Then We Took Them Into the Desert

When we got down and dirty with these giants, both displayed appropriate light-duty off-roading chops, limited primarily by their length, width, and street tires. Electronically activated on-the-fly transitions from 2WD/4WD and 4Hi/4Lo are just a convenient wrist-twist away in both. However, the Ford setup responds more rapidly to the command process. The biggest surprise? Its live rear axle notwithstanding, the Suburban felt somewhat more composed when traversing the various washboard surfaces we came across in our Death Valley-adjacent photo locale. There, midsummer triple-digit temps pressed the A/C units in both vehicles to their limits, but vital engine fluids remained in the no-sweat zone.

Both of these SUVs are orders of magnitude better than their predecessors in comfort, capability, and civility. In the end, the Expedition EL’s edge in price, performance, and interior trim/features/space utilization earned it a split decision. Like our sole dissenting judge, we suspect few dedicated Suburbanites will even consider switching allegiances from what’s long been viewed as the de facto king of this hill. And its optional 355-horse, 6.0-liter V-8 with six-speed autoshifter offers step-up spirit the Expedition currently lacks—although more optional firepower should be in place within a year. As for this match, the 4x4 Expedition EL outpointed the perennial division champ—but not by much. In a time when both are literally in the fight of their lives, a victory is a victory, however narrow the margin.

1st Place: Ford Expedition EL

Spacious, capable, comfortable, and less expensive, the new Expedition EL package simply beats a comparable Suburban at its own game.

2nd Place: Chevrolet Suburban

More desirable and more formidable than ever, but no longer invincible.

	2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LT3 4x4	FORD EXPEDITION LIMITED EL 4WD
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front engine, 4WD	Front engine, 4WD
ENGINE TYPE	90° V-8, alum block and heads	90° V-8, iron block, aluminum heads
VALVETRAIN	OHV, 2 valves/cyl	SOHC, 3 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	325.1 cu in/5327cc	330.3 cu in/5414cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	9.9:1	9.8:1
POWER (SAE NET)	310 hp @ 5200 rpm*	300 hp @ 5000 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	335 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm*	365 lb-ft @ 3750 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	19.0 lb/hp	20.9 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	4-speed automatic	6-speed, automatic
AXLE/FINAL/LOW RATIO	3.73:1/2.61:1/2.72:1	3.73:1/2.57:1/2.64:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; solid axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	17.8:1	20.0:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	3	3.2
BRAKES, F;R	13.0-in vented disc; 13.5-in vented disc, ABS	13.5-in vented disc; 13.2-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS, F;R	17 x 7.5 in, cast aluminum	20 x 8.5 in, cast aluminum
TIRES, F;R	265/70R17 113S M+S Goodyear Wrangler HP	275/55R20 111H M+S Pirelli Scorpion STR
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	130.0 in	131.0 in
TRACK, F/R	68.2/67.0 in	67.0/67.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	222.4 x 79.1 x 76.8 in	221.3 x 78.8 x 78.3 in
GROUND CLEARANCE	9.2 in	8.7 in
APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE	16.7/20.9 deg	24.1/20.9 deg
TURNING CIRCLE	43.0 ft	43.9 ft
CURB WEIGHT	5877 lb	6270 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	51/49%	51/49%
TOWING CAPACITY	8000 lb	8750 lb
SEATING CAPACITY	8	8
HEADROOM, F/M/R	41.1/38.5/38.1 in	39.5/39.7/38.0 in
LEGROOM, F/M/R	41.3/39.5/34.9 in	41.1/39.1/37.7 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R	65.3/65.2/64.7 in	63.2/63.7/67.1 in
CARGO VOL BEHIND F/M/R	137.4/90.0/45.8 cu ft	130.8/85.5/42.6 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	3.0 sec	2.5 sec
0-40	4.4	4.1
0-50	6.3	5.8
0-60	8.9	8.4
0-70	11.5	11.1
0-80	14.4	14.4
0-90	19.4	18.9
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	5.0 sec	4.7 sec
QUARTER MILE	16.6 sec @ 84.4 mph	16.2 sec @ 84.2 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	138 ft	140 ft
600-FT SLALOM	55.9 mph avg	54.7 mph avg
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.69 g avg	0.69 g avg
MT FIGURE EIGHT	30.2 sec @ 0.50 g avg	30.6 sec @ 0.50 g avg
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1800 rpm	1600 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$40,760	$43,395
PRICE AS TESTED	$51,320	$49,685
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/yes	Yes/yes
AIRBAGS	Dual front, f/r curtain	Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
BASIC WARRANTY	3 yrs/36,000 miles	3 yrs/36,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	3 yrs/36,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	3 yrs/36,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	31.5 gal	33.5 gal
EPA CITY/HWY ECON	15/20 mpg	14/18 mpg (est)
MT FUEL ECONOMY	15.0 mpg	18.7 mpg
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Regular unleaded	Regular unleaded

*SAE CERTIFIED