2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned for the 2018 model year, was a cleanly styled full-size SUV. While some might have found the styling boring, its clean design was expected to age well over time, making it a good long-term investment. The King Ranch trim featured 22-inch aluminum wheels, a mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim, along with special front fender emblems. Dipped in Star White metallic paint, the test SUV looked terrific, although the taillights and roof C-pillar design were points of contention. Inside, the King Ranch boasted special Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, with numerous King Ranch cattle-brand logos. Despite the luxurious touches, the presence of hard plastic, especially in lower trims, was hard to accept at the SUV’s price point. The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, with small headlights and large, busy grilles that borrowed from the Camaro design language. This combination did not favor the Suburban, and it was speculated that an early refresh might be necessary. However, the interior was a different story, maintaining a familiar control layout with radio and climate controls in their expected places. The Suburban offered various trims, including the rugged Z71 and the range-topping High Country, which featured a High Country Deluxe package with adaptive air suspension, power-retractable running boards, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite these features, the High Country lacked the soft-touch materials expected in a true luxury SUV, feeling more like an upscale pickup.

The 2020 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered power to the rear wheels or an optional four-wheel-drive system. The Expedition had a towing capacity of up to 9,300 pounds with rear-drive and 9,200 pounds with 4WD. The driving experience was mostly pleasing, with the engine providing plenty of power and the 10-speed automatic finding the right gear at the right time. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim did a fantastic job of quelling excessive ride motions, although the ride could be busy on imperfect pavement. The independent rear suspension design improved ride and handling, providing more room for passengers and cargo. Fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg. The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a standard 5.3-liter V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle featured a newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, generating 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive or available 4WD. The diesel engine provided great pickup and V8-level torque, making the Suburban capable of seating seven or eight people while offering truck-like capability. The brakes were terrific, providing tons of stopping power with a soft yet accurate pedal feel. The independent rear suspension improved ride compliance, although the Suburban still exhibited body-roll and truck-like tendencies over bumps and in crosswinds. Overall, the Suburban was smooth over most driving surfaces.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled at towing, carrying cargo, and hauling people. The King Ranch trim featured power running boards for easy access, and every seat was comfortable, especially the heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and provided first-class accommodations, with easy access to the third-row bench. The third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the independent rear suspension. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, while the long-wheelbase Expedition MAX provided 34.3 cubic feet. With the third-row seat folded, the Expedition offered 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space (73.3 with the MAX), and with the second row folded, it provided 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX). The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered massive cargo space, with 144.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom. The second-row captain’s chairs were spacious, and the control layout was similar to the GM pickup truck lineup, with the main difference being the button shifter design. The test model featured a power-sliding center console, which was slower and more complex than necessary. Despite these issues, the Suburban’s passenger and cargo space were impressive.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, which was easy to use but sometimes slow to respond. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The trailer technology was especially helpful for frequent towing, providing a knob on the dashboard to control the trailer’s direction. The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM’s intuitive infotainment system, with crisp graphics and a sensible layout. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an available wireless device charging pad. Optional features included a navigation system, a rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button below the screen.

The 2020 Ford Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The ADAS worked well, providing smooth and accurate assistance. The Expedition earned 5-star ratings in every test from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. It also included the Teen Driver system, allowing parents to set speed and volume limitations for younger drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view monitor camera system. Unique options included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated for alerts.