I Packed My Kids Into a $106K 2026 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX 4x4. Here’s What Families Need to Know.AutoblogKristen BrownFri, September 18, 2026 at 8:30 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Ford Expedition, even when I was a kid, was regarded as one of the best non-minivan kid carriers a family could want. It was large, V8-powered, had a high towing capacity, and more room than the kids or the dog knew what to do with. For families that regularly hauled boats, campers, or horse trailers, a full-sized SUV like the Expedition was a serious asset. It's been a 3-row since 1997, offering a third row on the higher-level trims. Now, it's a 3-row by default, and there's still quite a wide gap in pricing between it and the Explorer. But the fact that it's still an unstoppable heavy-hauling gas hog remains.Kristen BrownBut is a 2026 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX 4×4 worth $106,000? I have a hard time justifying a six-figure price on an SUV the size of an Airbus when minivans exist for about half of the cost, but the Expedition MAX does have a lot to offer for the price—including clever storage, never-ending comfort, a ride comparable to that of a Range Rover, and a 9,000-pound towing capacity. To see if the add-ons and extra packages were worth the heightened price, I packed my husband and two daughters into one to see how it kept up. Let's discuss.Related: Road Ethos Launches: The New Automotive Lifestyle Site You Should ReadFirst, what does "MAX" mean?Good question. To put it simply, it means it's longer. Like, a lot longer. Without changing the height or width, the MAX package adds almost 12 extra inches to the already vast length, giving families a lot more space behind the third row, without changing the legroom dimensions for third-row passengers. Even with the third row in use, the Expedition MAX offers 37.4 cubic inches of space, nearly twice that if the third row is folded flat. However, because it adds significant weight, it reduces the overall towing capacity by 600 lbs. All MAX models see a split rear tailgate, even if the standard trim didn't have one. While the extra behind the third row is dandy, it adds quite a bit to the overall price. Think $3,000. And I'll reiterate: that's without changing the legroom figures. It's just for more space in the rear.The third row seat of the 2026 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX 4×4, showing the extra cargo space behind the seatsKristen BrownThe extra length puts the Expedition at 221.9 inches long (over 18 feet long), with a wheelbase of 131.6 inches long. At that point, I feel like Ford should be mandating a Class C license. Without four-wheel steering and a fairly wide turning radius, it definitely felt like I was driving a bus. Those really nice wheels are bound to get curbed if you don't learn how to turn wide when entering and exiting drive-thrus and through tight parking lots.Why is it so expensive?Well, my particular tester came with a lot of add-ons and optional packages. We know the MAX package adds $3,000. But the Glacier Gray paint added another $995, the black roof added another $7,550, the Platinum Ultimate Package slammed a whopping $14,570 to the price, the second-row screens cost $1,995, a power folding bench tacked on another $595, and floor liners cost another $200 to an otherwise $76,950 SUV. You read that right. My tester had $27,355 worth of add-ons. With delivery fees and taxes, the total rang up to $106,900. Ouch.Kristen BrownBy the way, that "Platinum Ultimate Package" for 14Gs adds the 440-horsepower twin-turbo engine, adaptive dampers for a smoother ride, 24-inch wheels, massaging seats, an illuminated grille, and a complimentary subscription to BlueCruise. Is it worth that much? I'm not sure, but it does make the Ford feel much, much more Lincoln-like.Related: One in Four Ford Expeditions Sold Is Now a Rugged TremorHow did it fit the kids?Unsurprisingly well. It's tall, the doors open nice and wide, and all of the ISO FIX lower anchor points were very easy to find and secure. Thankfully, the headrests were extremely easy to remove, but securing the top tether did require crawling into the rear cargo area to secure. Because, you know, that extra foot of length back there. I could have folded the middle seat on the bench to reach it, but I had to see what it was like getting back there. Both outboard seats can electronically recline, which helped make sure my daughters' front-facing car seats fit snugly.Kristen BrownAdvertisementAdvertisementTypically, a bench seat can make getting into the third row a bit tricky, especially if you have a car seat installed into the outboard seats. Thankfully, Ford corrected this, as the Platinum has a tilt-and-slide function that works even with a car seat installed when the LATCH system is used. Using a seatbelt to secure the seat will cancel it. Even rear-facing car seats can be installed and the tilt-and-slide feature will work. It makes it easier for kids to enter the third row without having to uninstall the seat, or requiring kids to climb over one another. Toggling the feature is easy, with a button near the headrest of either outboard seat.Kristen BrownMy daughters enjoyed the 41.1 inches of legroom back there, and my husband and I especially enjoyed that they couldn't kick the backs of our seats. If the third row is folded flat, the second row can slide for even more room, opening it up to 42.2 inches. The sliding tracks mean that third row legroom is affected, either increasing the legroom to 43.5 inches, or "shrinking" it to 36.5 inches. Either way, there's plenty of room back there, even for adults. And because the Platinum has a bench seat as standard equipment, you can fit up to 8 passengers.How does it drive?Despite the electronically adjustable suspension and smooth ride, nothing hides the Expedition's size. The body roll is undeniable, its width and length dominate most parking lots, and because there's no four-wheel steering, many parking jobs will require multi-point turns to avoid your doors getting dinged by the smaller cars next to you. The optional high-output engine definitely made it feel a little more enthusiastic than you'd expect for an SUV of its size, and the sports exhaust that came with the Platinum Ultimate Package gave way to some nice acoustics as a driver, but boy, she's thirsty. In combined driving scenarios, I rarely ever saw a figure higher than 14.7 MPG. My tester came with the larger 27-gallon tank, so my overall range was close to 500 miles, but I felt very thankful that I wouldn't wasn't responsible for filling it up once my week with it was over, with regular averaging just about $6 per gallon…Kristen BrownOverall though, I was very impressed with how quiet the drive was. Even California's insanely rough, uneven, and neglected roads were no match for the Expedition. The only time I've ever experienced a ride as smooth and quiet was in the six-figure Land Rovers I had the pleasure of testing. Seriously. It may not be particularly fast or efficient, but it's buttery smooth and quiet. Additionally, that bass-forward Bang & Olufsen sound system was just a chef's kiss on top of the massaging seats, lounge-style driver's seat, and soft elbow and arm rests.Related: I Drove the 2026 Ford Expedition Tremor. Could My Family Go Off-Roading In It?The interior packaging is clever, but the screen placement is interestingFord's in-house software and operating system is very easy to navigate and use, with predictable settings placements and easy-to-customize controls. The Expedition is definitely leaning closer to a screen-dependent setup, with very few physical buttons and knobs, though it does make up for it (a little) with common functions like fan speed, HVAC controls, seat heater and ventilation functions, and more being permanently displayed on the bottom of the center screen.FordSpeaking of screens… The dual-screen setup is a bit funky, with the central screen being directly in front of the much larger driver information display, creating a bit of an overlap. I found it to be quite overwhelming. Ford does allow you to customize the driver information display with widgets for things like towing controls, off-road information, mileage, temp gauges, or media feeds, but I wasn't able to get rid of the Google Maps display to the very right of the larger screen. So, when I was using Android Auto, which will always show Maps if you're using it, you have two views of the same map, right on top of each other.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe steering wheel is small and a weird shape, and the touch-click functions were borderline infuriating. You had to slide and then click on the touch pad to make a selection, and if your finger wasn't in the exact spot it should be, the click didn't register. So, more than anything, it was more distracting than it was helpful. To adjust the steering wheel's position, you had to use these controls, and I felt my blood pressure rising just trying to nail the correct position. Aside from that, everything felt very cohesive and premium.Kristen BrownNow for the storage goodies. The center console is cavernous, with a deep well when it's opened, and cup holders that were large enough for my 32 oz water bottle and everything in between. The center console's party trick, though, is the fact that it can slide backwards by a few inches to bring the cupholders closer to the second row passengers. For the driver and front passenger, sliding it back reveals another storage area—perfect for a purse, emergency kit, or cleanup supplies, or anything else you want to keep hidden from view. Every door has at least one extra cupholder and some storage space for wrappers and whatnot. The middle seat in the second row can be folded to give passengers additional cupholders, or be folded upright to comfortably support another passenger.Who is the ideal buyer for the 2026 Expedition MAX?The very clear advantage to the 18-foot-long barge is the towing capacity. I mentioned it before, but when it's fitted with the towing package, it can tow up to 9,000 pounds (9,600 pounds if you don't get the MAX configuration). That rating is high enough to tow anything your little heart desires, while hauling the whole family in luxurious comfort. It's a comfortable, capable SUV meant to work, and work hard. If you're buying one for the three rows and you don't plan on towing, it will handle family duties perfectly, but you'll be a regular at the pumps with that 14.7 MPG average. If you're not towing, I'll throw this out there: all four minivans are shorter, less expensive, have a roomier third row and more cargo space, and they're more efficient.Kristen BrownOf course, my tester was over six figures because of the long, long list of optional packages. I felt a bit squirmy about a $106K Expedition, because then we're wandering into Lincoln Navigator pricing, but the original price of $76,950 felt much, much more reasonable to me. No wonder I see them in neighborhoods close to schools. I just wonder how they're affording the gas for it.Final thoughtsThe Ford Expedition would have gone Platinum in our household (see what I did there?) when I was growing up. My dad always had a pickup truck for towing and hauling, and then a smaller car to haul the kids around. If he'd bought an Expedition, it'd be a two-in-one for him. He'd have the capabilities of a pickup truck built in, with SUV-like comfort and amenities. He wouldn't have needed a pickup truck as a second vehicle. Those are the shoes the Expedition is made to fill, and it does it perfectly. Whenever I see a home with a boat, fifth wheeler, or a camper, I notice many of the cars parked in front are, in fact, Ford Expeditions. They've found their audience, that's for sure.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor families that don't tow and haul on a near-regular basis, though, are better off getting a minivan. All four options are shorter, get better mileage, have more legroom in the second and third row, and more cargo space overall (unless you get the $3,000 MAX package). They're also substantially less expensive, even at the top of the line. Just throwing that out there.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.