North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Expedition EL VS 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Near Jasper, GA

Both the Expedition and the Tahoe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, front parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Chevrolet Tahoe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Chevrolet Tahoe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Expedition’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tahoe’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Expedition has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Tahoe.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Expedition’s reliability will be 144% better than the Tahoe.

The Expedition’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 more horsepower (365 vs. 355) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (420 vs. 383) than the Tahoe’s 5.3 V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Expedition is faster than the Chevrolet Tahoe:

The Expedition has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tahoe (28 vs. 26 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Expedition has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tahoe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Expedition’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Tahoe:

The Expedition stops much shorter than the Tahoe:

For better traction, the Expedition has larger standard tires than the Tahoe (275/65R18 vs. 265/65R18).

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Expedition has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Tahoe has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Expedition has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Expedition flat and controlled during cornering. The Tahoe’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Tahoe (119 inches vs. 116 inches).

The Expedition’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.9% to 50.1%) than the Tahoe’s (51.6% to 48.4%). This gives the Expedition more stable handling and braking.

The Expedition Platinum 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Tahoe Premier 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tahoe (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Expedition Platinum 4x4 is quieter than the Tahoe Premier 4x4 (38 vs. 39 dB).

The Expedition has 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more third row headroom, 12.9 inches more third row legroom and .9 inches more third row hip room than the Tahoe.

The Expedition’s cargo area provides more volume than the Tahoe.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Expedition easier. The Expedition’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 34.8 inches, while the Tahoe’s liftover is 35.9 inches.

The Expedition’s cargo area is larger than the Tahoe’s in almost every dimension:

The Expedition has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Tahoe doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s exterior PIN entry system. The Tahoe doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Tahoe because it costs $180 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Tahoe, including $249 less for a water pump, $498 less for an alternator, $107 less for front brake pads, $18 less for a starter, $120 less for fuel injection, $342 less for a fuel pump and $23 less for a power steering pump.

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Ford Expedition, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its January 2015 issue and the Ford Expedition Platinum 4x4 won out over the Chevrolet Tahoe Premier 4x4.