I’m in the market for a larger SUV and have been considering the Expedition. The Tahoe and Suburban seem significantly more expensive, but are they worth the extra cost? Looking for reliability, space, and towing ability.
If you’re towing, the Expedition is a solid choice. The 3.5 V6 is a better towing engine than Chevy’s 5.3 V8. Some might even argue it’s better than the 6.2 V8 in Denali trims, but those are usually out of most budgets anyway.
You might also want to consider the Nissan Armada. The 5.6 V8 is very reliable and built on a platform that’s proven worldwide. It’s great for towing and often cheaper than the Tahoe and Expedition.
@Nico
Does the Nissan Armada have the CVT transmission that gets trashed all the time?
Lior said:
@Nico
Does the Nissan Armada have the CVT transmission that gets trashed all the time?
Nope, it has a regular automatic transmission.
The 3.5L EcoBoost in the Expedition is decent. It’s not the most reliable engine out there, but it’s not terrible either. As long as you keep up with oil changes and maintenance, you should be fine. The turbos will make servicing a bit more expensive, though.
In terms of price, the Expedition competes with the Tahoe, and the Expedition Max goes up against the Suburban. Tahoe does dominate the market for suburban family SUVs, but you might also want to check out the Toyota Sequoia—it’s not as spacious, but the reliability is legendary. The GMC Yukon is basically a Tahoe with a fancier badge.
@Aza
I’ve been shopping for a Suburban/Tahoe for a while and recently added the Expedition to my search. Right now, I see a 2015 Suburban with 122k miles for $27k. Meanwhile, there’s a 2017 Expedition with 94k miles for $26k. That’s 30k fewer miles, two years newer, and $1k cheaper.
@Lior
If that’s the case, I’d go with the Expedition. I like the EcoTec engines in the Suburbans, but the AFM (Active Fuel Management) kills a lot of their advantages over the Expedition.
What’s your budget?
@Aza
I’m in the $20-$30k range. My main priorities are reliability, space, and towing capacity for my camper. I’m replacing a 2012 F-150 with 285k miles, but with a baby and a dog, a pickup isn’t ideal anymore.
@Lior
How much does your camper weigh? Also, do you need a 3rd row? Not having one can save you money and might allow you to buy something newer, which can be a better value with today’s crazy used market.
@Aza
I don’t need the 3rd row but do want the cargo space you’d get in a Suburban without the 3rd row. Replacing a SuperCrew F-150 with an extended box, so I’m used to a lot of space.
Lior said:
@Aza
I don’t need the 3rd row but do want the cargo space you’d get in a Suburban without the 3rd row. Replacing a SuperCrew F-150 with an extended box, so I’m used to a lot of space.
Have you considered a Subaru Ascent Premium? It has a 5,000lb towing capacity, a decent interior, and great safety ratings. I’ve seen 2019+ models with the Premium package and 20-40k miles for under $30k. If you need more storage space than that, then the Expedition is a good choice.
I’m also considering the Expedition, preferably an EL or Max. My budget is around $20-$30k too. We’ve got three kids and plan to add another in the next couple of years. My wife’s current car is a 2016 Kia Sorento, which has worked okay, but we really need more space. The Expedition’s V6 is appealing because it gets better gas mileage than the Tahoe/Suburban’s V8s.
Why not consider a minivan?
Alby said:
Why not consider a minivan?
Not against it, but I need something with decent towing capacity, and minivans don’t really fit the bill.