The 2018 Ford Expedition FX4 is not an SUV analogue to the mad-dog Ford F-150 Raptor, but it is the most off-road-ready variant of Ford’s all-new, aluminum-bodied full-size SUV. Available on both the standard Expedition and longer Expedition Max, the four-wheel-drive-only model is enhanced for pavementless environs.
Starting with the XLT trim level, the FX4 is powered by Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Giving the FX4 extra off-road credibility are more stiffly tuned shocks, trim-specific 18-inch wheels wrapped in chunky rubber, and more than half a dozen skid plates to protect vital areas such as the engine, transmission, transfer case, and fuel tank. The FX4 also comes equipped with the tow package’s more capable electronic limited-slip rear differential. That should help the full-size SUV,  with 9.1 inches of ground clearance, better tackle dirt, mud, and sand.
Visually, the FX4 package separates itself from the rest of the Expedition model line courtesy of its aforementioned wheels, chrome running boards, and a shorter chin spoiler that improves the SUV’s approach angle. With Ford claiming that 20 percent of Expedition customers intend to take their burly SUVs off-road, the company says it feels confident that the FX4 package will attract its share of interest.

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