PPVing and Non-PPV Tahoe (or Durango, or Explorer) for Alternative Minivan-ness

My wife had pretty much ruled out a minivan for our family hauling, but in lieu of that, is open to just about any SUV as long, she says "as it doesn't feel like a truck." We have some friends who have a newer Tahoe and between this family and some others we have who larger vehicles, my wife sees the benefit to a larger, safer vehicle for long distance, high speed road trips. She stood next to a local LEO's PPV Tahoe and I said "is that too big?" She replied "it's not a minivan, so whatever."

I was recently reading up on how popular the (2011+)  unibody Explorer and (2015+) Chevy K2 platform have become for law enforcement, and the work that the domestics have put into these large vehicles for decently high-speed handling.

Similarly, I was surprised to see that when you lower a newer unibody Dodge Durango, it looks a lot like a tall station wagon. 

While I still hope a Mercedes Wagon or cheap Subaru Ascent will drop into my lap, I think I have a better chance of finding one of these domestic SUVs and giving it a PPV treatment, slight drop, cop shocks, etc. 

What do I need to know about:

2011+ Ford Explorer 

2015+ Chevy Tahoe

2011+ Dodge Durango

My 2017 Yukon XL Denali has been a fantastic used vehicle purchase and I highly recommend them.  I've put 80k on it and it's been dead reliable.  Brakes and fluid changes were the extent of the work on it until the AC crapped out this spring at 98k due to a failed condenser-rock hit.  Loaded up with 7, towing our boat, or long solo business trips for me, it's comfortable, quiet, powerful, not fuel efficient (6.2l AWD), and reliable.  I'm sold GM.

I absolutely loved our '13 Exploder aside from the touch screen and invasive stability/traction control. It was very easy to work on; I swapped out the shocks, struts, and springs for the Interceptor units and put new calipers on it. You can rotate the strut tops 180 degrees for a little more negative camber. I'd still like to get a '15-'19 Exploder Interceptor with the 3.7 and AWD and the base model hvac controls.


Also, inb4 Ecoboost Flex. :) 

I hated our 16 Exploder (3.5 NA, AWD), although most of that might have been due to the almost constant stream of recalls we dealt with over the 2 years we owned it and the quality of the local dealerships. 
Look out for the water pumps with these. They're driven internally off the timing chain and when they fail, can leak into the oil and ruin your engine. Thankfully, when ours failed, it leaked externally. Replacing the pump generally means replacing the chains, tensioners, and cam phasers. At least that's how I did it since we had to drop the engine to get to all of it. These also seem to go through rear wheel bearings kinda quickly, and had to replace both rear brake calipers after they seized. Maybe we just got a lemon? 

Of your choices, I'd go Tahoe 

2013-2019 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L Ecoboost. Stupid quick in stock form but add a tune and it turns into a flat out sleeper. They also have an abundent aftermarket from the likes of Steeda and such so no lack of performance options.

Ford Flex Ecoboost - giant station wagon with a 3.5L Ecoboost. Also, fridge was optional for the middle rear seats. Hot Rod Station Wagon.

2015+ Ford Edge Sport/Edge ST - Rocketship in sheeps clothing. 2.7L Ecoboost and AWD. Tune, intercooler and E30 and itll run 12's with ease. Will be too small if you have more than 2 kids.

If you can afford a 2020+ Explorer ST that would be my choice. 3.0L Ecoboost w/ 400+ horsepower. Has factory big brake option in the "Street Pack" or "Track Pack". My wife loves her 2021 with the Street Pack. Has a huge amount of power in factory form and we are getting ready to tune it here shortly for that extra 100+hp(on 93!).

Dodge does have the Durango SRT. They are pretty pricey but the 485+hp 6.4L V8 and its suspension/brakes would be the fastest of the bunch. I think even used they are $60K+. 

Does the Explorer EcoBoost share the water pump issue with the NA motors? 

One attractive (am I saying this?) aspect of the Durango is its simplicity and parts sharing with the HO models. 

Again, that's the interest in all of these - they all have readily available parts to make them not handle like trucks. 

I had a 2012 Durango Citadel with the Hemi. Bought used - original owner checked off most of the option boxes (except 2nd row captain's chairs that I didn't want anyway). Pretty quick in a straight line, a little thirsty at the pumps, and while I thought it "drove smaller" than it was, it's handling was uninspiring (no handling mods, OE-tires). Had a few annoying issues with it (like the wipers coming on when you hit the turn signal in cold weather), the most serious being when a xenon headlight overheated and melted a bunch of plastic up front (but fortunately didn't burn down the truck). Would have preferred the R/T if I could have found one at the time...