Several American SUVs are built with toughness, durability, and the capability to not only handle heavy loads but also last a long time. That long-lasting quality can make it easy for a used SUV to become a bargain when someone is looking for an affordable vehicle that can tow a heavy load or carry a large family, at a price much closer to that of compact SUVs.

If large American SUVs are capable and durable, how do they become bargain-priced vehicles? Depreciation isn’t always kind to these large SUVs. Although many hold their value relatively well, the projected repair costs for full-size SUVs factor into depreciation, especially as mileage increases. This means value on the used market declines, making these SUVs ripe for bargain hunters.

Despite falling in price to much more affordable levels than when new, full-size American SUVs don’t shrink in size. That means you could get a lot more SUV for the money simply by looking back a few years. Because these vehicles are often built to handle truck-like duties, they are built on truck platforms and have the durability and longevity expected of a pickup, but with an SUV build. This class could be the sweet spot for buying an affordable but extremely capable SUV as long as you don’t mind the hulking size and lack of efficiency that comes with the segment.

Part of the benefits of buying a big, American SUV is the ability to tow heavy loads. Because these hulking beasts share platforms and powertrains with their pickup truck siblings, they can tow much heavier loads than midsize SUVs. Although most full-size SUVs don’t match trucks in actual towing power, you’ll find many can easily handle 7,500 pounds or more, which should be more than enough for a family on the go. This strength allows you to have truck-like capabilities with the versatility and flexibility of an SUV, which is a huge win-win.

SUVs rule our roads, and full-size SUVs are some of the most popular, but buying a used instead of new could save you a lot of money and hassle.

The 2018 Ford Expedition was the beginning of a new generation for this full-size SUV. This new model introduced the Expedition Max, a longer-wheelbase version of the full-size SUV. This was the beginning of Ford using its 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which improved fuel economy over the outgoing V8 while delivering excellent power. While this combination felt new in 2018, heavy depreciation has taken the original base model from its MSRP of $52,390 to an average price of $15,350, making the 2018 Expedition a virtual bargain for anyone looking for a big SUV at an affordable price.

Imagine buying a vehicle that originally sold for $77,370 but now averages $23,000 on the used market. You might immediately wonder what’s wrong with the vehicle, but that is the average price of a 2018 Ford Expedition Platinum, which is the top trim level. That means you could have all the high-end features and comforts of the Platinum trim for a fraction of the original cost. The only catch is that the Expedition is eight years old, meaning you’ll need to perform a thorough inspection.

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Although Ford has offered several powertrains for some vehicles, the 2018 Expedition has only one for all trims. This new power system features a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which was popularized by the F-150 Raptor. This engine mates with a 10-speed automatic transmission, another new feature for 2018, and it can be set up in either RWD or 4WD.

Most Expedition trims have 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, but the Platinum trim is tuned to 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. In addition to impressive power, this new-for-2018 powertrain returns up to 17 city/24 highway mpg in the regular-wheelbase model with RWD. Despite using a V6 engine, the Expedition can tow up to 9,300 pounds, making it one of the most capable SUVs of its time.

The new 10-speed automatic transmission is a huge hit in the Expedition, providing a smoother drive with more shift points that make the big SUV feel much lighter than its size suggests. While you won’t carve up any corners or win any sprint races, the transmission contributes to the smooth feeling on the road, ensuring this big brute is much more comfortable when you’re on the highway or working your way through city streets.

Full-size SUVs don't have the best reputation for value retention, but these 10 full-size SUVs buck the trend and do a good job of holding their value

It might seem like automotive technology has come a long way in eight years, and in some cases, that’s true, but the Ford Expedition proves that some tech has been around for nearly a decade. Even the base XLT model has rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, push-button starting, heated side mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts.

The Limited trim adds premium audio, navigation, a 360-degree camera, automated parking, and LED exterior lights. The Platinum trim adds massaging seats to the heated and ventilated comfort offers in the Limited model, and the benefits of active noise cancellation to make the cabin much calmer. The biggest differences you’ll likely notice between the 2018 Expedition and later models are the size of the screens in the dashboard, which, by today’s standards, are puny in the 2018 version.

The standard Ford Expedition offers good passenger and cargo space, providing first-row occupants with 42 inches of headroom, 64.9 inches of shoulder room, and 43.9 inches of legroom. Moving to the second row, passengers enjoy 40 inches of headroom, 64.8 inches of shoulder room, and 41.5 inches of legroom. The third row is a bit tighter at 37.3 inches of headroom, 64.2 inches of shoulder room, and 36.1 inches of legroom. Behind the third row, the standard Expedition has 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 104.6 cubic feet with the two rear rows of seats folded down.

If you have a large family that needs to carry lots of gear regularly, the 19.3 cubic feet offered in the standard Expedition won’t be enough, and the roof rack isn’t always a convenient option. Thankfully, the Expedition Max has 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 121.5 cubic feet when the rear two rows of seats are folded down. This extra cargo space can make all the difference when carrying a large family.

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It's no secret that finding parts for American-made vehicles is much easier than finding parts for foreign-made vehicles. The shared engineering and powertrain with the Ford F-150, the most popular vehicle sold in America, makes it easy to find parts for the Expedition and have it serviced properly. This means you could have a full-size SUV for a small initial price and still benefit from affordable servicing and widely available parts. Although repair and maintenance costs vary by mileage, early models of this Expedition generation cost around $609 per year to maintain, making it an affordable SUV to drive and care for.

How much do you have to pay for an SUV that carries up to eight passengers, can tow more than 8,000 pounds, returns up to 24 mpg on the highway, and has the comforts offered in the Ford Expedition? The base price for a 2026 Ford Expedition is $65,495, which is comparable to many other full-size SUVs. You could have an early-generation model for a fraction of that cost, giving you a family-sized, truck-based SUV that should last a long time and deliver the comfort and capability you want. It's easy to see how early-generation models of the Ford Expedition have become bargain hunters’ dreams.

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Sources: Ford, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, RepairPal

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/used-american-suv-bargain-hunters-dream/