For a long time, the Ford Expedition was forgotten—perhaps, even forgettable.

Last redesigned in 2007, the SUV received next-to-no attention until 2015, when Dearborn decided to drop a 3.5-liter Ecoboost under the hood as part of the mildest of refreshes. It was fine, the “C's get degrees” approach compared to General Motors valedictorian lineup of full-size, three-row SUVs.

But like the college student that realized “C's get degrees” isn't a viable career strategy, the 2018 Ford Expedition has arrived. This is, by no small margin, the most competitive SUV from  Dearborn recently, a monster of a vehicle loaded with power, capability, technology, and versatility. It's the vehicle Ford should have introduced in 2015—it's a vehicle that should frighten General Motors. 

It's also an evolution of one of Ford's most successful products, the 2018 F-150, borrowing that truck's revised powertrain and aluminum-intensive construction, but also pairing it with the SUV traits that's kept the Explorer in family driveways for decades.

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

A 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 works alongside a 10-speed automatic that was developed with GM to motivate the big three-rower. Packing up to 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque in Platinum trim or 375 hp and 470 lb-ft in XL, XLT, and Limited trims, the Expedition is powered roughly the same as the F-150—the difference in output between the truck and SUV is negligible, unless you're talking about the F-150 Raptor.

The Ecoboost is a fantastic engine in this application, and the 10-speed automatic keeps to itself unless you really hammer on the pedal, much like the F-150 I tested earlier this year. Like the truck, most throttle inputs elicit a delightful whistling from under the hood as the 3.5-liter's twin turbochargers spool up. That noise is followed by a surge of power that should allow the Expedition to easily pass, even shuttling an entire soccer team in the expansive second and third rows.

Like the Explorer, the Expedition gets an off-road-focused Terrain Management System on the FX4 trim, but we can't yet report on that model. Look for a more expansive report on this particular performance aspect at The Car Connection.

While the Expedition has had a 3.5-liter Ecoboost since its last refresh, it felt more like a proof of concept. Adding more power and attaching a cutting-edge automatic transmission makes this iteration feel like the finished product, a powertrain in a full-size, three-row SUV that feels as innovative, interesting, and capable as the first F-150 Ecoboost was so many years ago. SUVs like the Expedition might feel like dinosaurs, but compared to the V-8-powered monsters from General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan, this Ford is a much more evolved take on the breed.

And that fact shows in the stats. Not only is the Expedition the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class, but it's also the most capable when it comes to towing. Ford claims more than half its Expedition customers drag something regularly, and meeting that need is a best-in-class tow rating of 9,300 pounds, a figure on par with some large pickup trucks.

But part of this impressive performance is down to the work of the structural engineers that managed to craft the Expedition's body out of weight-saving aluminum. Like the F-150, the move results in a big weight savings—around 300 pounds, according to Ford, although the net savings is closer to 130 pounds in the base two-wheel-drive model—that also creates a more compelling SUV on winding roads.

In the canyons of Malibu and along Mulholland Drive, the Expedition Maxx—a questionable moniker for the long-wheelbase entry that will challenge the Chevrolet Suburban—I was driving felt smaller than its enormous size might indicate. The steering is relaxed on-center but tightens and builds weight progressively through the bends, with an undramatic character on initial turn-in. In general, the steering feels more car-like than a Suburban.

Ultimately, the Expedition is about hauling people, and it does that well. While the dash looks like a carbon copy of the F-150's, the front seats feel more comfortable and supportive, while the second-row captain's chairs and the third-row bench can accommodate adults and children with ease. At 6-foot-1 and with long legs and belly that's been addled by beer, I'd happily wile away a few hours in the third row. Head room is a smidge tight, but leg room is among the best I've ever experienced—minivans included. It's remarkably comfortable for six people; it's merely fine for seven.

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

2018 Ford Expedition

The Expedition is not without its issues, though. For a start, it is huge. During my testing in southern California, the lane-departure warning system spent most of the drive buzzing at me as I struggled to not put a wheel into another lane. Threading a needle with a bulldozer would have been easier.

There's also a bizarre offset in the way the pedals are laid out—I'm a tall man and had plenty of space, but maintaining a comfortable foothold on the brake pedal meant uncomfortably angling my left leg outward in a contortion that'd grow tiring after a long trip. 

Prices for the 2018 Ford Expedition start at $49,290 for a base rear-drive example and extend to nearly $80,000 for the range-topping Platinum trim with the long-wheelbase and four-wheel drive. In other words, Ford is essentially taking aim at everything from the base Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban to the GMC Yukon and its Denali trim (the third head of GM's full-size SUV dragon, the Cadillac Escalade, is the Lincoln Navigator's responsibility). 

Ford got its act together with the 2018 Expedition. This is a three-row, full-size SUV that deserves to be considered alongside its rivals from Chevrolet, GMC, Toyota, and Nissan. Pairing best-in-class fuel economy and towing with a smooth, powerful engine in a versatile body is a recipe for success. We just wish Ford would have gotten around to it three years ago.

Ford provided travel and lodging to Internet Brands Automotive to bring you the firsthand report.