Kearney Trucks: 2017 Chevy Tahoe vs. Ford Expedition
The best full-size SUV for Nebraska drivers.
There’s so much to love about an SUV. The space. The security. The power.
And when it comes to an excellent full-size SUV for you and the crew, Chevy and Ford stand apart from the rest. The Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition have battled for the top spot in this field for years. The two are more similar than different – Large and in charge, both are three-row, truck-based Nebraska SUVs with comparable pricing and seats for eight.
So which full-size SUV is best for families and best for your budget? Here’s the head-to-head comparison: the 2017 Chevy Tahoe vs. Ford Expedition.
Fuel Economy & Price
Fuel Economy
First point goes to Chevy. Whether you want a little more efficiency to help out the planet, or you’re just looking for the best choice for your monthly budget, the Tahoe has the better ratings.
The 2017 Tahoe gets 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for a rear-drive version, while four-wheel-drive will drop highway to just 22 mpg.
The Expedition is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway for RWD, with 20 highway for 4WD.
Price
Again, these two are close in terms of MSRP. Entry-level costs start within a her: $47,125 for the Expedition XLT and $47,215 for the Tahoe LS. A mere $100 difference isn’t enough to sway this match up.
Meanwhile, both vehicles feature the same engine in all trim levels and are similarly equipped in the base models and at the top end.
Upgrading from the basic Ford Expedition, you have the Limited ($56,045), King Ranch ($60,615), and Platinum ($64,205). The Tahoe pushes up to the LT ($52,345) or Premier ($62,030).
Performance & Technology
If performance was just about horsepower, the Expedition’s 365 might outdo the Tahoe’s 355.
Unfortunately for Ford, there’s more to it than that. Powered by a 5.3-liter V8 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, Chevy’s SUV is smooth and quiet while packing the power you need. The Expedition doesn’t accelerate as well, and the transmission doesn’t always shift very smoothly with a full load.
The Tahoe earned a higher reliability rating from J.D. Power, and both SUVs come with 3 yr/36,000 mi basic warranties and 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain warranties.
Both full-size SUVs are rocking the must-have interior tech features: satellite radio, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, and an infotainment system.
But the Tahoe outpaces the Expedition, offering tri-zone automatic climate control, remote start, a 110-volt power outlet, an 8-inch touch screen, Wi-Fi hot spot with 4G LTE, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay – all standard. Options include push-button start, a proximity key, and wireless phone charging.
The Expedition has the Ford MyKey system, which sets limits for teen drivers.
Cute.
Interior
Both Expedition and Tahoe offer the option to trade the second row for two captain’s chairs, dropping seating capacity from eight to seven. But the Tahoe can also go from eight to nine with a front bench, depending on what you need.
Both cabins are spacious, with overlapping interior upgrade options like leather upholstery and ventilated first-row seats. But the Tahoe takes the lead on overall interior quality. Both are good, but when it’s Expedition vs. Tahoe, Chevy’s is a noticeably nicer cabin.
Shop Our Chevy Tahoe Nebraska Inventory
And the winner, in our opinion, is the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe.
Better fuel economy will take care of the extra $100 of the base models in the first few months you drive it. Beyond that, the Tahoe’s superior offerings on the interior, on technology features, and overall performance make this the best choice for a family that needs to get where they are headed, and make it there in a space they’ll be happy to share.
