2026 Ford Expedition Tremor: Ontario's Most Off-Road Capable Full-Size SUV

The Expedition has always excelled at moving families in comfort, but the new Tremor variant adds a dimension the segment has traditionally lacked: genuine off-road capability. With 10.6 inches of ground clearance, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and Raptor-inspired underbody protection, the Expedition Tremor delivers capabilities previously reserved for body-on-frame trucks. For Ontario families who refuse to choose between luxury and adventure, this represents a fundamental shift in what a three-row SUV can accomplish.

Best-in-Class Ground Clearance Changes Everything

The Expedition Tremor's 10.6 inches of ground clearance exceeds every competitor in the Large Traditional Utility class, providing clearance Ontario families actually need when venturing beyond pavement. This measurement isn't marketing rhetoric — it translates directly to real-world capability when navigating cottage access roads, Muskoka trail systems, or Bruce Peninsula campsites.

Higher ground clearance prevents the vehicle from high-centering when straddling large rocks, deep ruts, or fallen logs. On washboard gravel roads common throughout northern Ontario, the increased clearance reduces the frequency of scraping the undercarriage over sharp bumps. When crossing shallow streams or navigating flooded access roads after spring runoff, the Tremor can ford water that would force standard Expeditions to turn back.

The practical benefit extends to winter driving. Deep snow drifts across rural roads no longer require backing up and finding alternate routes. The Tremor's clearance allows it to push through accumulations that would beach a standard SUV, maintaining access to remote properties during Ontario's harsh winter months.

33-Inch General Grabber All-Terrain Tires: Grip Where It Matters

The fitment of 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires represents a significant upgrade over the highway-focused rubber fitted to standard Expedition models. These tires feature an aggressive tread pattern engineered to channel mud, snow, and water away from the contact patch while providing bite on loose surfaces.

The tread blocks are larger and more widely spaced than highway tires, creating voids that prevent mud from packing into the grooves and reducing traction. This design maintains grip in Ontario's clay-based mud — notorious for its slippery consistency when wet — and provides confident traction on sandy cottage roads along Georgian Bay.

The compound remains pliable in cold temperatures, critical for Ontario's extended winter season. Highway tires stiffen below freezing, losing grip on icy surfaces. The General Grabber compound maintains flexibility down to -40°C, providing reliable winter traction throughout the province's climate range.

On-road manners remain acceptable despite the aggressive tread. The tires generate more road noise than highway-focused designs, particularly on smooth pavement, but the difference is moderate rather than intrusive. Fuel economy suffers modestly — expect a decrease of approximately 5-10% compared to highway tires — but the capability gained justifies this trade-off for families who regularly venture off pavement.

High-Output EcoBoost: Power When Traction Is Limited

The Tremor comes standard with Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost V6 High-Output engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. While these figures impress on paper, their real value emerges when navigating technical terrain where traction is limited.

High torque at low RPM allows the Tremor to maintain momentum over obstacles without excessive throttle input. When climbing steep cottage access roads or navigating soft sand, the engine provides steady, linear power delivery that prevents wheel spin and loss of traction. The twin-turbocharger configuration delivers peak torque from 3,300 RPM, ensuring power is available exactly when needed during technical driving.

The 10-speed automatic transmission works in concert with the engine, selecting appropriate gears to keep the powerplant in its optimal torque range. In off-road driving modes, the transmission holds lower gears longer, preventing premature upshifts that would require more throttle to maintain speed — often causing traction loss on slippery surfaces.

For families towing boats to Muskoka lakes or travel trailers to provincial parks, the High-Output engine provides sufficient reserve power to manage grades and maintain highway speeds without constant downshifting. Maximum towing capacity reaches 9,600 pounds when properly equipped, accommodating most family recreation needs.

Raptor-Inspired Protection for Ontario's Rough Roads

The Expedition Tremor borrows underbody protection philosophy from Ford's Raptor lineup, recognizing that capability means little if vulnerable components sustain damage during off-pavement excursions.

Heavy-duty skid plates protect the front axle, transfer case, and fuel tank — components that would be catastrophically expensive to repair if punctured or damaged. The plates are constructed from high-strength steel designed to deflect impacts rather than deform, allowing the Tremor to strike rocks or frozen ruts without sustaining damage.

Raptor-inspired running boards replace the standard deployable boards, providing a sturdy step surface while protecting the rocker panels from trail debris. The fixed design eliminates the failure point of motorized boards, which can malfunction when packed with mud or ice.

The front skid plate extends farther forward than standard equipment, protecting the lower radiator and oil cooler from impact damage. This proves valuable when navigating trails with hidden rocks or when pushing through deep snow where unseen obstacles lurk beneath the surface.

Trail Control and Rock Crawl Mode: Technology Meets Terrain

The Tremor's most sophisticated off-road features are electronic rather than mechanical. Rock Crawl Mode and Trail Control transform how the vehicle behaves on challenging terrain, automating complex tasks and allowing the driver to focus on line selection and steering.

Rock Crawl Mode recalibrates throttle response, traction control intervention, transmission shift logic, and stability control parameters for low-speed technical driving. Throttle inputs become more gradual and predictable, preventing sudden power surges that could break traction on loose rocks or wet roots. The transmission aggressively downshifts and holds gears, maintaining engine braking during descents and ensuring power is immediately available when needed.

Traction control allows controlled wheel slip before intervening, recognizing that some slip is necessary to maintain momentum in mud or sand. On standard settings, traction control cuts power too aggressively, often causing the vehicle to bog down when gentle wheel spin would maintain forward progress. Rock Crawl Mode finds the optimal balance.

Trail Control functions as an off-road cruise control system, maintaining a set low speed (1-32 km/h) while the driver steers. The system manages throttle, braking, and traction control automatically, modulating individual wheels to maintain consistent speed regardless of terrain. When descending steep cottage roads or navigating long sections of washboard gravel, Trail Control eliminates the fatigue of constant brake and throttle modulation.

Trail Turn Assist enhances low-speed maneuverability by applying brake pressure to the inside rear wheel during tight turns, effectively tightening the turning radius. On narrow Muskoka trails where three-point turns may be difficult, this feature makes navigation significantly easier.

Trail 1-Pedal Drive allows the driver to control forward speed using only the accelerator pedal in Trail Control mode. Lifting off the throttle engages regenerative braking and friction brakes as needed to maintain the set speed during descents, preventing runaway acceleration. The driver modulates speed with the accelerator while the system manages braking automatically.

Embedded Auxiliary Lights: Prepared for Canadian Conditions

Ontario's northern regions experience extreme light variation — long summer days followed by winter darkness that arrives before 5 PM. The Tremor's embedded auxiliary lights behind the grille provide supplementary illumination for early-morning or late-evening trail driving.

These aren't decorative; they're functional LED lights aimed to illuminate the terrain immediately in front of the vehicle, filling the dark zone between the headlight beams and the front bumper. When navigating technical trails at slow speeds, these lights reveal obstacles — rocks, stumps, washouts — that might otherwise remain hidden in shadow.

The lights activate automatically in off-road drive modes or can be manually controlled via a switch in the cabin. Their integration behind the grille protects them from trail damage while maintaining a clean aesthetic.

Interior Comfort Meets Exterior Capability

The Tremor maintains the Expedition's three-row seating and premium interior features despite its enhanced off-road hardware. Second-row captain's chairs or bench seating accommodate six or eight passengers depending on configuration. Third-row seats fold flat when not needed, providing up to 121.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The Ford Digital Experience with 24-inch panoramic display continues to function regardless of how remote the destination. Google Built-in provides navigation even when cellular coverage fades, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto maintain smartphone integration. The system's ability to download maps for offline use proves valuable when exploring areas beyond reliable data coverage.

Available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving reduces fatigue during the long drives to reach Ontario's remote recreation areas. The system handles steering, braking, and acceleration on pre-mapped highways, allowing the driver to relax during the transit phase before engaging in technical off-road driving.

Climate control becomes critical when traveling from heated highway speeds to stopped technical driving. The tri-zone system allows individual temperature preferences for driver, front passenger, and rear passengers, maintaining comfort regardless of external conditions or activity level.

Who Should Choose the Expedition Tremor?

The Tremor targets a specific buyer: Ontario families who genuinely use their vehicle for recreation beyond paved roads but refuse to sacrifice daily comfort and convenience.

Ideal buyers include:

• Cottage owners whose properties lie at the end of rugged access roads requiring clearance and traction beyond standard SUVs
• Families who camp, hunt, fish, or explore Ontario's provincial parks and wilderness areas regularly
• Outdoor enthusiasts who trailer boats, ATVs, or snowmobiles to remote launch points
• Residents of rural areas where winter travel requires genuine off-road capability
• Adventurous families who prioritize experiences over pavement-bound luxury

Not ideal for:

• Urban families who occasionally visit well-maintained provincial parks with paved access
• Buyers seeking maximum fuel economy (the Tremor's capabilities incur modest fuel penalties)
• Those who rarely leave paved surfaces (the standard Expedition serves better)
• Extreme off-roaders who need maximum ground clearance and articulation (consider Bronco instead)

Ontario-Specific Advantages

The Tremor's capabilities align particularly well with Ontario's geography and climate. The province's vast northern regions offer exceptional recreation opportunities but demand vehicles capable of handling rough access roads, water crossings, and seasonal flooding.

The Canadian Shield's rocky terrain benefits from the Tremor's underbody protection and high ground clearance. Cottage roads throughout Muskoka, Haliburton, and Kawartha Lakes regions frequently include steep grades, loose gravel, and seasonal erosion — conditions where the Tremor's off-road systems provide tangible advantages.

Ontario's extended winter season spans November through April in many regions. The Tremor's all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and advanced traction control help families maintain access to remote properties throughout the season. Trail Control's ability to manage descents on icy cottage roads provides safety benefits beyond summer recreation.

Test the Capability at Trillium Ford in Alliston

The Expedition Tremor's capabilities are difficult to appreciate without experiencing them firsthand. Our team at Trillium Ford in Alliston can arrange test drives that demonstrate the vehicle's off-road systems under controlled conditions. Experience how Rock Crawl Mode changes throttle response, feel how Trail Control manages speed automatically, and understand how 10.6 inches of clearance transforms what's possible.

Contact us to schedule your test drive and discover why the Expedition Tremor represents a new category: the luxury SUV engineered for Ontario's real adventures.