Starting at
Starting at
144.7 | Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 121.5 |
23 | Fuel Economy (mpg) | 19 |
36.7 | Rear Legroom (in) | 36.1 |
You need a vehicle that suits the needs of your entire family. But this, of course, is no easy task; everyone needs something different, everyone has different preferences, and circumstances change often. So, you need a well-rounded vehicle that is flexible, highly adaptable, and ready to accommodate different circumstances, whether those circumstances are within your family or outside of your vehicle in the terrain itself. This kind of adaptability is best found in an SUV, which provides both the interior space and flexibility you are seeking while also providing the capability to handle all kinds of driving circumstances. This is why SUVs are fantastic family vehicles. The question, though, is which one to buy. Today, we will have a little show-down of the 2022 Chevy Suburban vs 2022 Ford Expedition to see which one is the better family vehicle in terms of the flexibility, adaptability, and capability required for family life. These are both excellent SUVs, so this is not a comparison of good vs bad; it's simply a comparison to see which one will be better suited to the needs of your family.
If you're a family-oriented person, you may assume that you don't need or even necessarily want a vehicle that puts capability at the forefront. However, you don't need to be a car buff for capability to be of paramount importance. Let's say you're on a family road trip through the mountains of upstate New York, going out to Buffalo to visit relatives in the winter, or heading down to NYC for a day in the city. All of these are very different places, meaning that they are very different terrains with very different driving circumstances. If you're in the mountains or in the snow with a vehicle that is best suited only to city driving, you could be putting your family at risk by driving a vehicle that does not have the capabilities it needs when a pivotal moment occurs. You need an SUV that is able to act appropriately in all three of these circumstances.
Performance capability is not merely about horsepower and torque numbers (though the 2022 Suburban performs well with up to 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque); it's about proper handling, ensuring that you and your family are safe while you enjoy the ride. The 2022 Suburban allows you to choose how you'd like to handle the vehicle, offering both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. There are significant benefits to both, so it depends on what you and your family prioritize. There is, however, a strong argument to be made for the adaptability of four-wheel drive, and having an SUV that offers such handling capability is a huge benefit for you and your family.
The 2022 Suburban is the beneficiary of the model's major-league makeover for the 2021 model year, which includes an all-new chassis design. With this new chassis comes new and dynamic handling and suspension. Chief among them is Magnetic Ride Control, a damping system that constantly monitors the road and adjusts the damping rate of its shocks as needed with great speed. The result of this is a much smoother and more stable ride, which will be much appreciated by the entire family.
When it comes to suspension, the Suburban's big benefit is its independent multilink rear suspension, which allows each individual rear wheel to act individually to better handle road conditions. This makes for increased driver control, meaning that the outside conditions will have less power over the safety and peace of your ride.
The 2022 Ford Expedition offers an intelligent four-wheel drive system with driver-selectable modes, including Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul, and Grass/Gravel/Snow. Driver selectable driving modes are a huge benefit, as the vehicle adapts itself to the circumstances on the road while all you have to do is press a button. The downside of the 2022 Expedition, however, is that there is only one engine option, whereas the Suburban offers three engine options. The Expedition's engine is highly-capable, no doubt, but it doesn't achieve the maximum horsepower of the Suburban unless you pay more for a trim with the high-output version.
But more than any specific performance spec is the benefit of the adaptability of being able to choose your own engine; this allows you to prioritize your priorities, making for a more personally-catered experience for you and your family in the Suburban. These are both excellent vehicles, but if you are looking for an SUV with innovative architecture, ideal handling, and customizability, then the 2022 Suburban is the way to go.
You probably wouldn't be considering an SUV if you weren't looking for a generous amount of space. Too little space can drastically affect the comfort of your family, especially when the car is loaded up for a vacation. You want to make sure that your SUV provides enough passenger space and enough cargo space.
With the Suburban's newly-improved chassis design comes a hearty increase in interior space. With a maximum cargo volume of 144.7 cubic feet, the Suburban offers an astonishingly generous amount of interior space. This space is not one-size-fits-all. Both the second and third-row seats are easily foldable, and the second-row seats are now able to slide, meaning that there is plenty of ability to play with the vehicle's space to find the best configuration for your needs on any given ride. Space is important, but you need space that is highly flexible so that you can load up your cargo while still comfortably fitting your family.
When it comes to passenger comfort, the third row of the SUV is often dreaded as the cramped row. This may change now with 36.7 inches of legroom in the third row. The Suburban works overtime to provide an in-vehicle experience that makes the whole family want to be in the car and even stay in the car for a while. Of course, the vehicle's excellent technology helps make this a reality, but we'll get to that in a moment. First, let's see what the 2022 Expedition offers in the way of spacing and design.
While the Suburban provides seating for either seven or eight people on all trims, the 2022 Expedition STX starts with seating for only five people. While higher trims offer more seating, it is important to know that the base-level Expedition trim will have less seating, meaning it may be too small for your family. The Expedition offers a generous amount of cargo space at up to 121.5 cubic feet in the Expedition MAX, but the truth is that the Suburban significantly exceeds the Expedition by 23 whole cubic feet. That's a lot of gained or lost space, depending on which vehicle you go with. We've yet to hear anybody complain about having too much space in their SUV, so if you're looking to maximize in-vehicle comfort and storage space, there's no question that the 2022 Suburban takes the cake in the area of spacing and design.
In-vehicle technology makes a huge difference in the passenger and driver experience. In a special way, though, it can really make for a more welcoming passenger experience, which is a huge benefit when traveling with the whole family. The 2022 Chevy Suburban and the 2022 Ford Expedition both offer excellent technology features, but the Suburban really has some special stuff going on for 2022.
Not only does the Suburban come with a 10.2-inch diagonal color touchscreen, but it also offers a package that includes dual touchscreens on the seatbacks, meaning that passengers in the rear get their own personalized media experience while driving. This is a huge benefit when the kids can't agree on the same movie or want to do different activities in the car. Yes, they do offer independent connections, so the two screens are not bound to each other's activities. This will be a huge hit with all passengers!
The 2022 Expedition offers similar technology packages and also includes Ford's SYNC 4A system. This provides access to exciting apps and navigation, keeping you connected while you drive. However, the Suburban is making a huge leap forward by offering Google Built-In for the 2022 model year. This means that Google is not an exterior app that is added to the Suburban, but Google capability is built right into the vehicle.
This allows you to have access to Google Maps, which is a true leader in navigation, offering live updates on traffic and conditions, and it also allows you to access Google Play, run Google searches, and perform other favorite Google functions. This may just be the most profound in-vehicle connectivity you've ever experienced. If you want to be at the forefront of a new era for in-vehicle technology, the 2022 Suburban will put you right there.