The Chevrolet Suburban drives more like a truck but gives you the control and cargo space of an SUV. The Expedition lives up to the Ford name and can be as rugged as your lifestyle. Picking between them can be hard, but differences in space, power, and more can help make your decision.
Price
Let’s talk about how much you’re going to have to pay for these two monster SUVs. After all, you’re probably on a budget and price could be a huge determining factor. Keep in mind that both of these SUVs are pretty big, so they’ll be on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Of the two SUVs, the Ford Expedition is cheaper, but not by much. Ford lists the starting MSRP of the Expedition XLT as $46,225. On Chevrolet’s website, the Suburban LS has a starting MSRP of $51,110. The difference of $4,885 may seem stark at first, but only raises a 60-month car loan by $81.42/month before taxes and other charges.
Towing and Cargo
No one buys an SUV this large without considering the towing capabilities. In this case, Ford Expedition is the clear winner—although that’s hardly a surprise. Ford has some of the best towing capabilities for their trucks, and it translates into the full-sized SUV as well. The Expedition can tow a maximum of 9,200 pounds while properly equipped whereas the Suburban has a maximum towing of 8,300 pounds.
Without a trailer, how much can you haul? You need enough cargo space to store everything you’re carrying, and this is where the Suburban beats out the Expedition. With all the seats down, you have a cargo space of 121.1 cubic feet. The Expedition only has 108.3 cubic feet with the seats down.
Features
Over the last few years, Ford has increased the features in their vehicles substantially to include Bluetooth capabilities and everything else customers want in their cars. The 2017 Expedition includes Sync technology, a Sony entertainment system, and several optional safety systems that can keep you and your family safe. We still wish more features came standard in the Ford, but towing capacity could make up for where tech is lacking.
Chevrolet excels in providing plenty of features for the standard price. Not only does the Suburban come with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, but it also has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rear park assist, and excellent standard safety features. The Suburban can signal you when a passenger hasn’t buckled up and has a complete OnStar safety system.
Fuel Economy
No one likes filling up the tank of a full-size SUV like the Suburban or the Expedition. It costs quite a bit, especially when compared to a typical sedan. Between the two, the Chevrolet Suburban has better fuel economy, but not by much. It achieves 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, while the Ford Expedition gets 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Overall, it’s pretty comparable, but it could make a difference after years of ownership.
