What's a big SUV without a big engine? If it's a Ford Expedition, it's the strongest big SUV in its class — with the smallest standard engine. It's also the biggest, period — at least, without changing names.

The Expedition comes in two sizes. Full-sized and fuller-sized. There's nothing else quite like it.

What It Is

The Expedition is a large SUV that's based on the popular Ford F-150 pickup. It comes standard with the mighty twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 that's optional in the F-150 — in both 375- and 400-horsepower versions. And both versions are stronger than the much bigger V8 that's standard in its main rival, the Chevy Tahoe.

Both versions of the Expedition have three rows of seats and an eight-passenger capacity but the fuller-sized MAX version, which is similar to the Chevy Suburban — which is a fuller-sized Tahoe with a different name — is about a foot longer overall and has significantly more cargo capacity behind its third row.

Prices start at $52,180 for the base XLT trim with rear-wheel drive. Limited, King Ranch and Platinum trims are available — with either rear-drive or four-wheel drive with low-range gearing and driver-adjustable terrain settings.

The fuller-sized MAX — which is available in the same series of trims — starts $55,835 and tops out at $80,110 for a Platinum trim with 4WD.

What's New

The biggest change for 2020 is the addition of the King Ranch trim — formerly an F-150 trim. It dresses up the Expedition similarly, with soft-touch Del Rio leather seats, stitching and badges as well as an adaptive suspension and 22-inch wheel/tire package.

What's Good

All trims come standard with the strongest engine in the class.

It pulls more than Tahoe and Suburban.

Lightweight aluminum body.

What's Not So Good

Driver "assists" aren't optional. You may not want 'em, but you'll have to pay more for them.

The 400-horsepower version of the turbo'd V6 is only available in the highest-cost Platinum trim.

Aluminum skin (like the F-150's) is more easily damaged and more expensive to repair than steel.

Under the Hood

Some big SUVs don't come standard with a big enough, or strong enough, engine. The Expedition comes standard with the latter.

It may not be a V8 — as in rivals like the Tahoe and Suburban — which come standard with a 5.3 liter V8. But the Ford's 3.5 liter, twin-turbo V6 makes 375 horsepower — significantly more power than the two-named Chevys' 355-horsepower V8. The Tahoe offers a bigger (and stronger) 420-horsepower 6.2 liter V8, but to get it, you must first buy the $62,700 Premier trim and then pay another $3,570 for the option.

The Expedition has an option, too. Platinum trims come standard with a 400-horsepower version of the 3.5 liter V6.

Either way, the Ford is faster — and pulls stronger. The least it can pull is 9,000 lbs. — and the most 9,200 lbs.

This is more — either way — than the Tahoe's 8,400-8,600 lb. max.

On the Road

It may not have a V8, but it feels — and sounds — like it does. In addition to the big-engined power, there is also — somehow — that big-engined sound. A bass note that develops into a bellow as the big bus accelerates.

Which it does more quickly — zero to 60 in 6.5 seconds — than most V8 muscle cars of the '60s could.

And it rides better, too. An amazing — almost magical — achievement given this is still a body-on-frame/real-deal truck-based SUV, not a car-based crossover SUV.

The only thing it doesn't do better is fit in parking spots that are sized for cars and car-based crossovers.

But even here, the Ford outmaneuvers its rivals.

The MAX version is about three inches shorter bumper-to-bumper than its Suburban equivalent, so you've got just a bit more wiggle room, with the same room inside. Both the Ford and the Chevy have nearly identical maximum cargo capacity — 121.5 cubic feet and 121.7 cubic feet, respectively.

At the Curb

The only radical thing about the Expedition's skin is its skin — which is made of aluminum rather than steel. Otherwise, it is conventionally handsome, with styling adjustments up to you according to which trim/option package you select — from family-hauler XLT to King Ranch cowboy.

Because it is so big, the Expedition offers adjustment. Limited trims have pedals that can tailored to suit the longer (or shorter) legged. The Platinum trim comes with power folding both rows — second and third.

All trims come standard with more ground clearance — 9.7 inches — than others in the class, including the Tahoe (which has 7.9 inches of clearance).

The Rest

The Expedition's aluminum skin shaves off a lot of weight — which is one reason why the Ford is so fast. But it is easier to bend aluminum — and it cost more to fix it. Even if you don't bend it, the prospect that you might will possibly mean paying a bit more to cover it against potential loss than you'd pay to insure a more conventionally steel-bodied SUV.

The Bottom Line

The new Expedition disproves the old saying that there's no replacement for displacement.

Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.