As an informed automotive consumer, you know what you want regarding power, how a vehicle handles in various conditions, and which delivers the best in fuel economy. You are brand enthusiasts who enjoy learning about the new features in the newest models that are currently on the market. You may not yet know who will win the big debate—the 2019 Chevy Tahoe vs 2019 Ford Expedition. So, settle in and get ready to find out what makes these SUVs special and which one wins the debate and turns out to be the winner.
Brand Reliability
According to a 2018 survey of vehicle owners by J.D. Power and Associates, consumers consider Chevrolet vehicles to have a higher brand reliability level than Ford vehicles. The consumers surveyed were owners of vehicle models that were three years old. The Chevrolet brand received the 6th place ranking for reliability from J.D. Power and Associates. That ranking is very good and far above the industry ranking. The Ford brand has received a 16th place ranking since there was an average of 28 more problems for each 100 Ford vehicles. With this in mind, the 2019 Chevy Tahoe seems to be starting off as a better contender than the 2019 Ford Expedition.
Passenger and Cargo Space
Many people who are interested in buying an SUV, want to have the freedom to transport more passengers and cargo as necessary. When you drive the Tahoe, you have the option to seat up to nine passengers. The Expedition was only designed to seat up to eight people. You and your passengers will be more comfortable traveling in the Tahoe since there is slightly more space than in the Expedition. There is 0.8 inches more headroom for the driver and front passenger. You and your front passenger will also enjoy 1.4 inches more leg room. Your rear passengers will be less cramped with the extra 0.3 inches more rear shoulder room and 0.8 inches more headroom in that third-row seating.
The Tahoe offers 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. When that row is folded down, you’ll have 51.7 cubic feet for storing cargo. There is slightly more cargo space in the Ford Expedition with 20.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 63.6 cubic feet when the last seat is folded down.
Vehicle Performance Value
Performance is an important factor for many consumers who are shopping for a vehicle. When comparing the high-level trim packages of the Tahoe RST and Expedition Platinum, the Tahoe is the winner. The optional 6.2 V8 engine in the Tahoe RST delivers 20 more HP than what you’ll get in the Expedition Platinum trim level with a standard 3.5 turbo V6 engine.
Fuel costs are another concern when consumers shop for vehicles. Both vehicles have similar MPG for highway and city driving conditions. However, the Tahoe has a larger fuel tank at 26 gallons so you will have a longer time between fill-ups as compared to the Expedition, which has a 23.3-gallon tank. Fuel efficiency is high on the priority list for many people. If you buy the Tahoe, you’ll benefit from an engine control system that improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. This innovative system is enabled to shut down half cylinders in the engine as necessary for optimized fuel efficiency. Additionally, there are electronically controlled shutters on the front grille of the Tahoe that were designed to reduce air flow and decrease drag when the engine doesn’t need as much cooling. This is an excellent feature that is integral in augmenting the fuel economy in the Tahoe. Grille shutters are not offered in the Expedition.
If you want to buy an SUV for any towing purposes, you will be interested to know that the Tahoe has a maximum standard towing capacity of 6400 pounds. This is significantly higher than the maximum towing capacity in the Expedition, which is only 5900 pounds.
How the Vehicle Handles
The way the vehicle handles in various driving conditions due to the drivetrain, suspension, tires, and wheels is another factor to consider when comparing vehicles. Let’s take a look at the handling capacity of the 2019 Chevy Tahoe vs 2019 Ford Expedition.
Both the Tahoe and the Expedition have similar capabilities and options for their four-wheel-drive systems, so let’s look a little deeper…
Keeping the tires properly inflated will optimize your driving experience. You’ll love the standard easy tire fill system on the Tahoe. You’ll always be able to properly inflate the tires with the right amount of air pressure since the sensors effectively track the pressure as you’re filling the tires. There is no vehicle monitored tire inflation system offered in the Expedition.
If you want to ensure smoother ride quality, you need to compare suspension systems in the vehicle. You’ll experience optimized stability and handling in the Tahoe since the track width between the wheels is 1.5 inches wider in the rear and 1.1 inches wider in the front than the track width on the Expedition. A Motor Trend skidpad test showed that the Tahoe LT had better cornering force at .77 G’s than the Expedition XLT which had .76 G’s.
Pulling into parking spaces and maneuvering into that parallel parking spot will be easier when driving in the Tahoe since the turning circle is 41 feet as compared to two feet lower in the Expedition at 39 feet. You may notice that the Tahoe is 6 inches shorter than the Expedition. You should see this as a benefit since this chassis design will enable easier maneuverability when you need to pull the vehicle into a tight parking space.
Innovative Features
We all love innovative features. Let’s have a look at such features offered in the 2019 Chevy Tahoe vs 2019 Ford Expedition. Rain sensitive features are offered in the Tahoe. Depending on the amount of rainfall, these innovative wipers will regulate their speed to automatically turn on and off. The nice benefit about these wipers is that you can spend more time focusing on the roadway in rainy conditions instead of focusing on the wiper adjustment settings. The intermittent wiper feature on the Expedition changes with the vehicle speed but is not regulated by rainfall.
Dual zone air conditioning for the driver and front passenger comes standard in the Tahoe for maximized comfort levels. If you want this convenience feature in the Expedition, it is available at an extra cost.
And the Winner is…
After reading all the facts and figures about these two special new 2019 models, there has to be one that stands out in your mind as the winner. We’ve established that both of these SUVs are formidable opponents who have so much to offer the SUV enthusiast. However, have you made your choice yet? Both SUVs have a great design and performance value, but in this debate between the 2019 Chevy Tahoe vs 2019 Ford Expedition, the Tahoe seems to come out the winner. Now, it’s up to you to make an informed decision on which of these two SUVs is perfect for your lifestyle.
