Taming the Unwieldy Beast; For such a big brute, the 2003 Expedition sports surprising manners.(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)

When the original Ford Expedition hit the market back in 1997, the F-150-based sport/utility vehicle pushed the limits of everyday driveability. While the mammoth F-250-based Excursion subsequently put the Expedition into perspective, Expedition remained a top-heavy, unwieldy beast to pilot in even the best of conditions, let alone on slick roads where many a fairweather ute driver discovered the unpleasant side of Ford's ``no boundaries'' experience.

Much of that changes with the 2003 Expedition (and its sibling Lincoln Navigator), the second generation of Ford's full-sized utility. A 70 percent stiffer frame, a 40 percent more rigid body structure, independent rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, bigger brakes, stability control and enhanced safety equipment go a long way toward making us forget the Expedition is still a full-size truck.

Make no mistake, at 5689 pounds for a 4x4 equipped with a 5.4-liter V8, the Expedition remains a monster of a machine. Not only is it more than 300 pounds heavier than a comparable '02 model (due primarily to added suspension weight), it's an inch longer and taller and has nearly a half an inch higher minimum ground clearance (now 8.9 inches). Inside, space is nearly identical for three rows of reconfigurable seating, but the area is much more usable thanks to the independent rear suspension that allows the third row to fold flat into the floor. A power folding third row is available on Eddie Bauer models.

For anyone who remembers driving the original Expedition, the 2003 version is a suburban delight by comparison-and a tribute to global product chief Richard Parry-Jones' demand that Ford vehicles communicate their driving feel within the first 164 feet of driving. From the first tight parking-lot turn to the first tromp on the brake pedal (with brake assist that automatically boosts braking pressure in emergency stops), it's clear this sport/ute is far more responsive than its predecessor. On the highway, the steering builds on that first impression by offering a solid on-center feel with little of the sluggishness found in the ...