Ford Explorer vs Chevrolet Tahoe

Updated December 2021 by Savvy Dealer Inc.

In the 2020 Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe, family-style adventure is part of the territory. But which of these three-row SUVs is more your style? Our comparison guide takes a closer look at these popular American family haulers.

Moneysaving Power: 2020 Ford Explorer

If you don’t want to spend too much on fuel, you’re going to love the 2020 Explorer. Depending on how you configure yours, this midsize crossover SUV earns up to 28 mpg combined or 27 city/28 highway mpg. The Tahoe trails behind, earning only 18 mpg combined (15/22 mpg) with its most efficient powertrain.

Plush Modern Comfort: 2020 Ford Explorer

The redesigned Explorer puts a big emphasis on interior luxury, offering increased passenger and cargo space and more ride refinement. As you climb the trim levels, you’ll find high-end cabin materials and posh features like leather upholstery and heated seats.

Although the Tahoe’s higher trim models also turn up the luxury factor with options like leather upholstery, this Chevy SUV never feels quite as stylish. The Tahoe might be spacious, but the Explorer’s new redesign gives it the edge in the style department.

SUV Utility: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Tahoe is the bigger of the pair, and it’s also the more capable. Inside, you’ll find seating for up to nine passengers. Properly equipped, this SUV can tow a trailer weighing up to 8,600 pounds. If you’ve got an especially big family or an especially big boat, you might just need a Tahoe.

While the Tahoe is classified as a full-size SUV, the 2020 Ford Explorer is actually a midsize crossover SUV. It’s spacious – just not as spacious as the Tahoe, with seating for only up to seven passengers (or six, if you choose second-row captain’s chairs). The Explorer also provides plenty of towing power (if not as much as the Tahoe), towing max loads of 5,600 pounds.

Cutting-Edge Tech Lineup: 2020 Ford Explorer

When it comes to keeping your smartphone charged or giving you hands-free access to apps like maps and music, both crossovers oblige. Ford’s Sync 3 system and Chevy’s Infotainment 3 include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, technology that displays oft-used smartphone apps on these crossovers’ central touchscreens.

But the redesigned Explorer has some new tricks up its sleeves. The standard infotainment interface is an 8-inch, landscape-oriented touchscreen. In the top-trim Platinum and ST models, you’ll find an even more luxurious 10.1-inch portrait-oriented screen. The optional 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system is another nice touch.

The Tahoe might be the heftier of these two options, but the 2020 Ford Explorer transports your family with more style and greater fuel economy. Unless you need the Tahoe’s max tow ratings and extra seats, the Explorer absolutely will not disappoint, making it our first choice for family hauling.