Comparison: 2007 Ford Expedition EL and 2007 Lincoln Navigator Video

MotorTrend

This week in the Motor Trend Garage: our First Drive of the 2007 Ford Expedition EL and the 2007 Lin...

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00:00 The 2007 Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator were delivered to the Motor Trend Garage this

00:10 week.

00:11 Now both of these vehicles share the same platform and basic drivetrain, but the most

00:15 important information for 2007 is that they're both going to be available in a long wheelbase

00:21 version.

00:22 That's going to help them level the playing field as they compete against the Chevrolet

00:25 Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade ESV.

00:29 More about that in a minute.

00:30 First, let's talk engines.

00:33 The new Expedition and Navigator both have what the factory calls this "power dome hood"

00:38 and we're told it's not entirely cosmetic.

00:41 You see, this entire engine compartment has been reconfigured to fit not only this standard

00:46 5.4 liter V8, but we understand perhaps some optional engines just around the corner.

00:52 Now the factory won't comment officially, but our sources tell us we might expect diesel,

00:58 even hybrid power in the near future.

01:01 For now, this 300 horse gas engine doesn't quite measure up to the big brute GM and Chrysler

01:06 Hemi V8s.

01:11 The third row seat in both of these vehicles excels in two ways.

01:15 There's actually plenty of head, knee and leg room for adults and they fold flat into

01:19 the floor.

01:20 There's even an available power fold option, which is really worth getting.

01:24 We credit all of this to the independent rear suspension underneath, something that GM and

01:29 Chrysler don't offer.

01:31 Of course, the Lincoln is the more luxurious of these two stablemates.

01:35 Navigator gets a new grille, supposedly inspired by the Lincoln Star logo.

01:40 We think they've taken the star a little too far.

01:42 Too much chrome.

01:44 Navigator also gets a unique twin eyebrow dash layout, rectangular gauges, a choice

01:50 of wood trims, upgraded leather and up to 20-inch chrome wheels are available.

01:56 An acoustic windshield and thicker side glass are said to make this a quieter interior than

02:01 ever before.

02:03 Expedition gets a new front fascia, this example with a body color grille option.

02:08 There's also a new F-150 inspired dash, a trimmer DVD player and new mechanisms for

02:15 the second row seat.

02:17 Take a look at the cargo area of this standard wheelbase Navigator.

02:20 Notice where the seat back meets this panel.

02:23 Now let's go back to the Expedition EL, where the wheelbase has been stretched 12 inches.

02:28 Everything on this extended version from the B pillar rearward is unique, including the

02:33 shape of these rear doors, which is said to increase the accessibility for second and

02:37 third row passengers a bit.

02:39 Now let's take a look at the cargo area and you can see where that extra foot of wheelbase

02:42 shows up.

02:44 This adds 25 cubic feet of additional cargo area and they've also included this multi-function

02:51 divider to make this space more user friendly.

02:54 See the November 2006 issue of Motor Trend for a head-to-head comparison of the Expedition

03:00 EL and the Chevy Suburban.

03:02 The new Expedition will arrive in early fall 2006 with the Navigator and long wheelbase

03:08 versions of each to follow.

03:10 For Motor Trend, I'm John Mathias.

03:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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