These days, there are all kinds of SUVs to choose from. However, two of the most popular are the Ford Expedition and the Chevy Suburban. Both make excellent family and all-around vehicles, but which one is right for you? That all depends on what you’re looking for in an SUV. Check out the detailed comparisons below to help jumpstart the decision-making process.
Pricing
For many shoppers, price is one of the most important factors. It can sometimes seal the deal on the decision between one vehicle or the next. And, when it comes to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban wins out. It has a suggested retail value starting at $53,200, while the Expedition is more expensive at a starting value of $69,150. It’s also worth noting that the MSRP and the actual invoice cost can vary significantly based on where you buy. For best results regardless of which vehicle you choose, compare pricing from one seller to the next.
Fuel Economy
When you compare pricing, don’t just consider the amount you pay for the vehicle upfront. Also think about its long-term costs. For example, the Chevrolet Suburban tends to get better fuel economy, which can make it less expensive to own and operate. Its average city MPG, for the 2022 model, is up to 21 MPG for city driving and 27 MPG for highway driving, versus the Expedition’s average of up to 17 MPG city and 23 MPG highway. There’s no denying that’s a big difference.
Seating
Have a large family to transport? Either of these SUVs could work for you. Up to 9 passengers can sit comfortably in the Suburban. The Expedition has just a little less room for riders with a max seating capacity of 8. Consider family size, as well as how frequently you transport others, to help you decide if the extra seat is important. Keep in mind, too, that the Expedition offers less seating room at a higher price tag.
If you want to talk dimensions, the Suburban’s front seat offers 42.3 inches of headroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, 44.5 inches of legroom, and 61.5 inches of hip room. Moving to the rear, you’ll find 38.9 inches of headroom, 64.8 inches of shoulder room, 42 inches of legroom, and 61.3 inches of hip room. The front seat of the Expedition includes 42 inches of headroom, 64.9 inches of shoulder room, 43.9 inches of legroom, and 62.2 inches of hip room. The rear is made up of 40 inches of headroom, 64.8 inches of shoulder room, 41.5 inches of legroom, and 62.6 inches of hip room.
Ride Quality
Whether you choose the Suburban or the Expedition, you’re in for a smooth riding experience. The Suburban makes this possible with its rear dampers. The Expedition is known for offering smoothness and stability as well. However, some reviewers have mentioned that it’s a bit more cumbersome than the Suburban.
Cargo Space
If you need lots of room for storing your gear, the 2022 Suburban offers an impressive 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space or 144.7 cubic feet if you include the seating area. The 2022 Expedition, on the other hand, boasts only 20.9 cubic feet or 104.6 cubic feet counting the seating area. That’s a fairly big difference and may be enough to tip the scales in the Suburban’s favor, particularly if you’re prone to carting around a lot of items.
Engine Power
A larger engine can mean a more powerful SUV. If fast acceleration matters to you, the Suburban is the better choice. It comes with a 5.3 liter V8 engine. The Ford Expedition pales in comparison with only a 3.5 liter V6 engine.
Towing Capacity
While the Ford Expedition may have a smaller engine, it still manages to surpass the Chevy Suburban in terms of towing capacity. While surprising, there is no denying that the Suburban boasts a maximum towing capacity of 8,300 pounds while the Expedition exceeds that figure by a neat 1000 pounds. If you are someone who plans to tow a heavy trailer or other cargo on a regular basis, you may find that the Ford Expedition is better suited to meet your needs.
Safety Features
Few factors are more important in a vehicle’s design than its commitment to safety. Fortunately, both of these SUVs come loaded with excellent safety features. On both choices, you’ll find:
- LED headlamps
- Child seat anchors
- Front side-mounted airbags
- Dusk-sensing headlights
- Engine immobilizer
- Rear seat airbags
- Third row airbags
- Lane departure warning systems
- Pre and post-collision systems
- Stability control systems
- Traction control systems
- Emergency braking assistance
- Child safety locks
- Anti-lock braking systems
All things considered, these two SUVS are almost completely comparable in terms of safety. As a result, you can feel good about driving your family around in either one.
Entertainment
While safety is important, you still deserve to kick back and enjoy the ride. Fortunately, most modern SUVs make this possible with great entertainment systems. These two are no exception, though the Chevy Suburban does offer a bit more on the fun front. Unlike the Expedition, It comes equipped with a subwoofer. Plus, it has nine speakers, instead of the Expedition’s 6. However, both vehicles do feature USB connections, satellite radio, and stereo systems.
Common Complaints
Every vehicle isn’t right for every person. Some common buyer and reviewer complaints for the Suburban, for example, include:
- Hard-to-control interior temperatures
- Difficulty with parking
The Ford Expedition isn’t off the hook either. Some reviews mention a noisy engine and less than stellar acoustics.
What it all boils down to is what you value and need in an SUV. You don’t have to find a perfect SUV. There’s no such thing. You just have to find the one that’s the most perfect for you.
Color and Style
If you like having a lot of options, you’ll appreciate that both of these vehicles offer an abundance of color choices. The Expedition is available in nine exterior colors and four interior colors. The Chevrolet Suburban only features two interior color options, but also offers nine exterior color choices. Of course, if you can find your preferred color, that’s really all that matters.
The Suburban comes in these exterior color choices:
- Stain Steel Metallic
- Black
- Summit white
- Cherry Red Tintcoat
- Auburn metallic
- Empire Beige Metallic
- Evergreen Gray Metallic
- Midnight Blue Metallic
- Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Interior color selections include:
- Jet Black leather
- Dark Atmosphere leather
With the Expedition, your exterior color choices expand to:
- Iconic Silver Metallic
- Infinite Blue Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
- Star White Metallic Tri-Coat
- Dark Matter Metallic
- Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
- Stone Blue Metallic
- Oxford White
- Forged Green Metallic
- Agate Black Metallic
And, on the inside of the Expedition, you can pick from:
- Black Onyx in leatherette or cloth
- Sandstone in leatherette or cloth
Color shouldn’t be the main determining factor in picking a vehicle. But, if you’re stuck between these two SUVs, you can always choose the one that looks the best to you. Or, you can think about the quality of the interior material. If real leather is important to you, the Chevy Suburban is the obvious choice. Or, if you’re adverse to it, you could opt for the Expedition instead. Just make sure you take all the factors into consideration before you buy. Never make a decision on style alone.
Reliability
A new SUV is a big expense. Thus, you want to choose the most reliable vehicle available. Fortunately, J.D. Power offers reliability scores that can tell you a lot about a vehicle’s quality and its ability to last. The company gave the Chevy Suburban a score of 70 on a 100 point scale, which is considered “average.” It scored the Ford Expedition slightly higher at 75, which is still considered average. So, while the Expedition may have the upper hand according to J.D. Power, it’s only by a little bit. Plus, while these SUVs may have differing reliability scores, their overall scores are the same. Both sit at 78, another average score.
Making Your Choice
Choosing between vehicles is never easy, especially when they’re so similar. Ultimately, you’ll find that both of these options perform quite well. With that said, the Suburban does seem to have many points in its favor. For best results, though, explore each choice thoroughly. Read online reviews and take a close look at the specs that matter most to you. You may even want to take each one for a real or virtual test drive. The good news is that, whichever one you go with, you’ll end up with a quality SUV from a trusted brand.