What sounds like a truck, hauls like a truck, and even looks like a truck from certain angles, all while not being truck? If you guessed large SUVs, you are right. These massive sport utility vehicles remind us of the class's sporty and strong origins. In today's comparison, we'll take a look at two of the biggest SUVs in the business: the 2019 Ford Expedition and the Chevy Suburban. Which is bigger is one thing; which is better is what we intend to find out.
Fuel Economy: 2019 Ford Expedition
The 2019 Ford Expedition has better fuel economy than the Chevy Suburban. At first, we thought it must have something to do with weight, but the Suburban is, on average, only a couple hundreds pounds heavier than the Expedition. Then we thought it must be engines. But when we compare powerhouses, the Ford Expedition's base engine has 20 more horsepower than the engine on the Suburban. Maybe it's the aerodynamics? In any case, as if by magic, the Ford Expedition has a relatively thrifty gas mileage, getting 17 city miles and 24 highway miles per gallon. If you're new to vehicles this large, that might not sound very good. But, trust, us, this is better than average.
The 2019 Chevy Suburban gets 15 city and 22 highway mpg. You can get the better engine, but your fuel economy suffers by 1 or 2 mpg more. Furthermore, the real expense is the premium gas this engine requires, which really adds up over time.
Towing Capacity: 2019 Ford Expedition
Trucks are defined by their towing capacity. And so are large SUVs. For a few owners, just having room for your stuff and kids might be enough. But plenty of folks want the ability to hitch up an RV, boat, or set of four-wheelers. The 2019 Ford Expedition can get you there, with a towing capacity of 9,300 pounds, when properly configured. The Suburban can tow a respectable 8,300 pounds, but losing that extra thousand limits your options.
Cargo Space: 2019 Chevy Suburban
We probably don't need to tell you that the Suburban wins this category. Fitting all that and the kitchen sink is its forte. But the 2019 Ford Expedition isn't too far behind. The Expedition has room for 20.9 cubic feet of storage with the third-row seats up and 121.5 with all of the seats down. For those of you keeping track at home, that's some of the best cargo capacity in the class.
Even so, the Expedition can't hold a candle to the Chevy Suburban's truly cavernous hold. There's 121.7 cubic feet with all the seats down, 76.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and an insane 39.3 cubic feet behind the third row. That's best-in-class cargo capacity.