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Winters in the Northland are no joke. From lake-effect snow and icy roads to sub-zero temperatures, drivers need vehicles that can handle whatever winter throws their way. Choosing the right vehicle isn’t just about comfort. It’s about confidence, safety, and reliability when conditions are at their worst. At Benna Ford, we know what it takes to drive through a Northland winter, which is why we’ve put together a list of the best Ford winter vehicles that are especially well-suited for snowy roads and cold mornings. Starting things off with our pick for best overall - the winter ready Ford Bronco. When it comes to handling the unpredictable conditions of a Northland winter, the Ford Bronco stands out as an exceptional all-around choice. The Bronco delivers rugged capability for winter driving. It comes standard with a robust 4×4 system and multiple terrain drive modes. Its high ground clearance means you’re less likely to get stuck in deep snow, and features like off-road traction control give you better grip when traction is scarce. The Bronco handles Superior’s winter streets with ease. It also delivers the confidence you need for trails and towing when temperatures drop. Best winter SUV for daily driving - Ford Bronco Sport. For drivers who want winter confidence in a more compact and efficient package, the Ford Bronco Sport is an excellent choice for Northland conditions. The Bronco Sport uses standard 4x4 capability to handle snow-covered roads and icy winter commutes with ease. Its Terrain Management System, including a Slippery drive mode, helps optimize traction when road conditions change quickly - something us Northland drivers know all too well. With a higher ride height than many compact SUVs and available features like heated seats and remote start, the Bronco Sport offers the right balance of capability, comfort, and everyday practicality for Minnesota and Wisconsin winters. Best winter SUV for families - Ford Explorer. The Ford Explorer delivers confident traction with available Intelligent 4WD and selectable drive modes. The Explorer offers a roomy interior and generous cargo space. It easily hauls winter gear for cabins, sleds, and family outings. Add features like heated seats and advanced safety tech, and the Explorer becomes an excellent choice for Northland drivers who want all-season versatility with strong winter performance. Best winter SUV for towing and heavy gear - Ford Expedition. For families who need to tow serious winter gear, their best choice is the Ford Expedition. With available Intelligent 4WD, robust ground clearance, and a Terrain Management System built to confidently handle snowy roads and slippery conditions, the Expedition delivers strength where you need it most. Its expansive interior and impressive towing capacity make it ideal for hauling trailers, snowmobiles, boats, or all the winter sporting equipment you require. Whether you’re heading up north for a holiday getaway or navigating packed highways with a full load of passengers, the Expedition combines comfort and confidence for winter driving. Best winter truck for tough jobs - the legendary Ford F-150. When you need work‑ready performance in all seasons, the Ford F‑150 earns its place as the best winter truck for towing, hauling, and tough jobs. With available 4×4 systems, selectable drive modes for slippery conditions, and exceptional ground clearance, the F‑150 is built to power through snow‑covered roads, icy backroads, and steep rural terrain. Its legendary towing and payload capacity make it ideal for hauling trailers, boats, snowmobiles, or heavy equipment. Whether you’re a contractor heading to a job site, a weekend adventurer with a trailer in tow, or just want a truck that feels confident on every winter road, the F‑150 pairs capability and reliability when the weather turns cold. Best winter SUV for town driving - Ford Escape. Want a compact and efficient SUV that doesn’t back down from winter roads? The Ford Escape is an excellent choice - available with all‑wheel drive to help maintain traction on slick streets and light snow. Its nimble size makes it easy to park and maneuver in snow‑packed lots, and features like available heated seats and remote start add welcome comfort on frigid mornings. With strong fuel economy and a smooth driving experience, the Escape is a smart and practical pick for drivers who need dependable winter performance without the bulk of a larger SUV. No matter what your winter driving needs are, Ford offers a vehicle built to handle the Northland's toughest conditions. From the rugged capability of the Bronco to the everyday practicality of the Escape, each of these models delivers confidence, comfort, and safety when the snow starts to fall. At Benna Ford in Superior, WI, we’re here to help you find the best Ford winter vehicles for your lifestyle and all the winters ahead - so you can drive with peace of mind no matter what the season brings. Sources: https://www.ford.com/, https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/

The Ford Expedition and Expedition Max will arrive with several innovative features. Amidst the high-mounted 24-inch panoramic display, flex power console, and off-road-ready Tremor model, it may be easy to overlook the split tailgate. After all, your grandfather may remember when station wagons had dropping rear tailgates with lift-up windows. First introduced for the redesigned Lincoln Navigator, Ford brought back this old feature with plenty of new tricks, and Benna Ford is happy to tell you about them. To start, anyone who has packed his or her SUV cargo area to the gills will appreciate that if you found one or two more items to place on top, you can just open the window section while the lower tailgate stays closed to keep everything in place. Once lowered, the tailgate is rated to hold 500 pounds. Not only does that help you slide in something weighty, but it can also act as a bench for two sizable adults, much like that on the rear of a pickup. Making tailgate sitting better than that of a pickup is the versatile cargo manager that can slide in vertically to become a seatback. Not only do you have a place to sit, but you can do it comfortably. The cargo manager can also be placed horizontally to provide two-tiered loading so items below won’t bear the weight of the items above. This can also act as a cover to hide items when the vehicle is locked up. If that wasn’t versatile enough, the cargo manager also has extendable legs to stand over the tailgate at an excellent height to serve as a workspace or a serving table during tailgate parties. To further enhance your work or play, there are multiple outlets on the cargo area walls for lights, tools, and other devices. When the activities extend past sundown, the Expedition is available with multi-zone lighting. This provides light all around the vehicle, making it perfect for when you arrive at your camping location a bit later than planned. Such features cause the Expedition to be more than just a big three-row SUV that can comfortably carry up to eight people. “For Expedition customers, family is at the center of everything they do,” said Trevor Scott, General Manager of Ford Utilities. “We spent more than 1,100 hours talking with customers about their everyday lives. And with those insights we’ve rethought and redesigned Expedition to help customers make the most of their precious time with family and to make life easier – before, during and after every trip they make.” There is much to see on the Expedition when it arrives in the spring of 2025. You can be among the first to see these features by having one of our Benna Ford sales professionals notify you when the first 2025 models arrive.

Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs offer used car shoppers a welcome bridge between the lower cost of used cars and the product confidence in a new car. An extensive inspection program backed up by a manufacturer’s warranty is common among these programs. The manufacturer operates most CPO programs, and much of the actual legwork is done at the dealer level.  Outside the inspection and warranty, the programs vary by what other benefits they offer, which vehicles qualify as CPO vehicles, and other program details. Which CPO models have the greatest value is something that automotive industry data and analysis firm Vincentric has taken it upon themselves to discover. Benna Ford is proud to inform you that they like Ford’s CPO program and CPO models very much. Vincentric is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm that has made a name for itself in measuring vehicle cost of ownership using eight factors: depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs.  They have been judging the value of CPO programs and vehicles for 12 years.  For 2024, they voted on Ford Company as having the brand award for the Best CPO Value in America in the Truck and Van categories.  Individual Ford models earned Vincentric CPO awards in six additional categories.  It is also worth noting that in all cases, the brand and its models have earned this award multiple times.  Here is the complete list of Ford’s Vincentric Best CPO awards: Ford – Best CPO Value in America: Truck Brand category (fifth time, second consecutive) Ford – Best CPO Value in America: Van Brand category (ninth consecutive) Ford Maverick ® Hybrid – Best CPO Value in America: Small/Mid-Size Pickup segment (second consecutive) Ford F-150® Lightning ® – Best CPO Value in America: Full-Size 1/2-Ton Pickup segment (ninth time for F-150) Ford Super Duty ® F-250 ® – Best CPO Value in America: Full-Size 3/4-Ton Pickup segment (second time) Ford Super Duty ® F-350 ® – Best CPO Value in America: Full-Size 1-Ton Pickup segment (third time) Ford E-Transit™ 350 – Best CPO Value in America: Large Cargo Van segment (seventh time for Transit) Ford Expedition ® – Best CPO Value in America: Large SUV segment (fifth time, third consecutive) "Vehicle cost of ownership is important to our customers,” said Jim Baumbick, Vice President, Ford Product Development Operations and Quality. “Earning Vincentric’s CPO Value Awards for our trucks, vans, and SUVs is a testament to our engineers and their dedication to designing durable, cost-effective vehicles that help minimize operating costs to help hold their value over time.” Ford’s dominance in these awards shouldn’t be surprising, as these are all areas where Ford excels. Ford has been America’s best-selling truck manufacturer and the best-seller in commercial vans and commercial vehicles for 39 consecutive years. New or used, private or commercial, you can’t go wrong with a Ford truck or van, and you will find them at Benna Ford.

The idea behind the Ford Expedition is fairly simple: Take the full-size truck platform from the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup truck and put a 3-row SUV body on it. The result makes the Expedition perfect for active moderate-to-large families who love the outdoors, take long trips, and/or tow a trailer but like to have their cargo securely inside. That kind of utility may be what turns people toward a full-size SUV like the Expedition, but Ford has increasingly filled its big ute with cool kit to seal the deal. Benna Ford presents five of what we find to be the model line’s most remarkable features. Big Eyes-up Screen Heads-up displays have grown in popularity and availability over the last few years, but Ford has a better idea for those who find them easily washed out on a bright day or too distracting at night. On top of the Expedition dash, Ford has placed a long, low 24-inch LED screen at the windshield base, which the driver views over the steering wheel. Thus, it provides information just below your direct line of sight as you view the road ahead, but it is much more precise and configurable. The screen will display essential driving information like speed, fuel status, and driver assist technology info, as well as now-playing information from the audio system and even present the navigation map, even if from your integrated smartphone. The HUD is placed intentionally too far away to be a touch screen, with the center touchscreen containing the controls to configure it. It also responds to the steering-wheel-mounted controls. For example, if you hover your thumb over the steering wheel’s driver assist controls, the system‘s status display will appear on the screen. Accessible Blue Cruising BlueCruise is a true hands-free driving system. It works on divided highways that have been previously mapped out by Ford, with the information downloaded to your Ford vehicle. On the Expedition, you know you are on a mapped highway by a blue light that activates on the above-mentioned upper screen. With your desired speed set, you can now take your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedal and let the Expedition do the highway driving for you. Coming up to a slower vehicle? Just activate the turning signal, and BlueCruise will smoothly operate a lane change to pass the vehicle and return to the previous lane. What makes BlueCruise unique is its accessibility. Active, Platinum, King Ranch, and Tremor trim levels are all BlueCruise-compatible. It is standard on some and has a 90-day trial on others. If you travel long distances regularly, you can opt to get BlueCruise annually. However, let’s say you only travel far for summer vacations and to visit family for the holidays. You can arrange to activate the system for one month at a time and pay accordingly. That makes this great technology more practical and affordable for many more drivers. Off-Road Capability For 2025, there is an Expedition Tremor for the first time. While a vehicle the Expedition’s size may not seem like the go-to vehicle for rock crawling, the Tremor will undoubtedly enable the Expedition to go deeper off-road, perhaps to a favorite fishing location or staging ground for the toys on the trailer you are towing. The Tremor has Ford’s 440-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 under the hood and an electronic locking differential. It rides on 33-inch all-terrain tires, and the chassis features a modified suspension with Premium Passive Shocks and can claim 10.6 inches of ground clearance. Skid plates for the engine and transmission, off-road auxiliary grille lights, and other specific off-road modifications and technologies can be found on this special Expedition trim level. Interior and Exterior Versatility The Expedition is designed to be accommodating and convenient. For instance, the third-row seatbacks have a 40/20/60 split. You can lower the center “20” section and carry long things up through the seats while still seating two on each side of the third row. If just one person is back there, you can lower the seat on the other side and leave 60% of the third row open for cargo expansion. The Flex Powered Console can slide rearward to be accessible by second-row passengers. For anyone disappointed that their insulated travel cup was too large for the cupholder, the second-row doors have deep insets to accommodate whatever you have. When camping, the Expedition proves helpful even after you’ve arrived at your destination. Available outdoor zone lighting surrounds the vehicle with light to make unpacking more convenient. Also, the Wi-Fi system can accommodate up to 10 devices, so you can cover not only everyone you brought with you but also the people you are camping with. A Tailgate for Tailgating The Expedition has a two-piece tailgate. This allows the lower section to swing down to become a 500-lb. capacity seat for tailgating, and a panel can be lifted up to become a seatback for the tailgate’s occupants. That panel can also sprout legs and turn the tailgate into a two-tiered shelf for serving food, housing an outdoor audio system, or whatever you can imagine. So, while the Expedition is inherently useful just as a big SUV, it becomes more valuable in many unexpected ways the closer you look. Pay a visit to Benna Ford and see the many ways the Expedition can work for you.

When it comes to full-size SUVs, the biggest players in every sense of the word are the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban. Both of these vehicles offer the promise of seemingly limitless capability. They can carry large quantities of family and friends and their stuff, tow big toys, and, with available 4WD, plow through snow-covered and unpaved roads without a care in the world. Benna Ford compares these two big boys. Size Starting with these model’s obvious attributes, the Suburban is clearly much larger. Fifteen inches shorter, the Expedition is actually closer to the Chevrolet Tahoe in size, while the stretched Expedition MAX approaches the Suburban’s length, though it is still 3.8 inches shorter. The Suburban’s size means that it will not fit into many single-family home garages. The Expedition XL is a five-seater, but all other trims have a third row to seat eight. Most Suburbans also seat eight, though there is a seldom-ordered option to replace the front bucket seats with a bench for a total seating capacity of nine. While the Expedition MAX closes the gap, the Suburban still has greater cargo space: Cargo Space (cubic feet) Behind: 3rd row 2nd row 1st row Expedition 19.3 53.6 104.6 Expedition MAX 34.3 79.6 121.5 Suburban 41.5 93.8 144.7 The difference is diminished when it comes to passenger space. The Expedition and the MAX have the same passenger space, and when comparing legroom against the Suburban, both 2nd-row and 3rd-row legroom differs by about half an inch. Drivetrains The Expedition counters with more modern engines. The Suburban offers 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 engines as well as a V6 Duramax Turbodiesel. Generally, each Suburban trim offers two of the three engine choices. All Expeditions are powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 in three available states of tune, which are determined by the trim level. V8 power may seem as American as apple pie, but the turbocharged V6s are the stars in this group. Expedition 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 Horsepower Torque (lb-ft) XL, XLT, STX 380 @ 5,000 470 @ 2,250 Limited, King Ranch, Platinum 400 @ 5,000 480 @ 2,250 Limited Stealth Performance, Timberline 440 @ 5,000 510 @ 2,250 Suburban 5.3L V8 355 @ 5600 383 @ 4100 6.2L V8 420 @ 5600 460 @ 4100 3.0 Turbo Diesel V6 277 @ 3750 460 @1500 As seen above, the base engine of the Expedition has significantly more horsepower than the base Suburban engine. Its torque is greater than all available Suburban engines, including the diesel. Higher-tune Expedition engines increase the torque differences. At the same time, the Expedition provides greater fuel economy than both Suburban V8 engines. As the Superior, WI area is very much 4x4 country, the 4X4 figures are shown: Expedition 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 EPA city/hwy/comb. mpg XL, XLT, STX (4x4) 16 / 22 / 18 Limited, King Ranch, Platinum (4x4) 16 / 22 / 18 Limited Stealth Performance, Timberline (4x4) 16 / 19 / 17 Suburban 5.3L V8 (4x4) 15 / 18 / 16 6.2L V8 (4x4) 14 / 18 / 16 3.0L Turbodiesel V6 (4x4) 20 / 26 / 22 The Suburban’s diesel engine has the best mileage of all, though this is somewhat mitigated by the higher price of diesel fuel. The greater torque of the Expedition engines contributes to greater towing capacity. Again, focusing on 4X4 models, the Expedition has a maximum towing capacity of 9,200 lbs., dropping to 9,000 lbs. for the MAX model. By contrast, the maximum towing capacity for a 4x4 Suburban is 8,000 lbs. with the 5.3L V8, 7,900 lbs. with the 6.2L V8, and 7,800 lbs. with the diesel engine. Interior and Technology Both models range from basic accommodations with cloth seats to absolute indulgence bathed in soft leather. For the Suburban, which starts at $64,195 with 4WD, basic accommodations include an 8-inch infotainment screen bumping up to 10-inch for the rest of the model line, analog gauges with a 4.2-inch information screen, a 6-speaker audio system, 10-way power front seats, and tri-zone climate control. The Expedition starts at $57,660 for an XL STX with 4WD, though that only includes seating for five. The 8-passenger XLT with 4WD starts at $62,635, and the MAX version starts at $65,695. All three come standard with a 12-inch center screen, beating the largest on the Suburban. Also standard are 8-way power front seats, tri-zone climate control on XLT, analog gauges with an 8-inch information screen, and power-folding 3rd-row seats. A very large 15.5-inch center screen that can be seen throughout the cabin is an option on upper trim levels. At the top of each model line, along with soft leather, panoramic roofs, and 360-degree camera systems, the Suburban High Country offers a 10-speaker Bose ® Surround Sound audio system. Still, the Expedition outclasses it with a standard 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system on King Rang and Platinum models. Safety and Driver Assistance The Suburban and Expedition both carry standard automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and automatic high beams. The Expedition also has a standard blind-spot monitor, which you can use on vehicles of this size. The Expedition has an Overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA, including 5-star ratings for all impact tests. The Suburban has a 4-star overall rating, scoring less on frontal crash and rollover tests.  At the top of the model range, both models offer a hands-free highway driving system based on pre-mapped roads. For North America, GM claims over 400,000 highway miles for its Super Cruise, while Ford’s Blue Cruise claims coverage of 97% percent of controlled access highways. Either will probably be suitable for your long trips. Super Cruise does have automatic lane change, which Blue Cruise lacks. Expedition is a Winner Both models have their strengths. The Suburban is bigger, but the Expedition really stands out with better powertrains, gas efficiency, greater towing capacity, big touchscreens, and better safety scores. Take a closer look at the Expedition and Expedition MAX at Benna Ford in Superior, Wisconsin.

The transition to the new year is a popular time for automotive awards. On January 4th, esteemed automotive publisher and website, Kelly Blue Book ( KBB), weighed in with their prestigious annual Best Buy Awards. KBB divides the industry offering into 14 categories, and the good news for Benna Ford is that Ford models won four of them. That is more wins than any other manufacturer. Ford’s strength in the truck market was evident as three winners were pickup trucks, and one was a truck-based, full-size SUV. How KBB Determines Their Winners Best Buy candidates comprise all-new, redesigned, and otherwise significantly changed vehicles. Throughout the year, KBB thoroughly tests each candidate. “ We’re looking for overall appeal, of course, with important factors like comfort, convenience, technology, and driving refinement factoring into our final judgment.” The most trusted resource in used vehicle values, KBB combines these findings with their proprietary resale and 5-year Cost-to-Own data estimates. KBB further describes its testing program: “The previous year’s category winner is tested side by side against the crop of the latest challengers. We evaluate seating comfort, ease of entry and exit, luggage space, amenities, and infotainment systems. In addition, we look closely at build quality, cabin materials, pricing against the competition, and expected resale value and operating costs. We also get behind the wheel and test drive the vehicles over a series of loops involving everyday traffic and road conditions to experience the cars as an owner would. A manufacturer’s reputation for quality, reliability, durability, and various warranties, including bumper-to-bumper and powertrain, also factor into our decision.” After their extensive evaluation and testing program, KBB awards one new best model and 13 “Best in Class” segment winners. Here are the four Ford category winners and what KBB had to say about them: Best Full-Size SUV 2024 Ford Expedition - The 2024 Ford Expedition combines incredible capability with refinement, comfort, and useful tech. Highlights: Up to 440 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque 9,300-pound towing capacity Intuitive infotainment and towing tech Excellent safety suite comes standard Roomy and comfortable in every row Pricing starts at $55,525 (plus $1,895 destination) Best Compact Truck 2024 Ford Maverick - The 2024 Ford Maverick is everything you want in a compact pickup truck. It can carry 1,500 pounds of payload, tow up to 4,000 pounds, is fuel-efficient, and is easy to maneuver and park around town. Highlights: Optional hybrid powertrain with exceptional fuel economy Swift acceleration from the turbocharged engine Tremor package allows for off-road fun 4,000-pound max towing/1,500-pound max payload Priced from $23,400 (plus $1,595 destination) Best Full-size Truck 2024 Ford F-150 - Whether you need a basic work truck, a luxurious people mover, a capable off-roader, or something in between, there’s a Ford F-150 for the job. The 2024 Ford F-150 is loaded with technology that helps when towing or off-roading, too. Highlights: Best-in-class payload and towing Available BlueCruise hands-free driving Outstanding luxury and off-road trims Priced from $36,570 (plus $1,995 destination) Best Electric Truck 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning - The Ford F-150 Lightning, the all-electric version of the Ford F-Series, is a great buy for its reasonable pricing, impressive range, and advanced tech features. Highlights: Up to 320 miles of range Quick acceleration Advanced tech features Pricing starts at $49,995 (plus $1,995 destination) You always knew that Ford builds quality trucks. We did, too! But it is always nice to have third-party validation from the experts. Come to Benna Ford and look at what Kelly Blue Book considers the best buys in the truck market.

The future is now and getting better with each day. Semi-autonomous vehicles are becoming more readily available on the car market, and Ford has one of the best and most advanced systems in BlueCruise. What Is BlueCruise? BlueCruise is considered an Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) and has currently traveled more than 100 million hands-free miles in the hands of customers, which also equates to customers experiencing over 1.4 million hours of driving time. When BlueCruise debuted in 2022, it was specifically featured on all-electric Ford vehicles and now is featured on over 250,000 cars on the road. For 2024 though, BlueCruise is being expanded to 500,000 to both gas and electric-powered Ford and Lincoln models in North America, as are subscription plans. What Vehicles Have BlueCruise? Ford and Lincoln vehicles that are equipped with BlueCruise from the factory have all-new subscription models. If you choose not to purchase the advanced hands-free driver technology when you order or buy your car, you will get a complimentary 90-day trial. After the trial period ends, you will be able to activate it at any time. And you will be able to pay either monthly, or annually. For 2024 the Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150, and Expedition will be available with BlueCruise, as well as the 2024 Lincoln Navigator, Nautilus, and select Corsair trim levels. How Much Does It Cost? If you choose to get BlueCruise from the moment you purchase your car, you will access the semi-autonomous tech for three years, and it can be rolled into the overall financing of your new vehicle. If you choose to get BlueCruise when you purchase your new car, you will access the semi-autonomous tech for three years in Ford vehicles and four years in Lincoln models. Activation is $2,100 if you choose to pay when buying your car, or $800 annually, or $75 per month. “BlueCruise is an experience-it-to-believe-it technology, and people are amazed at how BlueCruise can help make driving less stressful and more enjoyable – especially in traffic or on long drives,” said Ashley Lambrix, Head of Commercial Acceleration – Ford Model e. “We believe in this technology and how it can help transform the highway driving experience and want to give more customers the opportunity to try it and provide flexibility for them to activate it when they want to use it.” At Benna Ford, we are proud to offer Ford vehicles with BlueCruise, and we are able to order your new 2024 car or truck with advanced driver-assist technology. Our wonderful sales team will be happy to work with you to get the best price for your next vehicle. And our talented service department will work tirelessly to ensure your car stays in the best possible condition.