Compare passenger space, cargo behind the occupied rows, parking length and towing requirements before choosing your Ford SUV. Use the available vehicles below and the model-year comparison farther down the page to prepare a focused visit to Weber Ford in Granite City, near St. Louis.
Weber Ford • Granite City, Illinois • St. Louis Area
Two SUVs can both appear on a three-row shopping list and still solve different problems for your household. Start the Explorer-versus-Expedition comparison with who sits where, what comes along and where the SUV must park. This guide helps St. Louis-area shoppers build a meaningful test-fit visit at Weber Ford in Granite City.
This reference compares the 2026 model year. It separates standard-length Expedition from Expedition MAX so you can see what the extra footprint buys. Use it to narrow your shortlist, then check the seating and equipment in the specific vehicle. Older used models and newer model years can have different dimensions, features and ratings.
On a smaller screen, scroll across the table to compare all columns.
| 2026 reference | Explorer | Expedition | Expedition MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum available seating | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Overall length | 198.7 in | 209.9 in | 221.7 in |
| Cargo behind the third row | 16.3 cu ft | 21.6 cu ft; 22.9 with seats fully upright | 36.1 cu ft; 37.4 with seats fully upright |
| Maximum cargo with rear seats folded | 85.8 cu ft on Active 100A, Active and ST-Line; 85.3 on other trims | 108.5 cu ft | 123.1 cu ft |
| Maximum available towing, properly equipped | 5,000 lb | 9,600 lb on eligible 4×4 configurations | 9,000 lb on eligible 4×4 configurations |
Keep seating and cargo in the same comparison. Maximum seat count is not the layout of every vehicle. Some Explorer configurations seat six, while Expedition configurations differ by trim and second-row seating. Ford lists both ordinary and fully upright third-row cargo measurements for Expedition; use the seat position your passengers will actually occupy. Maximum cargo figures require folded rear rows and do not describe a full family traveling with luggage.
MAX adds length without adding a seating row. Expedition MAX is 11.8 inches longer than standard Expedition and 23 inches longer than Explorer. Its larger space behind the third row is the important distinction when every row is occupied. Measure your parking space, then test your normal stroller, cooler or luggage with the passengers’ seats in place. Explorer’s shorter footprint can be useful when its seating and cargo area already cover the job.
Match the towing maximum to its equipment. Explorer’s 2026 Class III Trailer Tow Package is standard. Ford’s 2026 Expedition towing guide lists Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow as standard on 4×4; trailers over 7,000 pounds require a properly rated weight-distributing hitch. The 9,600-pound and 9,000-pound maxima require eligible 4×4 configurations without 24-inch wheels. Expedition Tremor has its own maximum of 9,300 pounds. Passengers, cargo, accessories and tongue weight also affect the usable allowance, so compare the loaded trailer with the selected vehicle’s ratings.
Bring three details to Weber Ford: how many people travel regularly, the largest items that must fit behind the occupied rows, and any loaded trailer weight. Those answers make an Explorer-versus-Expedition test drive more useful than choosing solely by the largest number in a specification table.
2026 references: Ford Explorer model information, Ford Expedition model information and Ford Expedition technical specifications (PDF); Expedition towing guide (PDF). Checked November 3, 2026. Published cargo figures describe Ford’s stated seat positions; cargo and load capacity remain limited by weight and weight distribution.
Ford presents both Explorer and Expedition as three-row SUVs, with Expedition also offered in the extended-length MAX body. Exact seating and dimensions depend on the model year and configuration. Do not pick an SUV from its maximum cargo figure if you normally travel with the seats occupied.
You want to evaluate a three-row SUV without moving immediately to the Expedition-size shopping list. Explore new Explorer inventory and used Explorers. Test whether the available passenger and cargo arrangement serves your actual trips, rather than assuming the smaller choice is automatically enough.
Your questions focus on the combination of passenger space, luggage and standard-length versus extended-length bodies. Browse new Expedition inventory and used Expedition listings. Check both the room inside and the space the vehicle needs at home before deciding that the larger choice is appropriate.
Count the seating positions in the actual vehicle and examine the second-row arrangement. A bench and separate seats can change how people enter the third row and where child seats can be installed. Check the vehicle manual and the child-seat instructions rather than assuming the same installation works in both SUVs.
Have the usual passengers try their actual seats. Adjust the front row first, then check the second and third rows. Consider entry, knee room, headroom and access to climate controls. A brief climb into a parked vehicle is less informative than a deliberate test of the positions your family will use on a long trip.
Load or measure your stroller, sports bags, work cases or travel luggage with the required seats in use. Look at the usable floor area and opening, not just the largest advertised volume. Check whether everyone’s normal gear can be carried securely without obstructing visibility.
Measure garage length, door clearance and the space needed to reach the cargo area. Consider a raised liftgate and any roof accessories. The extended Expedition body may answer a cargo question while creating a parking question; both should be resolved before you select a vehicle.
An SUV’s appearance does not establish whether it has the equipment needed for your trailer. Start with the model year, VIN and relevant Ford towing documentation, then confirm the hardware and ratings on the specific vehicle. Keep passenger and trip requirements in the discussion instead of looking only at a brochure maximum.
Technology deserves the same individual check. Test the camera views, phone connection, charging locations, audio and folding-seat controls that matter to you. Ask about equipment and subscription requirements. A newer Ford feature should not be promised on every older Explorer or Expedition in used inventory.
A used Expedition and a new Explorer can overlap on a shopping list for very different reasons. Compare year, condition, equipment, coverage and the complete purchase terms. Review available maintenance and vehicle-history documentation, and discuss an independent inspection when an older vehicle needs additional evaluation.
Use used Ford SUV inventory to broaden the search or used Edge listings when your seating needs point away from a three-row vehicle. Our Ford Research Center and Escape vs. Bronco Sport guide provide other paths without treating every SUV as interchangeable.
Choose the stock numbers you want to compare and use Contact Weber Ford to confirm availability. Tell us whether the priority is a seating arrangement, cargo test or towing equipment so the discussion can focus on the actual vehicles. Bring the items that make the difference instead of relying only on measurements from memory.
Review the finance center, begin your trade evaluation and use the payment calculator for estimates. Ask our service team about maintenance planning for a used candidate. Price and payment matter, but they should not distract from a layout that fails your passenger or cargo requirements.
MAX identifies the extended-length Expedition body, not an additional seating row. Confirm the exact seating configuration in the actual listing and compare the usable cargo space with your required seats occupied.
Test the specific seating arrangement with your passengers and child seats, then check cargo space for the same trip. Family size alone does not answer questions about third-row access, luggage or garage fit.
Yes, but keep the years and equipment visible in the comparison. Check condition, service records, coverage and purchase terms along with passenger space. Use used Expedition inventory and new Explorer inventory to choose actual vehicles.
Start with used Ford SUVs or the Ford Research Center. When your seating needs change, a more focused comparison can save time compared with treating every SUV in inventory as an equally relevant option.
Weber Ford serves St. Louis-area families from Granite City, Illinois. Visit our St. Louis-area dealership guide or Collinsville shopping page for related local information. Confirm the vehicles before traveling, especially when you need the whole household present for a seating and cargo test.
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Inventory, equipment and offers are subject to change. Verify the vehicle, included features and applicable terms before purchase. Financing is subject to lender approval. Model-year examples are not equipment promises for every new or used vehicle.
