Choosing a new vehicle often comes down to personal preference, but many people count on professional reviews to get honest, factual assessments of each model before making a decision. Usually, critics agree with each other within a place or two, with similar rankings of vehicles in each class. However, in the case of the best large SUV models for 2022, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon rank from high to low depending on which critic’s large SUV ratings readers view. 

The best large SUV models on the market

With over 50 years of experience in the automotive industry, Edmunds is a trusted source for vehicle reviews and ratings. However, the organization’s latest large SUV rating, resulting in the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon tying for the top spot, does not jive with other well-respected automotive critics’ assessments of the class. So, what did Edmunds see in this pair of large SUVs that others may have missed?

The first essential takeaway is that the Edmunds rating results in the top five large SUVs being very close. In fact, the Ford Expedition nearly landed in a three-way tie for first place. It’s likely the most significant advantage Suburban and Yukon enjoyed over the Ford is being fresh off of a 2021 model year redesign compared to the Expedition’s more distant 2018 refresh. 

Edmunds’ reviewers found better utility and enjoyed driving the Suburban more than the Yukon but gave the Yukon higher marks for value and a subjective category that Edmunds lists as “Wild Card,” in which the Yukon ranked high for its plentiful exterior chrome. The Ford Expedition scored high for its interior but fell short on technology and fuel-efficiency ratings. 

While the Ford Expedition ranked higher for its interior than either Suburban or Yukon, Edmunds calls the Yukon’s interior “pretty nice without being awesome.” 

The Suburban and Yukon beat the Expedition in the “Technology” category due to Ford’s dated driver aids, which “work fine but aren’t quite as full-featured as those in some rival SUVs.”

Another important category in the winners’ favor is fuel economy. Edmunds recorded actual fuel mileage during rear-world driving situations and found the Suburban and Yukon exceeded the 16 mpg combined EPA estimate by over 2 mpg.

Other critics’ full-size SUV ratings

U.S. News ranks the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon fourth and fifth behind the Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Expedition, and Chevrolet Tahoe. Similar to the Edmunds ratings, the scores are close among the top five contenders. Another trusted name in the automotive industry, Kelley Blue Book, ranks the GMC Yukon third and the Chevrolet Suburban fourth behind the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe with only a fraction of a point separating them. 

Are the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon the best large SUV models?

While not all critics agree that the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban and the 2022 GMC Yukon are the best large SUV models, either model is quite suitable for its intended purpose. If you need a large SUV to haul a group of athletes and their gear to weekend sporting events or a family seeking adventure in the great outdoors while towing a small camper or a boat, you will find either of these large SUVs comfortable and capable.