Surprisingly Delightful 2020 Ford Expedition, one week in California

Let me preface this by admitting a grave sin. For the past two decades, my rental car allegiance has been pledged to the golden arches of Hertz, as my employer had it as the preferred rental shop, and I didn’t mind. New cars, they gave me always the best that they had on that particular shop. No complainings. But on a recent trip to California, a twist of fate (changing employer) landed me at the counter of Avis, got all the papers, keys and off I went with absolutely no clue what I’m about to get as I was too tired from the plane ride to think much. Landed on my rental spot, where a glorious beast emerged from the shadows: a 2020 Ford Expedition.

Now, the Expedition isn’t exactly a sleek Swedish sports car. It’s more like a mammoth in a sequoia forest, which is to say enormous. Picking it up felt like winning the automotive lottery – the sheer size compared to european rentals was comical. Imagine my surprise when the price tag turned out to be a Prius-level bargain! Here’s the breakdown of my week with this American behemoth, European style.

Chapter 1: Endless Everything

Let’s be honest, Finns appreciate personal space. This Expedition? It had enough room to house a small family of saunas. Front seats? Thrones. Back seats? An entire living room, complete with an unnecessary amount of legroom. Looking in the rearview mirror was an odyssey – the back window felt continents away. This would be the dream car for any teenager on a road trip – their parents would be practically out of earshot, trapped in the front like astronauts in a lonely capsule.

Chapter 2: Surprisingly Spry

Now, a car this size shouldn’t handle like a rally racer. But the 2020 Expedition defied expectations. The V6 engine packed a serious punch, launching this beast from 0 to 60 faster than a startled moose on ice. Merging and overtaking were a breeze – this thing could move when it needed to. Some reviewers whined about noise, but those Finns must be living next to Lappland silence if this Expedition bothers them as in my view, winter studded tires, on asphalt roads full with gravel, are the half a year symphony where I live.

Chapter 3: The Great Button Bonanza

The interior was plush and comfortable – like a well-appointed log cabin. But the center console? Oh, the buttons! There were more buttons than on a fighter jet’s cockpit, all helpfully labelled in that wonderfully cryptic American car font – size 3, invisible. It was a bit overwhelming at first, this symphony of plastic and chrome, but I eventually found the essentials – coffee cup holder, radio that didn’t play polka music, and the all-important ejector seat button (though that might have been wishful thinking).

Chapter 4: The Verdict: Big Fun, Small Quirks

The 2020 Ford Expedition was a revelation. It was spacious, powerful, comfortable, and surprisingly good on gas (for its size). Sure, the button overload could be a tad much, but that’s a minor quibble. This car was perfect for cruising the California coast, hauling friends and luggage with ease. If you’re looking for a rental that’s more exciting than a bowl of porridge, the Expedition is your surprisingly delightful American moose of a car. Just don’t get lost in the button jungle, and for goodness sake, warn your backseat passengers – they might need a walkie-talkie to reach you.

About the car:

Ford Expedition XL – 3.5L V6
Fuel: bezin
Power: 375 HP
Model: 2020