Compare the2025 Chevrolet SuburbanVS 2025 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

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 rated the Suburban second among large suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition Max isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 65 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

The Suburban’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

The Suburban’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 480) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

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.

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

The Suburban stops shorter than the Expedition Max:

The Suburban’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Expedition Max’s standard 70 series tires.

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.

The Suburban RST/Z71/High Country has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Suburban’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Suburban’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Expedition Max (134.1 inches vs. 131.5 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Suburban’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Expedition Max’s (41.5 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 .5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more third row headroom and .2 inches more third row legroom than the Expedition Max.

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

The Suburban’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Expedition Max’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Suburban Premier/High Country’s available liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Suburban’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (7500 vs. 6000 pounds).

The Suburban (except LS) 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 rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The Suburban’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Expedition Max only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

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 with available tilt-down mirrors 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’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Suburban owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Suburban will cost $680 to $1775 less than the Expedition Max over a five-year period.