GM SUV Quality opinions wanted. Maybe expedition ecoboost.

[anw7405]

I really want some first hand experience with the 2007-2014 and 2015 and up GM Suv's. In my mind right now GM built there best QUALITY suv's from 2000-2006. I think they are far superior to 2007-2014 suv's. I don't know if GM ever fixed some of the issues from 2007-2012 in the later 13 and 14's. (dash cracking, door handles falling off, just very cheap in general plastic. I know they fixed the motor issues with the 07 and 08's. How are the new 2015 + quality and reliability wise? Did they fix some of the cheap plastic? How is the new ecotec motor doing for everybody?

Also I noticed the expedition with ecoboost generally tows about 1,00lbs more than the best GM's. I know these motors are powerful but I also know there are a lot of reliability issues I have seen. Anybody out there towing with the new expeditions with the ecoboost? How are they holding up?

[Groover]

On the Chevy just be aware that the 6.2 appears to need premium fuel. I don't own one but the manual seems to strongly recommend it. I have heard owners go both ways on the subject. Are you willing to pay another $0.60 per gallon for your fuel or take the chance? It is up to you. Irrelevant if you don't want the 6.2.

[anw7405]

ktosv wrote:
I have owned a GMT800 (2005 Suburban), GMT900 (2012 Yukon XL) and a K2xx (2017 Suburban). While I liked the truck like interior of the 2005, each one has gotten better and I will take all of the added functionality and features of the 2017 over a GMT800 probably any day.

The interior of the 2015+ in my opinion has been improved over the 2007-2014. The IP is no longer an injection molded plastic and now appears to be probabaly a TPO skin and artificial leather in my truck. I don't anticipate this IP ever cracking. The Cadillacs get real leather on the IP. Our 2017 has been problem free to this point. I also think our 2012 didn't have any issues with door handles as I have a four year old that would hang on the door handles to open the door.

I had the privilage of doing a ton of traveling over the past two years for work. While owning the 2012 I probably put close to 10,000 miles on rental GM SUV's and quickly fell in love with the K2xx over the GMT900. On a 2000 mile trip with a 2017 Suburban I averaged a hand calculated 20 mpg. That included a week of city driving.

I have also driven a few Expedition EL/Max rentals. I did not like the ride or handling of the 2017 Expedition as it felt like I was always chasing the truck in the lane. I did the same exact 2000 mile trip with a 2017 Expedition EL with the Ecoboost and averaged 16mpg.

Recently I had a 2018 Expedition Max and probably put about 400 miles on it. The fuel economy was more on par with what I experienced and expected from the GM SUV's. The ride was better, but the handling was still the same with feeling like the steering is over sensitive and I always had to be correcting it.

With all of the hype about the Ecoboost, I was underwhelmed by it's performance. Specifically, getting on the expressway one time I put the gas peddle to the floor with the tach somewhere around 2500 RPMs. While the truck moved decent, it didn't down shift and actually felt sluggish. I don't know if it glitched, but with the 10 speed I expected it to downshift and take off. This 2018 Expedition convinced me that it had only two benefits over a Suburban. The leg room of the third row and that the middle row is also adjustable. However, once using the seat to allow third row passengers out it returns to the furthest back position and thus needed to be adjusted again. Any other differences I could note would be personal preference.

From a towing experience, I am sure the Ecoboost is a wonder especially on hills or at elevation. I know that in the Smokey Mountians (non-towing) while using cruise the Expedition wouldn't even drop 1mph. Yeah, my Suburban my vary a little from the set speed.

I have towed a 6x12 enclosed trailer with both the 2012 and the 2017. The 2012 had the 3.42 axle while the 2017 has the latest 5.3L but the 3.08 axle. With the 2017 I actually haven't ever felt like I needed more power (towing or not). The newer 5.3L makes up (in my situation) for the 3.08 over the previous 5.3L and 3.42 axle. Now, I ended up towing in 4th gear with the 2017 but my speed was more consistant and it rarely downshifted. The 2012 I would run in 5th but it would loose speed on hills and frequently shift to 4th gear. I used to get single digit fuel mileage with the 2012 and got 12mpg (hand calculated) with the 2017 on an 800 mile trip from Michigan to South Carolina.

What is a K2xx 2017 suburban?

[theoldwizard1]

ktosv wrote:
Recently I had a 2018 Expedition Max and probably put about 400 miles on it. The fuel economy was more on par with what I experienced and expected from the GM SUV's. The ride was better, but the handling was still the same with feeling like the steering is over sensitive and I always had to be correcting it.

This can easily be fixed by an experienced alignment technician by changing the caster.

[gbopp]

Fordlover wrote:
1/4 mile drag Yukon Vs Expedition
I'm thinking either your butt dyno might need recalibration, or there was most definitely something wrong with your rental.

That was impressive.

[4x4ord]

We owned a 07 GMC Yukon XL Denali. I sold it in 2010 with 50,000 miles on it. I thought it was the most incredible vehicle we ever owned. It rode absolutely beautiful. It was so quiet inside the driver could easily carry on a conversation with people all the way to the back row. I loved the smooth shifting transmission.... I didn't like all the control knobs being lined up and identical. We never had a single issue with it in the three years we owned it.

[Fordlover]

ktosv wrote:
SNIP

With all of the hype about the Ecoboost, I was underwhelmed by it's performance. Specifically, getting on the expressway one time I put the gas peddle to the floor with the tach somewhere around 2500 RPMs. While the truck moved decent, it didn't down shift and actually felt sluggish. I don't know if it glitched, but with the 10 speed I expected it to downshift and take off.

1/4 mile drag Yukon Vs Expedition
I'm thinking either your butt dyno might need recalibration, or there was most definitely something wrong with your rental.

There isn't a situation that I'm aware of that the Suburban will out gun the Ecoboost in the Expedition. The video provided shows an Expy matched against a Yukon which is lighter than the Suburban, so it should be faster. Still can't even hang at the rear bumper of the Expedition.

With all that said, 0-60 and 1/4 mile times don't mean that much to me in a Tow vehicle.

[Bionic_Man]

I have a love-hate relationship with my 2011 Yukon XL Denali.

On the plus side, I bought it used about 3 years ago not is nearing 100k miles and it has been ultra reliable.

On the minus side, the interior is ultra cheap. From the plastics on the dash, to the fake leather interior, to the aged infotainment center. It has more rattles than any other vehicle I have ever owned.

My wife drives it more than I do, but she would prefer to drive our 2008 Rx. If I had to drive it everyday, I would have traded it in two years ago.

Back to the plus side, it pulls my 7000 pound boat ok. And it is paid for. That said, I will be looking to pick up a used new style Navigator when their prices come down.

[ktosv]

I have owned a GMT800 (2005 Suburban), GMT900 (2012 Yukon XL) and a K2xx (2017 Suburban). While I liked the truck like interior of the 2005, each one has gotten better and I will take all of the added functionality and features of the 2017 over a GMT800 probably any day.

The interior of the 2015+ in my opinion has been improved over the 2007-2014. The IP is no longer an injection molded plastic and now appears to be probabaly a TPO skin and artificial leather in my truck. I don't anticipate this IP ever cracking. The Cadillacs get real leather on the IP. Our 2017 has been problem free to this point. I also think our 2012 didn't have any issues with door handles as I have a four year old that would hang on the door handles to open the door.

I had the privilage of doing a ton of traveling over the past two years for work. While owning the 2012 I probably put close to 10,000 miles on rental GM SUV's and quickly fell in love with the K2xx over the GMT900. On a 2000 mile trip with a 2017 Suburban I averaged a hand calculated 20 mpg. That included a week of city driving.

I have also driven a few Expedition EL/Max rentals. I did not like the ride or handling of the 2017 Expedition as it felt like I was always chasing the truck in the lane. I did the same exact 2000 mile trip with a 2017 Expedition EL with the Ecoboost and averaged 16mpg.

Recently I had a 2018 Expedition Max and probably put about 400 miles on it. The fuel economy was more on par with what I experienced and expected from the GM SUV's. The ride was better, but the handling was still the same with feeling like the steering is over sensitive and I always had to be correcting it.

With all of the hype about the Ecoboost, I was underwhelmed by it's performance. Specifically, getting on the expressway one time I put the gas peddle to the floor with the tach somewhere around 2500 RPMs. While the truck moved decent, it didn't down shift and actually felt sluggish. I don't know if it glitched, but with the 10 speed I expected it to downshift and take off. This 2018 Expedition convinced me that it had only two benefits over a Suburban. The leg room of the third row and that the middle row is also adjustable. However, once using the seat to allow third row passengers out it returns to the furthest back position and thus needed to be adjusted again. Any other differences I could note would be personal preference.

From a towing experience, I am sure the Ecoboost is a wonder especially on hills or at elevation. I know that in the Smokey Mountians (non-towing) while using cruise the Expedition wouldn't even drop 1mph. Yeah, my Suburban my vary a little from the set speed.

I have towed a 6x12 enclosed trailer with both the 2012 and the 2017. The 2012 had the 3.42 axle while the 2017 has the latest 5.3L but the 3.08 axle. With the 2017 I actually haven't ever felt like I needed more power (towing or not). The newer 5.3L makes up (in my situation) for the 3.08 over the previous 5.3L and 3.42 axle. Now, I ended up towing in 4th gear with the 2017 but my speed was more consistant and it rarely downshifted. The 2012 I would run in 5th but it would loose speed on hills and frequently shift to 4th gear. I used to get single digit fuel mileage with the 2012 and got 12mpg (hand calculated) with the 2017 on an 800 mile trip from Michigan to South Carolina.

[garyp4951]

My 2010 Tahoe 5.3 at 60k miles started using 2 qts. of oil between changes due to the cylinder deactivation, so I traded it. My 01 GMC 2500 with the 6.0 had the rear main seal go out at 90k miles, and after owning GM vehicles for 40 years I switched brands.

[eflyersteve]

I'd avoid any of the active fuel management stuff on the GM models - or if it's not failed yet, have it turned off.

[theoldwizard1]

anw7405 wrote:
Also I noticed the expedition with ecoboost generally tows about 1,00lbs more than the best GM's. I know these motors are powerful but I also know there are a lot of reliability issues I have seen. Anybody out there towing with the new expeditions with the ecoboost? How are they holding up?

New as in 2018 ? Expedition was all new for 2018. Aluminum body, new engine and 10 speed transmission, both out of the F150.

The big thing with the Expedition is make sure is comes with the heavy duty trailer tow package. For 2018 this included a built in trailer brake controller.

[Campfire_Time]

My last Suburban was a '95, which went to my dad, now my brother has it. Over 200k. My dad currently has a 2005 'Burb. Night and day difference, the '05 being far better. I have a 2008 Sierra. Night and day difference in quality and overall build there too. My '08 is far nicer. I bought it with 85k and it has 152k on it now. I do have one issue with the 5.3. It uses a little oil, the #1 and #7 plugs get fouled. There is an updated valve cover for it but I just change those 2 plug out once every 6 months. No big deal. Otherwise it has been solid. The interior parts improve with every generation of GM truck.

[anw7405]

wrktfsh wrote:
What are you planning to tow

Thats a little complicated. I have 2 TT's. One nothing on the market will tow (37' 10K loaded about 8,200 dry) The other only weights like 3200lbs so two totally opposite trailers. One day I may trade them in though for something in the middle who knows. I'll probably keep my 8.1 burb to tow the big one but for everyday driving and pulling the little trailer we might get something newer. Just doing my research at this point though.

[anw7405]

wnjj wrote:
We have a 2014 GMC Yukon XL with a bit over 75k miles without a single issue, interior, exterior or drivetrain. It has the 5.3 flex fuel but it’s only ever run E10.

So maybe GM did fix some of the cheap plastic stuff in the later years of that body style.

[APT]

Power/performance for 2015+ Expy looks far better for towing. Ecoboost is just a fantastic beast and compares very well to GM's 6.2L. Longevity and durability is a concern, and 4 models old is not much in SUV application. Ecoboost has been around since 2011 in F-150 though and there are a number of 200k+ mile examples for sale.

GM has owned the full sized SUV market forever. Still have 2/3's of the market in 2018. They just work. May not be the fastest, not the best for certain needs, but they work well and a very long time.

Our 2011 Suburban has had very few problems. We have 111k miles in 6 years. It has served as our main family vehicle for 5 of them. It has been very cheap to own and operate excepting fuel which was budgeted. I plan to keep it for another 6 years at least.

Tow ratings can be ignored for this comparison for RVing. Receiver limit is highest on the GM which is exceeded at 8k loaded TT. Payloads are similar. Wheelbases are similar. Pick the one that speaks more clearly from a test drive.