The 2021 Chevy Tahoe Just Outranked the Ford Expedition
Wait, what? The 2021 Chevy Tahoe just outranked the 2021 Ford Expedition? But the Ford Expedition has been the king! How did the Chevy Tahoe manage to finally take this rival down? Also, will Ford answer?
The 2021 Chevy Tahoe vs. the 2021 Ford Expedition
According to U.S. News, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe just outranked the 2021 Ford Expedition. The Chevy Tahoe currently ranks in the first place as the best large SUV. It knocked the Ford Expedition down to second place.
There are six large SUV options on this list, and the 2021 Toyota Sequoia landed in last place. This was a little surprising. Also, the 2021 Chevy Suburban is in third place but won the Best Car for Families award. These accolades felt as if they were worth mentioning, but let’s focus on the Tahoe and Expedition for now.
Why is the Chevy Tahoe ranking ahead?
If you place the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and the 2021 Ford Expedition side by side, they seem extremely competitive. The Ford Expedition has an MSRP of $49,025, and the Chevy Tahoe begins at about $49,000. So, that’s a whole $25 difference. Both of the base models come with rear-wheel drive too.
The Ford Expedition only has one engine option. The 3.5-liter V6 engine pumps out 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Platinum Expedition increased the horsepower to 400. The Chevy Tahoe has a 5.3-liter V8 base engine with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.
You can upgrade to the 6.2-liter V8 engine for 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Also, the 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine cranks out 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 lbs, and the Expedition can tow up to 9,300 lb.
According to Edmunds, with the 5.3-liter engine, the Tahoe can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds, which is pretty good. It struggles at speeds over 65 mph, though.
Also, the tight turning radius and light steering make it easy to maneuver in the city. The Tahoe has a smooth ride thanks to its independent rear suspension. However, the rear seats lack supportive padding, and the wind noise is elevated at highway speeds.
The Ford Expedition also can reach 60 mpg in about seven seconds. Edmunds noted that it’s a powerhouse but has a soft brake pedal. Its handling could be improved a little. The 22-inch wheels can make the ride a little bumpier, and there is wind noise at higher speeds.
Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition features
The 2021 Chevy Tahoe offers 22.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat with up to 122.9 cubic feet total. The 2021 Ford Expedition only offers 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats with up to 104.6 cubic feet total.
While the Tahoe has a recently updated interior with more advanced tech, the layout is a little frustrating. However, the Expedition may feel a little outdated and has too many tiny buttons on the center console.
The Chevy Tahoe comes with more standard convenience features such as a wifi hotspot and dual-zone AC. But the Expedition comes with more standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance. It seems like the Chevy Tahoe is ranking ahead for having a smoother ride and more advanced tech.
