Devon test drives a Ford Expedition EL

The large 4x4 still has appeal to drivers who want to tow a boat and/or ferry the family around. There are plenty of them to choose from, with that said the Ford Expedition EL should be on your short list when considering such massively large vehicles. Here’s why:

The sole engine choice is a 3.5-liter turbocharged six-cylinder which produces 365hp. You may think that the six-cylinder really won’t have the pep of the eight-cylinder. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that it can accelerate from zero to 60mph in under 7 seconds. Which means that this engine will give those eight-cylinder rivals a real go for their money. When you are not driving like a total lunatic this engine is smooth and responsive when needed thanks to direct fuel injection, turbo lag is pretty much nonexistent. The beefy 420lb-ft torque for a healthy 6,500lb towing rating and 9,200lbs with the optional heavy duty trailer towing package.

The Expedition EL is a pretty large and bulky vehicle. The sheer size of the vehicle means that navigating around town or in tight narrow parking spaces will be a chore. Steering can be quite heavy when getting up to speed but it does offer a decent amount of feedback. Not that you’ll be shoving this vehicle through bends and corners anyway. Wind noise won’t be much of a problem, even if the Expedition is as aerodynamic as a tower block. Road noise will be a problem with the larger alloys, especially with the 22-inch alloys.

In the cabin you won’t have any trouble seating up to eight people; although the eight people and their luggage trick may be a bit of a push even in a large vehicle such as this. You can however fold down the third row seat and double the boot space to a massive size; with the second row folded also you’ve got a cargo van. The dashboard seems pretty simple to navigate through with all the controls and dials easy to use and somewhat in reach of the driver’s hand. The sheer size of the Expedition EL means that you’ll need all the parking aids you can get. Luckily for you those parking aids are standard. You’ll only have to really pay extra for a parking assist for the front of the car for some trims. Visibility is pretty decent too but the blind spot warning system is a much needed option.

XLT trim offers reverse sensing system, 18-inch alloy wheels, power adjustable foot pedals. EL trim adds perforated leather seats, dual zone climate control, power folding third row seat and forward sensing system. King Ranch trim adds rear view camera, power lift gate, 20 inch alloy wheels while top of the range Platinum trim has all the same features as the King Ranch but instead you can option for HID headlights and a few other luxury bits. Our tester car was the Platinum trim which was pretty nicely kitted, but for our money we’d go with the Limited trim which makes the most sense financially. The price is still high but it’s not as expensive as the King Ranch and Platinum trims.

The Expedition EL has high running costs, a higher purchase price and is a chore to drive around. If you need seven seats and want to be able to tow a large boat or trailer. The Expedition EL should be on your short list, as there are many other rivals to pick from. But none of them have the smoothest six-cylinder engine on hand, and none of them look as flashy with the 22-inch alloys. It really is a great value all round and is our pick for large 4x4s.

Likes: Turbo engine is smooth and not one ounce underpowered. Can seat up to eight people and with all seats folded you’ve got a cargo van sized boot.

Dislikes: Sheer size makes it a chore to drive. Running costs will still be through the roof. Other than the towing ratings and eight seats, it’s pretty hard to justify buying one.

Devon test drives a large Chevy SUV (Used)

Picking the Chevy Suburban means that you need space and lots of it. It offers seating up to nine and can tow up to 8,300lbs. The Suburban will put minivans and crossovers to shame. But with high running costs and bulky image will it be enough to justify buying one?

The sole engine on hand is a 5.3-liter Eco-Tec eight-cylinder which produces 355hp. Rear-wheel-drive is standard while four-wheel-drive is optional. We strongly suggest getting the four-wheel-drive which really does help out in snowy areas and adds a bit of traction in towing. But for those who won't need all-wheel-drive the rear-wheel-drive is just as capable. Acceleration is smooth and brisk but remember this is a large nine-seat sport utility vehilce so it's not going to be race car fast.

The sheer size of the Suburban makes it a chore to live with. Rear view vision camera really does come in handy when reversing out of parking spaces in the mall and in the city. But it's still tricky to navigate on anything but large Blvds and highways. Steering is okay but it feels rather heavy at times and the Suburban is about as aerodynamic as a tower block so wind noise will be an issue. Road noise is very well hidden though.

The Suburban can seat up to nine but we reckon that most will find that even the seven seat configuration is more than enough. With the third row in place the boot space is decent but it grows enormously with the third row seat folding down. Fold down the second row seat too and you've got a massively large boot. The LS trim is the way to go it's the cheapest of the range and offers enough for most buyers needs. Automatic climate control, rear view parking camera, remote start and rear park assist all come standard. You'll have to step up to the LT trim which adds leather seats, power tailgate and forward collision warning. Top of the range LTZ offers HID headlights with LED daytime running lamps, keyless start and 20 inch alloy wheels.

The Chevy Suburban isn't cheap to buy nor is it cheap to run. The large thirsty eight-cylinder engine will be a welcome visitor at the pump. Resale value should be good thanks the Suburban nameplate and the fact that people will always still buy these even if gas prices shoot past $6 per gallon.

The Chevy Suburban is a great workhorse of a vehicle. It can seat up to nine offers plenty of comfort for people and can tow up to 8,300lbs. It's a great vehicle if you stick with the standard form which is the cheapest. Paying more than the LT trim means you'll be entering territory with choices like the Mercedes GL which is an all round better option. The Chevy Suburban is a great family car for those who want big but there are premium rivals that do the same tricks better and save a few miles on the gallon too.

Likes: The sheer size of it intimidates other drivers. Lovely eight-cylinder rumble under heavy acceleration.


Dislikes: Sheer size makes it a chore to live with. Running costs are high. There's no diesel engine option. Top of the range trim is expensive and isn't as great as some rivals.

Devon's pick: LS trim is all the Suburban you'll ever really need. You'll have to pay extra for four-wheel-drive but rear view parking camera and rear parking assist are standard as well as automatic climate control and a remote start system. Most will be satisfied with those features.