Compare the2023 Chevrolet SuburbanVS 2023 Ford Expedition Max

The Suburban (except LS with front bench seat) has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Suburban and the Expedition Max 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 Chevrolet Suburban is safer than the Ford Expedition Max:

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 Chevrolet Suburban is safer than the Ford Expedition Max:

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

The Suburban’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Expedition Max’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Suburban gets better mileage than the Expedition Max:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Suburban V8’s fuel efficiency. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Suburban stops shorter than the Expedition Max:

The Suburban has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Suburban’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Expedition Max (134.1 inches vs. 131.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Suburban is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Expedition Max.

For better maneuverability, the Suburban’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Expedition Max’s (42.3 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Suburban Z71 Air Ride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Expedition Max (10 vs. 9.7 inches), allowing the Suburban to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Suburban offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Expedition Max can only carry 8.

The Suburban has .3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more third row headroom and .6 inches more third row legroom than the Expedition Max.

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

The Suburban’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (7600 vs. 6000 pounds).

The Suburban (except LS/LT/RST/Z71) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Suburban’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Expedition Max’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The Suburban’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Suburban’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Expedition Max’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

When the Suburban LT/RST/Z71/Premier/High Country is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Expedition Max’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Suburban Premier/High Country’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max (except XLT)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the Suburban owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Suburban will cost $230 to $1320 less than the Expedition Max over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Suburban will be $2054 to $2745 less than for the Ford Expedition Max.