Skip to main content

We have a spicy victory to celebrate for the Chevrolet Suburban that could be a little upsetting for the Ford Expedition. These two family haulers have been battling for decades, but the 2023 Chevy Suburban managed to outrank the 2023 Ford Expedition for the third year in a row. 

2023 Chevy Suburban vs. 2023 Ford Expedition: Best family SUV 

2023 Chevy Suburban vs. 2023 Ford Expedition
2023 Chevy Suburban | Chevrolet

The numbers are in, and the 2023 Chevy Suburban is officially the best family SUV in its category for the third year in a row. It keeps coming ahead of the 2023 Ford Expedition, which still deserves respect. 

For example, the Ford Expedition ranked as the best SUV for families in 2018, 2019, and 2022. So, it recently had its own three-year sweep to brag about. But perhaps it’s time for the Expedition to receive fresh updates to compete better. 

U.S.News ranks vehicles for families based on rankings provided by respected automotive critics. The reviews are found in magazines, newspapers, and online outlets. Safety, reliability, passenger space, cargo space, and availability of family-friendly features are taken into consideration. 

But on the list of the best large SUVs for 2023, the Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban have the same score. They both earned a rank of 8.2 out of 10, so why is the Suburban considered to be better for families? 

Is the Suburban bigger than the Expedition?  

The Suburban is slightly larger than the Expedition. It’s 224.4 inches long, while the Expedition is about 210 inches long. Plus, the Suburban offers more passenger space in the second and third rows. 

The 2023 Chevy Surban provides an abundance of cargo space. You can access up to 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 144.7 cubes total. The seats fold flat, and there is plenty of room to work with. 

With the 2023 Ford Expedition, you get up to 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 104.6 cubic feet total. But you can check out the Ford Expedition Max for more cargo room. 

When properly equipped, the Suburban can tow up to 8,300 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,884 lbs. The Expedition can tow up to 9,300 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,827. So, the Expedition does have a slight hauling advantage. 

Does the 2023 Suburban or 2023 Expedition provide more value? 

2023 Ford Expedition cargo space
2023 Ford Expedition | Ford

The 2023 Chevy Suburban has a little more value based on standard models because it has standard seating for eight. The entry-level 2023 Ford Expedition kicks things off with only five seats. 

But both SUVs have standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. But the Suburban has power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an optional front-row bench. 

The Expedition has a larger standard infotainment screen, a standard trailering tow package, and a 4G LTE Wi-fi hotspot. But you’ll have to pay extra to have the additional third row for your kids. 

Both of these SUVs are comfortable, spacious family haulers. But the Suburban has more cargo space, passenger space, comfort, and value. Also, the Expedition has more towing power and more advanced standard tech. Maybe it will reclaim the crown in 2024.