Chevrolet Suburban vs Ford Expedition
Full-size SUVs · head to head, 2010–2027
The Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Suburban's own years, its best bet is 2020; years to avoid: 2021; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024. Among the Expedition's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2019–2020; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024.
Chevrolet Suburban
Full-size SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2020
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid 2021
- Be careful 2022–2023, 2025
Ford Expedition
Full-size SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid 2019–2020
- Be careful 2018, 2021, 2025
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Suburban year says nothing about whether it beats a Expedition. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Chevrolet Suburban | Ford Expedition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | CAREFULSerious complaints 0.9× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and power train | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.6× usual, mostly engine and power train | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2020 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.5× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.0× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2017 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2016 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2015 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2014 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2013 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2012 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2011 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2010 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2027: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2027 Chevrolet Suburban | 2027 Ford Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $58,300 to $86,670 base price by trim, 8 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | — | — |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | — | — |
| Seats | — | 5–8 |
| Third row | — | Yes |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | — | — |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | — · — | — · — |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2027 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Suburban LS first listed | Suburban High Country last listed | Expedition XL lowest price, $58,300 | Expedition King Ranch highest price, $86,670 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | Optional | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2027 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2027 page (Suburban, Expedition).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Chevrolet Suburban
23 manufacturer programs on file: 5 extended coverage, 18 repair programs.
- Extended coverage The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. This special coverage covers if an engine failure occurs in the vehicle as a result… (N252494003, 2021–2024 models)
- Extended coverage The transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve. Dealers are to install a new control valve body. (N242454441, 2020–2022 models)
- Extended coverage A condition that could cause the cylinder 2 glow plug to fail. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 15 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was… (N262552620, 2021 models)
- Extended coverage Certain vehicles listed above may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve. Special Coverage. (N252536751, 2022 models)
Ford Expedition
7 manufacturer programs on file: 1 extended coverage, 6 repair programs.
- Extended coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or… (21N03, 2018–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2023: the Expedition is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.6× usual), while the Suburban is rated careful (serious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2020: the Suburban is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.8× usual), while the Expedition is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly power train and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2019: the Suburban is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.8× usual), while the Expedition is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.5× usual, mostly power train and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Suburban 2021; Expedition 2019–2020.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Suburban 2024; Expedition 2024.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.