Ford's Expedition continues to be popular with its strong V8 engine, seating for up to nine, and available four-wheel drive. Flexible seating arrangements give families versatility. It's roomier than the Explorer, but not as unwieldy as the mammoth Excursion.

Expedition offers comfortable seating in the first two rows; leather-clad seats in the pricey Eddie Bauer edition approach luxury-car levels. The third row is cramped for all but smaller children. Expedition's soft suspension filters out unwanted road vibration, and softens potholes, driveway entrances and other bumps. Its 5.4-liter V8 delivers responsive acceleration performance, while the automatic transmission provides impressively smooth shifting. Power steering is over-assisted to ease maneuvering in crowded parking lots, and a reverse warning system reduces the chance of backing into something.