The Consumer Guide to 2009 Large SUVs
by Ed Piotrowski
2009 Large SUV Lineup
Base Price Range: $40,370-$53,460 EPA MPG Range: 12-20 Body Style: 4-door wagon For smooth power, utility, and surprising overall refinement, these are Best Buy trucks. A carefully optioned LT is the best choice in the Suburban lineup, and is a strong value among large SUVs. | |
Base Price Range: $36,965-$53,260 EPA MPG Range: 12-22 Body Style: 4-door wagon Third-row accommodations are still best suited to children, but for smooth power, utility, and surprising overall refinement, Tahoe is a Best Buy among large SUVs. The Hybrid model's premium may seem sharp, but so are the fuel economy savings. This large SUV can achieve the fuel economy of a midsize car with no sacrifice in passenger or cargo capacity. | |
Base Price Range: $34,150-$49,805 EPA MPG Range: 14-20 (2WD, 4WD Expedition models are not rated by the EPA) Body Style: 4-door wagon Expedition is an excellent vehicle for those who genuinely need the power and space of a large truck-type SUV. Interior materials trail those of some competitors, but for useful power, cargo space, passenger room, and surprisingly adept handling, this Ford is a Best Buy pick. Lincoln's Navigator dresses Expedition in flashier duds and elevates cabin ambiance with some real wood and nicer leather. The Lincoln offers nothing else of substance over its Ford sibling, and Navigator costs more. | |
Base Price Range: $37,705-$55,935 EPA MPG Range: 12-22 Body Style: 4-door wagon Yukon is pitched as an upscale alternative to Chevrolet's Tahoe, and the Denali is positioned just below Cadillac's Escalade. Despite having more power and luxury touches than Yukons, Denali doesn't deliver enough of either to justify its higher base price and thirst for premium-grade gas. A carefully optioned Yukon SLE or SLT are the Best Buys in this GMC lineup. | |
Base Price Range: $37,210-$47,860 EPA MPG Range: 12-18 Body Style: 4-door wagon Armada doesn't lead the large-SUV class in any area. It trails key rivals in 3rd-row comfort and ease of entry and exit. Still, engine performance is laudable, and prices generally undercut those of similarly equipped competitors. Despite quality gaffes in some of our test models, Nissan does have a good reputation for mechanical reliability. | |
Base Price Range: $33,160-$45,660 EPA MPG Range: 13-19 Body Style: 4-door wagon This Recommended large SUV holds its own against most rivals in every measure except dashboard convenience and cargo space behind the 3rd-row seat. Those demerits are softened somewhat by an otherwise inviting cabin and an overall size that makes close-quarters maneuvering easier than with most in this class. |
Inside This Article
