The Chevrolet Tahoe wins clearly, 91.8 to 85.8, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range.
Safety 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe leads by 28.5
Fuel & range 2025 Ford Explorer leads by 20
Category · weight
2025 Chevrolet Tahoeoverall 91.8
2025 Ford Exploreroverall 85.8
Pricenot compared
Specs not available
Specs not available
Fuel & rangew 3
80
100
Metric
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford Explorer
EPA annual fuel cost (lower is better)
$4,000 70
$2,800 100
Combined mpg / MPGe (higher is better)
24 mpg 100
24 mpg 100
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric.
Safetyw 4
96.6
68.1
Metric
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford Explorer
NHTSA overall stars (absolute)
5 ★ 100
5 ★ 100
Safety Signal (recalls) (absolute)
92 /100 92
43 /100 43
Owner complaints filed (lower is better)
52 100
109 47.7
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points.
Space & cargonot compared
Specs not available
Specs not available
Performancenot compared
Specs not available
Specs not available
Tech & comfortnot compared
Specs not available
Specs not available
Warrantyw 2
100
100
Metric
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford Explorer
Basic warranty (higher is better)
3 yr 100
3 yr 100
Basic warranty miles (higher is better)
36,000 mi 100
36,000 mi 100
Powertrain warranty (higher is better)
5 yr 100
5 yr 100
Powertrain warranty miles (higher is better)
60,000 mi 100
60,000 mi 100
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles.
Overall
91.8
85.8
Safety-only comparison · 3 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Tahoe: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Ford Explorer: base trim Active RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbers
Where the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe wins
It has drawn fewer owner complaints (52 against 109 filed with NHTSA).
It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 43).
Where the 2025 Ford Explorer answers
It costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,800 against $4,000).
What they share
5 NHTSA stars.
24 combined.
A 3-year basic warranty.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
43 specs · manufacturer press kits
Spec
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Engine Basics
Aspiration
—
twin turbo
Cylinder count
—
4
Engine displacement
—
2,261 cc
Engine type (full description)
—
2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4
Fuel injection system
—
gdi mpi
Valve configuration
—
DOHC 16-Valve
Engine Output
Horsepower
—
300 hp
Torque
—
310 lb-ft
Transmission
Final drive ratio
—
3.58
Transmission speeds
—
10
Transmission type
—
automatic
Dimensions Exterior
Ground clearance
—
7.6 in
Overall height
—
69.6 in
Overall length
—
199 in
Overall width
—
78.9 in
Wheelbase
—
119 in
Cargo
Cargo volume behind 1st row
—
85.8 cu-ft
Cargo volume behind 2nd row
—
46 cu-ft
Cargo volume behind 3rd row
—
16.3 cu-ft
Total interior volume
—
153 cu-ft
Seating
Passenger seating capacity
—
7
Headroom
Front headroom
—
40.7 in
Second-row headroom
—
40.5 in
Third-row headroom
—
38.9 in
Legroom
Front legroom
—
43 in
Second-row legroom
—
39 in
Third-row legroom
—
32.2 in
Weights
Curb weight (minimum)
—
4,303 lbs
Suspension
Front suspension type
—
independent
Rear suspension type
—
independent
Steering
Steering type
—
Electric Power-Assisted Steering
Brakes
Front brake type
—
ventilated disc
Parking brake type
—
electric
Rear brake type
—
solid disc
Wheels
Wheel diameter
—
18 in
Wheel material
—
aluminum
Tires
Tire size
—
P255/65R18
Fuel System
Fuel tank capacity
—
17.9 gal
Minimum recommended octane
—
87
Connected Services
Connected services brand
—
FordPass Connect
Shoulder Room
Front shoulder room
—
62.1 in
Second-row shoulder room
—
61.9 in
Third-row shoulder room
—
54.6 in
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
89 features · differences first, then shared
Safety31 differ · 31 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering
—
std
Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection
—
std
Pre-Collision Assist – Forward Collision Warning
—
std
Rear Cross-Traffic Braking
—
std
Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front Airbags
—
std
Evasive Steering Assist
—
std
Front-seat Side Airbags
—
std
Lane-Keeping System (Lane-Keeping Alert, Lane-Keeping Assist, Driver Alert)
—
std
Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines
—
std
Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
—
std
Ford Co-Pilot360™ – Driver Alert
—
std
Hill Descent Control™ (4WD Models)
—
std
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions
—
std
Rear Parking Sensors
—
std
Trailer Sway Control
—
std
AdvanceTrac™ with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) and ESC
—
std
Auto High-Beam Headlamps
—
std
BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Coverage
—
std
Curve Control
—
std
Driver Knee Airbag
—
std
Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold
—
std
Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (standard ADAS suite including Intersection Assist, Post-Collision Braking, Dynamic Brake Support)
—
std
Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
—
std
Hill Start Assist
—
std
Perimeter Alarm
—
std
Post-Collision Braking
—
std
Safety Canopy® Rollover Sensor
—
std
Side-Wind Stabilization
—
std
SOS Post-Crash Alert System™
—
std
Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS)
—
std
SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)
—
std
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Remote Start System
—
opt
5G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot (connects up to 10 devices)
—
std
FordPass Connect™ – Remotely start, lock and unlock vehicle
—
std
Audio – Six (6) Speakers
—
std
FordPass Connect™ – Locate parked vehicle
—
std
911 Assist®
—
std
Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Alexa Built-In, Google Assistant/Maps/Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility
—
std
Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability
—
std
SiriusXM® with 360L (3-month prepaid subscription)
—
std
Steering Wheel Mounted Audio and Cruise Controls
—
std
USB Ports: First Row – One (1) "A" and One (1) "C" in Media Bin and Two (2) "C" in Center Floor Console; Second Row – Two (2) "C" and Third Row – Two (2) "C"
—
std
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start
—
std
Battery Saver
—
std
Power Liftgate
—
std
SecuriCode® Keyless Entry Keypad
—
opt
Universal Garage Door Opener (UGDO)
—
opt
Powerpoints (12V) – three (3)
—
std
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Tri-Zone Electronic Temperature Control
—
std
Cabin Particulate Air Filter
—
std
Second Row HVAC Controls
—
opt
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
10-way Power Driver's Seat
—
std
First Row Heated Seats
—
std
8-Way Power Passenger Seat
—
opt
Second Row Captain's Chairs with E-Z Entry and Armrests
—
std
Third Row 50/50 Split-Fold-Flat (Manual)
—
std
Unique Cloth Seating
—
std
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Heated Steering Wheel
—
opt
12.3" Color LCD Productivity Screen in Instrument Panel Cluster
—
std
Compass
—
std
Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor®
—
std
Rotary Gear Shift Dial
—
std
Day/Night Rearview Mirror – Manually Adjustable
—
std
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger)
—
std
Steering Column – Manual Tilt/Telescoping
—
std
Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows
—
std
Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage
—
std
Trip Computer
—
std
Exterior14 differ · 14 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Panoramic Vista Roof® with Power Shade
—
opt
LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay
—
std
Active Grille Shutters
—
std
Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
—
std
Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler
—
std
LED Fog Lamps with Skid Plate Elements, Front – Silver-Painted
—
opt
LED Signature Lighting (Front Fascia)
—
opt
LED Taillamps with Amber Turn Signals
—
std
Mirrors, Sideview – Power and Heated Glass
—
std
Roof-Rack Side Rails
—
std
Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit
—
std
Privacy Glass – Second Row, Third Row and Liftgate
—
std
Rear-Window Defroster and Washer
—
std
Body-Color Rear Spoiler
—
std
Powertrain3 differ · 3 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive
—
opt
Terrain Management System™
—
std
Auto Start-Stop Technology
—
std
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS)
—
std
Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
—
std
Independent Front and Rear Suspension
—
std
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
Feature
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Class III Trailer Tow Package
—
std
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAP
Chevrolet Tahoe
Safety Signal92 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls1
Owner complaints52 · 1 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained aboutEngine (32), Forward Collision Avoidance (12), Service Brakes (10)
Top recalls
highWheels 26V304000 · 2,457 vehicles
Ford Explorer
Safety Signal43 F
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls22 · 1 critical · 2 filed unfixed
Owner complaints109 · 8 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained aboutElectrical System (23), Service Brakes (20), Unspecified (19)
highEngine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
highSeat Belts 26V159000 · 561 vehicles
highEngine And Engine Cooling 26V122000 · 47,804 vehicles
highTrailer Hitches 25V687000 · 1,412 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford ExplorerActive RWD
Price
—
— (base trim)
Price range across trims
—
— 8 trims
Powertrains
GAS, Diesel
GAS
EPA configuration compared
Tahoe 2WD
Explorer RWD
Combined mpg / MPGe
24
24
EPA annual fuel cost
$4,000
$2,800
EV range
—
—
Basic warranty
3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms)
3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms)
Powertrain warranty
5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms)
5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms)
Roadside assistance
5 yr
5 yr
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits
Which is better, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe or the 2025 Ford Explorer?
The Chevrolet Tahoe wins clearly, 91.8 to 85.8, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe scores 91.8 and the 2025 Ford Explorer 85.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe or the 2025 Ford Explorer?
2025 Chevrolet Tahoe: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2025 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 22 recalls (2 filed with no repair available). Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe and the 2025 Ford Explorer?
Where the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (52 against 109 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 43). Where the 2025 Ford Explorer answers: it costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,800 against $4,000). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, 24 combined, and a 3-year basic warranty.