In one of the showrooms at Moss Motor Company in South Pittsburg, Tenn., sits a restored, apple red 1976 Ford Bronco, an early ancestor of the modern sports utility vehicle.
When it was new, the '70s-era Bronco sold for just over $3,000, according to Clay Moss, whose family owns the dealership. Meanwhile, out in the lot sits the Bronco's great-grandson - and this week's tester - a gleaming, third-generation Ford Expedition in Platinum trim that stickers for more than $63,000.
Even allowing for almost 40 years of inflation, $63,000 represents some serious price migration. (Consider: Three thousand dollars in 1976 translates to only about $12,500 today in inflation-adjusted dollars.)
To be fair, the little red Bronco looks like a morsel you'd feed the Expedition for lunch.
Just a few years ago, some thought that big, truck-based SUVs like the Expedition were on the way out. Then two things happened: Gas got cheaper and engines became a more fuel efficient. Our tester has a six-cylinder power plant that makes 365 horsepower and gets 22 mpg in highway driving.
Among American automakers' most profitable vehicles, body-on-frame SUVs - such as Ford's Expedition; GM's Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon; and Toyota's Sequoya - are experiencing a resurgence. And this week's tester is an example of how layering on amenities can result in a seven-passenger SUV that has the all comfort and presence of a luxury car.
Our top-trim tester stickers for $63,470 before discounts. Other trims include the XLT (starting at $44,585), Limited ($54,180), and King Ranch ($58,410).
The interior of the Platinum trim Expedition is spacious and well-finished.
Fast facts
* Model: 2015 Ford Expedition Platinum 4X2 * Exterior color: White Metal Tri-coat * Interior color: Ebony * Engine: 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 * Horsepower: 365 * Transmission: Six-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 22 mpg highway, 16 mpg city * Dealer: Moss Motor Company, South Pittsburg, Tenn. * Price (as tested): $63,470
Mark KennedySTYLING AND FEATURES
One of the first things you notice about the Expedition is its immense size. At six-feet four-inches, it's as tall as an NBA guard and measures more than 17 feet long. Good luck parallel parking this bad boy. Front and rear parking sensors and a a back-up camera help, but the Expedition is a big chunk of metal, there's just no getting around that.
On the other hand, if you need seating for seven or eight passengers and tow a boat or RV, there aren't many vehicles with the Expedition's combination of interior volume and muscle.
Ford has tweaked the exterior of the Expedition for 2015 to make it more attractive. The three-bar chrome grille looks like something you'd see on a heavy-duty pickup truck. Second- and third-row occupants are surrounded by acres of tinted glass. And the 20-inch chrome rims on our tester will probably see more church parking lots than mud pits in their lifetime.
Inside, the front bucket seats, sheathed in high-grade leather, are heated and cooled. Captain's chairs in the second row (a $789 option) are also heated. If you don't need to consistently haul eight people, the second-row captain's chairs are the way to go. They reduce passenger capacity to seven, but provide a wide center aisle for easy access to the third row. The third-row seats, in turn, are big enough in the Expedition to accommodate average size adults.
The Expedition features an uncluttered dash that reminds you of its working-class DNA. A large center stack with a big, padded armrest, provides for ample storage. A touchpad about the size of an iPad mini bisects the dash and provides the portal to Ford's climate, entertainment, navigation and phone systems. Most of the functions are voice activated, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Expedition owners will tell you that one of their favorite features is a power, fold-down third row. The seats pop up or down with the touch of a button, making carpooling a breeze.
Other features on our top-of-the-line Platinum Expedition include power running boards, a power lift-gate, LED fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, satellite radio, dual-zone climate controls, and a towing package that allows you pull up to 9,200 pounds.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Ford discontinued V-8 engines in the Expedition line-up this year, replacing them with the brand's 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6s. These Ecoboost motors make 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
In our test drive along Highway 72 in Marion County, the Expedition showed off its jack-rabbit acceleration and smooth six-speed automatic transmission. Our tester is a rear-wheel-drive model. Edmunds.com says a four-wheel-drive Expedition's 0-60 mph time is 6.5 seconds.
The Expedition features an independent suspension set-up in both the front and rear. The ride is taut, without the bounciness of some large SUVs. Steering is light for a vehicle this size. Long-distance family vacations in the Expeditions should be a breeze.
BOTTOM LINE
People who need a full-size SUV - and you know who you are - can't do much better than a top-of-the-line Expedition. What you give up in maneuverability, you gain in expansive cargo area and passenger space. Meanwhile, technological advances have mitigated any pain you might feel at the gas pump, with the Expedition averaging about 18 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
Meanwhile, owners of vintage 1976 Ford Broncos report getting low double-digit fuel economy, in the range of 10 to 12 miles per gallon.
Isn't technology great?
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.