Whether you’re looking for a full size SUV for yourself or to transport your family, chances are safety is one of your primary concerns. Besides looking at safety ratings from Consumer Reports, how do you find the safest full size SUVs? SUVs with advanced safety systems can add a layer of protection. Three full size SUVs are loaded with safety features.

What are the advanced safety systems that Consumer Reports recommends?

Consumer Reports recommends forward collision warning and pedestrian detection to alert drivers if a person or object is in the path of the car. Automatic emergency braking can apply brakes automatically if the driver doesn’t react to the object in time. All three full size SUVs come with automatic emergency braking for the city and the highway.

Similarly, blind spot warning uses cameras and sensors to monitor the surroundings of an SUV to make sure there is nothing a driver can’t see. Some blind spot warning systems will alert the driver if the driver signals to turn or change lanes in front of the vehicle in the blind spot. 

Lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning also use cameras and sensors to make sure that a car doesn’t wander into other lanes of traffic. Some SUVs will gently correct the steering if the driver doesn’t, to maintain position. 

2021 Ford Expedition

The 2021 Ford Expedition is one of the full size SUVs with advanced safety systems. The Ford Expedition has a twin turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine and can tow 6,000 pounds. 

In addition to coming with all of the advanced safety systems, Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Ford Expedition a 69 out of 100 in its overall tests. The NHTSA gives the 2021 Ford Expedition five stars in overall crash and frontal-crash tests. It also has five stars in the frontal-crash test on the driver and passenger sides. That’s pretty good, considering many of its competitors have a four star rating somewhere in there. 

Side crash ratings are also superb, at five stars for overall, driver and rear passenger. The side driver-crash and passenger-crash tests evaluate how well a vehicle traveling 17 MPH does when hit by a vehicle traveling 34 MPH.  

Tall, heavy vehicles are prone to rolling over, and the 2021 Ford Expedition is no different. Its rollover risk is average at three stars. 

2021 Lincoln Navigator

Similar to the Expedition, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator has a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. However, it has slightly more power, with a max horsepower of 450. The Navigator can also tow a bit more, with a max towing capacity of 6,200 pounds.

 The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is another large SUV with all of the advanced safety features that Consumer Reports recommends. It scored a 64 in Consumer Reports overall tests. In addition to the safety equipment, the overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash driver and passenger test ratings for the Lincoln Navigator are five stars. 

The Lincoln Navigator had a no tip result in the dynamic tip result. This test measures the risk of a vehicle rolling over in a single-vehicle, loss of control accident. The Navigator’s rollover risk is 19.30%.

2021 Nissan Armada

The third large SUV with advanced safety features is the 2021 Nissan Armada. With a 5.6-liter V8 engine, the Nissan Armada is capable of 400 hp and towing 8,500 pounds. 

The Nissan Armada wasn’t crash tested by the IIHS or the NHTSA, although it did receive a rollover risk rating of three out of five stars. Consumer Reports did a road test, and scored the 2021 Nissan Armada a 55 out of 100. Notable weaknesses include both routine and emergency handling, which received a two out of five. 

Which one should I choose?

With the highest overall score from Consumer Reports, the 2021 Ford Expedition is your best bet. It combines strong crash test and road test ratings with all of the advanced safety systems. The 2021 Ford Expedition offers a combination of comfort and safety that make it one of the safest full size SUVs.