a little more each day about where many of the materials for our cars come from. Even the paint that coats cars and trucks is impacted, at least on Ford and Nissan vehicles.

Ford is telling its dealers not to order vehicles in Tuxedo Black paint or in three variations of red, according to USA Today.

The pigments for those paints come from a Japanese supplier. Vehicles optioned with these colors are the Ford F-150, Super Duty pickups, Explorer, Expedition, Taurus, Focus and Lincoln Navigator and MKS, according to a Ford spokesman.

Nissan also might experience shortages of some exterior color options, according to reports.

Ford to dealers: No more black, red paint due to Japan crisis (USA Today, via Bloomberg News)

Ford Adding Cash Back to 0% Financing on 2010s

Ford’s 2011s are rolling into dealer showrooms and that means the 2010s are going to get some better incentives to make room for the new arrivals. Ford is offering 0% financing plus $1,000 cash back on many 2010 models, including the Mustang and Focus. While the promotion on Ford’s consumer website also features the 2010 Taurus in this deal, it didn’t show up in all of the regions we searched. In Florida, for example, the 2010 Taurus' incentive is 0% financing for 36 months plus $500 cash back, but in Southern California you could get the full $1,000 on top of 0% financing for 36 months.

Make sure you research the incentives on Ford’s site before heading to a dealer. The deals are good through Sept. 7; the Transit Connect, hybrids, Taurus SE, Edge SE AWD and Mustang Shelby GT500 are excluded from these incentives.

Cars.com’s Current Incentives

2010 Ford Lineup 20% More Efficient; Turbo Four-Cylinder Confirmed

Today, Ford took the wraps off its 2010 model lineup and made some pretty significant announcements, despite most models not seeing major changes. The biggest news that will grab headlines is the fact that the 2010 Ford lineup is 20% more fuel-efficient than the 2009 lineup. And this is without dropping any large vehicles from the lineup.

Significant chunks of that mileage improvement come from the Ford Fusion family of cars, including the 2010 Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ. The base Fusion and Milan, for example, see their combined mileage increase from 23 mpg to 25 mpg. Even a base 2010 Mustang now gets 21 mpg combined, compared with 20 mpg in 2009. The V-8s also add 1 mpg. The Edge crossover also adds 1 mpg in combined mileage. Even the 2010 F-150’s V-8 adds 1 more mpg to its highway or city rating, depending on transmission.

Big news on the new-product side of things is confirmation from Ford of a new turbo four-cylinder engine.  

Recall Alert: 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator

Ford has issued a recall for 1,357 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The brake stop lamp switch may be adjusted incorrectly, which could cause a delay in the brake lights’ illumination.

In other words, the brake pedal could be depressed and the lights could either illuminate late or not at all. The failure of brake lights could endanger the vehicle’s occupants or other drivers on the road.

Dealers will adjust the brake stop lamp switch for free. Owners may contact Ford at 866-436-7332 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2009|Ford|Expedition

2009|Lincoln|Navigator