The Ford Expedition's interior is dressed up with a metallic satin finish on such items as the rings that surround the vents and door handles. Shapes are round, and controls are hefty for an easy grip.

Storage space is generous. The roomy pockets in all four doors have space for a 20-ounce water bottle. The front center console available in some versions of the Expedition can fit a small laptop computer. The console has a slot to hold pens and a Palm Pilot or other PDAs. The lighter colors used for the upholstery give it a lighter, more car-like air.

The interior features a number of clever and useful innovations, some of them industry firsts. The Expedition, along with the Navigator, offers the industry's first power-operated third-row seat that folds flat. The third-row seat splits 60-40. Push a button on the wall of the cargo area, and one side powers down. Hold down the other button, and the other side powers down. The Honda Odyssey minivan introduced the fold-flat third-row seat, which is accomplished simply in a non high-tech fashion by pulling a couple of straps. The power-down buttons are more convenient. The disappearing third row is handy when you don't know what you will be doing or how many people you'll be carrying from one minute to the next, as there is no need to store the seat in the garage. Indeed, it is a beautiful piece of engineering to watch as the seat folds down and the flaps to cover the gap between the cargo floor and hinged seats gracefully flop into place. We experienced only one hitch on our Expedition, which was a prototype built before actual production began. One side did not power up without a hand because the headrest didn't retract fully, creating too snug a fit against the second row seatback. We assume this has been addressed in production.

When folded down, the cargo floor is perfectly flat, in contrast to some Expedition competitors who say the floor folds flat but actually slant. The flat floor combined with the flaps that cover the gap where the seats hinge make it easy to slide objects in and out. Another nice feature is the window in the liftgate that pops open so you can lift groceries out without having them tumble out of the vehicle and down a sloped driveway.

On our test drive, the Expedition's power third-row seat got a tough work out. It proved invaluable during a variety of typical weekend chores. We changed the Expedition repeatedly from a people hauler to a cargo hauler and back again with just a simple push of the button. First, we loaded it with a day bed and other furniture for delivery to our summer cottage. After dumping that off, a pack of teenagers piled in to go to a punk rock concert. The third row is comfortable enough for a couple of full-size adults. The next day we picked up a high-backed wicker chair from the furniture store.

The second row features a clever feature Ford claims is another industry first. The bench seat splits roughly into thirds. The middle section moves forward by about 11 inches, almost abutting it to the back of the front center console. That gives front-seat parents access to a small child or a child in a safety seat. The small center seatback can also be folded down and used as a work surface. The two outboard second-row seats fold easily forward for access to the third-row seat.

The Expedition can be outfitted with enough safety equipment to create a cocoon inside in case of an accident. Dual-stage front airbags are standard. An optional side airbag canopy is designed to protect first- and second-row passengers in a side-impact crash or in a rollover. The Eddie Bauer model we drove came standard with power-adjustable pedals, a feature we short women greatly appreciate to keep us a safe distance from the airbag.

New for 2003 is Brake Assist, designed to recognize a panic-braking situation and to maintain full braking force even if the driver mistakenly relaxes pressure on the brake pedal. Also available on the Expedition is AdvanceTrac ($795), Ford's electronic stability enhancement system, which monitors traction at all wheels and automatically maintains stability while cornering on slippery surfaces. Tire pressure monitors ($150) are also available. Bumper beams are designed to prevent smaller cars from sliding beneath its frame in an accident.