North Georgia Ford Compares 2019 Ford Expedition Max VS 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Near Chatsworth, GA

The Expedition (except XLT) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Tahoe only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Expedition’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tahoe doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Expedition and the Tahoe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 engines in the Expedition have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Tahoe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Expedition first among large SUVs in their 2018 Initial Quality Study. The Tahoe was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 6th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 5 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (375 vs. 355) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 383) than the Tahoe’s standard 5.3 V8. The Expedition’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 460) than the Tahoe’s optional 6.2 V8. The Expedition Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 460) than the Tahoe’s optional 6.2 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (base engine) is faster than the Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3 V8:

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition gets better fuel mileage than the Tahoe:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Expedition’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Tahoe doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 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.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Tahoe doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the Tahoe (122.5 inches vs. 116 inches).

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Tahoe LT 4x4 pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tahoe Premier 4x4 (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tahoe (9.8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Expedition has 1.4 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 11.3 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and 1.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Tahoe.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Tahoe’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

If the windows are left open on the Expedition the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Tahoe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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.

The Expedition (except XLT)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Tahoe doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 $313 less for a water pump, $619 less for a muffler, $38 less for front brake pads, $98 less for a starter, $216 less for fuel injection, $271 less for a fuel pump, $14 less for front struts and $501 less for a timing belt/chain.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2018 issue and they ranked the Ford Expedition XLT 4x4 first. They ranked the Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4x4 third.