The Ford Explorer and the Chevy Tahoe are two different SUV classes, but they’re among the best in their class. The smaller Explorer is a little smoother than the powerful Tahoe, but that’s not the only difference. Our breakdown can help you decide which vehicle would be right for you. For the sake of this article, we’ll be comparing the 2024 Ford Explorer base model mid-size SUV and the 2024 Chevy Tahoe LS full-size SUV.
Price
Most people look at price as the biggest determinant for their next vehicle. The Ford Explorer is the cheaper option with a starting MSRP of $36,860, according to US News. The Chevy Tahoe has a higher starting MSRP of $56,200. That makes the Tahoe more expensive than all six of the trims on the Explorer.
For a base trim, that’s a price difference of around $18K – you could buy another car for that. So does the Chevy Tahoe offer enough to make up for it?
Powertrain
How powerful is your SUV? The base-model Explorer comes with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This powerful engine gives the Explorer an above-average towing capacity of 5,300 pounds when properly equipped.
Compared to the Explorer, the Chevy Tahoe has a much stronger engine. The 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. This provides the Tahoe the ability to tow an astounding 8,400 with the rear-wheel-drive while properly equipped.
Safety
The standard equipment for the Ford Explorer base trim includes stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, a front-passenger knee airbag, and MyKey, which allows parents to specify limits for vehicle speed and stereo volume. It also has a rearview camera and a five-star rating for overall crash protection during government tests.
The 2024 Chevy Tahoe includes antilock disc brakes, traction, and stability control (with trailer sway control), front-seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags standard on the LS trim. The Tahoe received five out of five stars in side crash tests.
One of the biggest selling points of the Tahoe is the teen-driver management system. This system sets a reminder to check the back seats for child occupants, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and the subscription-based OnStar system, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle assistance, and turn-by-turn navigation.
Driving
Reviewers generally indicate that the Ford Explorer has a smooth ride quality on the highway and is exceptionally quiet, which makes it a great road trip vehicle. It feels a little larger and less maneuverable than similarly sized rivals. The 2024 Ford Explorer gets 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, which is quality fuel economy for the size.
Critics say that Tahoe can feel slower than the horsepower suggests while hauling a full load, but it has the power to deliver authoritative acceleration. This SUV often feels like a truck, especially when you’re making turns. Even with this strong engine, the base Chevy still produces a fuel economy of 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. However, the turbodiesel option will give you a fuel economy of up to 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, comparable to the Explorer.
