Lower-level models are nice, too, with padded door trim in nicely contrasting materials that looks and feels good. The light gray and dark gray cloth on our NBX seats was decent, though the hard plastic on the passenger's side of the dash looked a little too much like hard plastic. The round, rotating vents didn't look great but they seemed to work well. Our biggest complaint with the NBX was the urethane covered steering wheel, which felt cheap and colored our impression of the cabin.

Storage space is generous. The roomy pockets in all four doors have space for a 20-ounce water bottle. The center console (that comes in most models) can hold a small laptop computer. The console has a slot to hold pens and a Palm Pilot or other PDAs. Its lid is comfortably padded, and feels nice to the touch even on NBX and XLT models where it's covered in faux leather.

Innovations abound. The available power-operated third-row seats fold flat with the press of a button. The third-row seat is split 60/40 into two seats. 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 power-down buttons are convenient. The third row disappears into the floor, leaving a perfectly flat cargo area. It is a beautiful piece of engineering to watch as the seat folds down and flaps gracefully flop into place to cover the gap between the cargo floor and hinged seats. (Then again, we don't get out much.)

The power third-row seat 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 press of the button. First, we loaded it with a day bed and other furniture for delivery to a summer cottage. After dumping that off, a pack of teenagers piled in to go to a punk rock concert. We determined the Expedition's 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 third-row headrests can be pushed down flush with the seatbacks, greatly improving rearward visibility when no one is seated back there.

With the seats folded down, the cargo floor is perfectly flat, in contrast to many SUVs, which have a slanting platform. The Expedition's flat floor, combined with the flaps that cover the gap where the seats hinge, makes 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.

The second-row bench seat splits roughly into thirds. The middle section can be moved forward 11 inches, almost abutting it to the back of the front center console. That gives front-seat parents easier 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 for the two people in back. 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 airbag canopy is designed to protect first- and second-row passengers in a side-impact crash or in a rollover. Power-adjustable pedals are available and are a great feature for shorter drivers, allowing them to sit a safer distance from the airbag-equipped steering wheel.

Some of Expedition's interior systems are programmable, and the programming is relatively easy. Tired of fighting the automatic power locks? You can turn off the auto-locking feature. You can set whether or not the seat automatically moves back when you shut off the ignition. You can decide whether you want the right mirror to automatically tilt down when reverse is selected.

The optional navigation system has a nice bright screen. It works well, but like all navigation systems, takes some time to master.