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2025 Ford Expedition: Chevy Tahoe, Suburban Rival To Get This Unique Feature

GM Authority readers will very well know that the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban have long been the undisputed champs in the highly lucrative full-size SUV segment, earning and maintaining a dominant position both in terms of sales volume and share. But the competition, which recently grew via a new entry in the form of the Jeep Wagoneer range, hasn’t been standing still. In fact, GM’s primary cross-town rival, Ford, is prepping an updated 2025 Ford Expedition that will introduce a unique feature not offered Tahoe or Suburban.

A side profile angle photo of the 2025 Ford Expedition prototype.

20225 Ford Expedition prototype

As exclusively reported by our sister site, Ford Authority, the 2025 Ford Expedition will feature a split liftgate when the updated model, currently in development, goes on sale later this year. The feature’s introduction would come after the 2024 Ford F-150 added the Pro Access Tailgate (see video below) as part of its 2024 model year refresh.

The split liftgate in the 2025 Expedition is expected to include a lower section (the tailgate) and an upper section (the upper liftgate). The tailgate would allow users to drop the tailgate in a similar fashion as on a truck like the F-150, while the latter would enable them to access the rear cargo area without dropping the tailgate, roughly similar to how the rear glass functions on the current Expedition, as well as the Tahoe and Suburban. Incidentally, a split liftgate would likely completely eliminate the rear glass movement in the Expedition, thereby likely carrying NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) benefits.

The split liftgate configuration could also deliver a few other benefits, such as enabling users to sit when it’s extended. It could also prevent items, such as groceries, from inadvertently rolling out of the cargo area when the hatch is opened, providing a fix for a potential usability issue for models with a single liftgate. Finally, splitting a large liftgate into two pieces would also decrease the size of the upward-swinging liftgate door, which might be favorable in low clearance environments.

Beyond the liftgate, the 2025 Ford Expedition might also gain a hybrid powertrain along with the automaker’s Pro Power Onboard feature, which is capable of delivering up to 7.2 kWh of electricity via 120- and 240-volt outlets in the F-150. Other expected items worth noting about the 2025 Expedition are optional 24-inch wheels and a redone cockpit with larger screens.

For its part, Chevrolet isn’t sitting still, having announced a refresh of the Tahoe as well as the Suburban for the 2025 model year. The 2025 Tahoe and 2025 Suburban are will bring about updates to the SUVs’ exterior styling, a new cockpit and updated interior appointments, along with an updated turbo-diesel Duramax engine. And, as first reported by GM Authority over a year ago, Chevy will also offer a few 24-inch wheels on the updated Tahoe and Suburban.

Looking beyond Chevrolet at the General Motors enterprise, the Detroit-based firm will also reveal a refresh for the GMC Yukon for the 2025 model year. Unlike the updated Tahoe and Suburban, GMC has yet to reveal the 2025 Yukon and 2025 Yukon XL, but we expect similar updates… though properly differentiated both inside and out.

A photo of the 2025 Chevy Tahoe interior

2025 Chevy Tahoe interior

A spy photo of the 2025 GMC Yukon cockpit.

2025 GMC Yukon prototype

Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for Chevy Tahoe news, Chevy Suburban news, Chevy news, GM wheel news, and more obsessive-compulsive GM news coverage.

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Comments

  1. Clever idea, but when you see the rear without camo, it reveals a TINY rear window that looks ridiculous on such a large vehicle. Here come the backovers, again.

    Reply
    1. Reply
  2. IIRC GM’s Astro van had something similar. Didn’t set the world on fire.

    Anyway hope Ford gets it right. If a multi-way tailgate on a pickup has air noise or water leaks, nobody cares. If a multi-way tailgate on a SUV pushing six figures has air noise or water leaks into the cabin, we have a problem.

    Reply
    1. I had the Astro with the split rear gate. It rattled constantly.

      Reply
  3. I think the article concentrates on the wrong thing. If they do a hybrid, that is the thing to watch, especially if it offers a decent power outlet for blackouts to power home necessities like fridges. Power reliability is a thing now. Who knew in the 60’s that the US would become a third world country again when it pertains to power and water.

    Reply
    1. I think you mean PHEV. No regular hybrid does powershare and currently no PHEV does it either because the batteries aren’t that big compared to an EV.

      Reply
  4. Ford’s already done this once with the Ford Excursion. It’s ‘dutch doors’ with upper glass hatch was quite useful and no problems. There was great visibility all around. Mine was an intro year 2000 Limited trim and its 7.3l Powerstroke diesel was a dead nuts reliable powerplant. That was a great vehicle and I regret selling it to this day.

    Reply
  5. In my opinion, a useless feature for a full size SUV. More to rattle and leak especially over time. Money better spent developing a small block V-8.

    Reply
    1. I think there is a higher possibility for rattles and leaks in an independently moving rear glass, like the one on the current Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Expeditions.

      As for a split liftgate being a useless feature, the best of the best have it, including some Range Rovers, BMW X5 and X7, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX, etc. Customers paying over $100K for these vehicles certainly seem to appreciate it.

      Reply
      1. People don’t buy Range Rovers, BMWs, Lexus, etc., for something as trivial as a split tailgate. They buy it for the name, the luxury, and the prestige that goes along with owning one of these brands.

        Reply
        1. You’re exactly correct, people do not buy these cars because of the split liftgate feature. That said, it seems that the point being made in my comment went right over your head.

          People buying these vehicles have first hand experience with the split liftgate. It’s becoming an expectation in these kinds of vehicles. Hence, it’s not a “useless feature” as suggested by Dave D.

          Reply
    2. Agreed. Contrary to the article, this would be WORSE for NVH. Also it’s making an issue out of something that’s not really a problem. Like the others, Ford is just desperate to catch up to the Yukon & Tahoe and are going to try any gimmicky feature they can.

      Reply
      1. Please explain how a split liftgate would be worse for NVH than a thin piece of rear glass (which can be opened or closed, as is the case on the current Expedition, Tahoe, Suburban, and Yukons).

        I’ll save you the trouble: there is no way that it will be worse.

        In the split liftgate configuration, the rear glass becomes fixed while also becoming thicker. That alone delivers a solid reduction in noise. Then you’re left with an extra set of seals, which ends up being a wash in terms of NVH.

        Reply
  6. This is supposed to be ground breaking?

    The 1st gen S-10 Blazer had a setup like this.
    Put the key in, twist the mechanism one way and the glass flips up. Twist the mechanism the other way and the tailgate drops down.

    Why the fuss over something that’s been around for decades?

    Reply
    1. There isn’t any fuss… just reporting on a feature that’s currently not offered by GM on its Expedition rivals.

      Reply
  7. Astro…. Been there and done that

    Reply
  8. How about some barn doors!!!

    Reply
  9. I *really* like the high-power 120- and 240-volt outlets. That could be very useful.
    GM should take notice

    Reply

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