Chevrolet Suburban LT3 4x4 vs. Ford Expedition Limited EL 4WD

It wasn't long ago that $2-a-gallon gasoline happened only in a bad week and supersize SUVs were kings of the road. Times change: With fuel prices reaching the $4 mark, the halcyon days of these grandest leviathans may be receding in the rearview mirror of history. Former stalwarts are discovering the charms of smaller, more fuel-efficient crossovers, which means the full-size sport/utility segment is undergoing a major rightsizing. Both of the trucks presented here are longtime big sellers; Chevrolet and Ford have stepped up their efforts for 2007, retooling the Suburban and Expedition to 21st-century battle spec. A tour of duty with half-ton 4WD versions of each showed us just how far they have come--or not--in their quest for survival.

Representing the Bow Tie Brigade is a new 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4x4. Uplevel LT3 packaging, a navigation system, third-row seat, rear DVD entertainment package, power sunroof and liftgate, and rearview camera--plus a host of lesser upgrades--push its sticker price from $40,760 to $51,320.

On the Blue Oval side, we sampled a preproduction 2007 Expedition Limited 4WD--in newly available "EL" stretched form (which, in effect, replaces the extinct Excursion), a variant that'll open at $43,395 when it goes on sale in early fall. Ford has rolled back Expedition pricing by several thousand dollars across the entire 2007 lineup. Even augmented with a Convenience Package (power pedals/rear quarter windows, sonar-based reverse-warning system), navigation system, rear-seat DVD system, Sirius Satellite Radio, rear load-leveling, heavy-duty tow package, 20-inch wheel/tire upgrade, and more, our top-rung tester bottom lines at $49,685.

Structurally, both vehicles ride on bespoke versions of their latest respective corporate truck platforms, upgrades that net big gains in strength, torsional rigidity, and isolation. The Suburban's variation on the GMT900 theme includes a 130.0-inch wheelbase, 222.4-inch nose-to-tail spec, and an independent front suspension matched with a solid rear axle. The Expedition and EL offspring feature an all-new frame that shares much of its front architecture with current and future

F-Series offerings but gets a new-generation, five-link independent rear suspension. The EL's 131.0-inch wheelbase is 12.0 inches longer than the standard Expedition's, while its 221.3-inch overall length reflects a 14.8-inch stretch. Although scale alone endows this pair with considerable presence, Chevy emphasizes the Suburban's sheetmetal with softer, more aerodynamic contours, while Ford opts for a bolder persona highlighted by a more sharply chiseled nose and power-bulged hood, accentuated on our tester by an optional body-color grille insert and chrome rims.

Cabin appointments drew praise from our evaluators, who lauded both for improved fit and cleaner, more upscale looks. This sets the stage for even greater levels of user-friendly utility, too. Ford continues to play the angles here, with dash/console treatments, adorned by unique black-on-white speedometer/tach faces and 1960s-era white-on-black supplemental gauges, which echo the current F-Series. The Suburban's more organic look is set off with legible white-on-black instruments, which are less prone to bright-sun glareouts, and a richer combination of faux wood and real leather (as part of the LT3 kit). Common features include manual-tilt-only steering columns, dual-zone front climate-control plus rear A/C systems, and front/front-side/side-curtain airbags. The bounty of cupholders and 12V powerpoints in each is complemented by a large (Ford)--and even larger (Chevy)--covered center-console bin.