Refreshed 2022 Ford Expedition ventures off road with new Timberline trim

Ford’s big, bougie, body-on-frame Expedition is due for mid-cycle tweak. The 2022 Expedition will get a new trim level and new appearance package to better suit the tastes of its buyer base, which the Blue Oval says is now dominated by a growing millennial demographic. And car companies across the industry are flooding showrooms with outdoorsy off-road packages. Here that means an adventure-ready Timberline trim, along with a blacked-out Stealth Performance Package for upper-trim Limited and Limited MAX Expeditions.

Ford’s research revealed that one in three Expedition owners take their vehicle off-roading (what precisely that term constitutes is up for debate), so there was good reason to feed these customers with a more dedicated variant. If Land Cruisers and Sequoias turn up at overlanding gatherings, perhaps the Expedition Timberline makes a case to crash those parties? Timberline owners will get a host of visual upgrades, including a unique front grille and plenty of orange exterior accents, as well as a sweet new exterior color, called Forged Green. Inside, a new interior color called Deep Cypress Green will continue the Timberline’s woodsy theme. There’s a raft of functional upgrades to this trail-tamer as well, including 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels, an underbody skid-plate courtesy of the desert-dashing Ford F-150 Raptor, and a two-speed transfer case. Thanks to the increased ride height and unique front and rear fascias, the Expedition Timberline features a best-in-class ground clearance figure of 10.6 inches as well as impressive approach and departure angles of 28.5 degrees and 23.7 degrees, respectively.

For those more interested in swank on-road appearance, the new Stealth Performance package should be a solid fit. Predictably, this package tacks on a whole lot of black accents, including the grille, mirror caps, roof rails, running boards, special 22-inch wheels, exterior badging, and more. A similar appearance package is available on the current Expedition, but this offering will add stiffer suspension (and red brake calipers) compared to the more staid Expedition Limited that’s required to tick this option box. Why not just go full-blown Expedition ST? Ford said that given the high take rate for the existing Stealth Package, product planners determined it more logical to simply bolster that offering rather than introduce a whole new trim. Probably a good call; the Explorer ST is popular but still young, and the idea of a truly performance-minded body-on-frame SUV would be more than a little cartoonish.

Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 (standard in the Lincoln Navigator) is standard on both the Expedition Timberline as well as Expedition Limited equipped with the Stealth Performance package. In both, the mill is good for 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Lower-trims (XL, STX, and XLT) will get the standard version of said EcoBoost, good for a respectable 380 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trims will offer the same engine, but outputs are juiced to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. All Expedition engines will pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow package, Expedition owners can pull up to 9300 pounds.

Inside, the Expedition will now offer the same massive 15.5-inch center touchscreen that we’ve already seen on the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning. A more modest 12-inch center screen will come standard on lower-trim models. Both screens will run the latest version of Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment software. If screens are your thing, there’s an available 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster to replace traditional analog gauges, which will serve up all kinds of driver data on the go. Audiophiles will enjoy the 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system available on the King Ranch, Platinum, Stealth Performance, and Timberline models.

Last but not least, the Expedition Platinum will offer Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist technology. In pre-approved “Blue Zones”—Ford says there’s over 100,000 miles of North American roadways in this network already and many more sections to come—activating BlueCruise will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel as the Expedition takes over the lion’s share of driving duties. You’ll still need to pay attention to the road, however; a driver-facing camera will keep an eye on you to make sure you’re not climbing into the back seat or popping open your favorite novel on the go. This is a development very much in the same vein as GM’s Super Cruise.

Given the raft of features, pricing for the Expedition Timberline is likely to land in the mid-$60,000 range, considering that the current Limited starts at $63,870 (including a hefty $1695 destination fee). The Stealth Performance Package, for its part, is exclusive to the Limited and Limited MAX (long-wheelbase) so we’d expect a final price nearing the $70,000-mark for that blacked-out brute.

These new updates for the Expedition should put it in consideration for those craving a massive family hauler. Or at least, one that appears as if it could squash a Pacifica like a piece of ripe fruit. With Jeep’s new Wagoneer plunging into a pool already filled by all-new—and compelling—offerings from GM, these updates come not a moment too soon. We wouldn’t be surprised if Expedition Timberline turns into a big hit; the $900 billion outdoor activity industry has been a major avenue for automakers to woo customers into showing off their sense of adventure—by way of their wallets.