2021 Chevy Tahoe Review

　　

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The Tahoe is one of the few truck-based SUVs still around. But being truck-based can't be an excuse for being behind the times. The previous-generation Tahoe offered plenty of towing capacity but came up short in refinement, versatility and features. This year's redesigned 2021 Tahoe has addressed many of those shortcomings.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Fleet 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$213/mo  for Tahoe Fleet

　　Tahoe Fleet

　　Fleet 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $48,000 MSRPFleet 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $51,000 MSRPLS 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $49,000 MSRPLS 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $52,000 MSRPLT 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $53,800 MSRPLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $56,800 MSRPRST 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $57,100 MSRPRST 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $60,100 MSRPZ71 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $59,200 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $62,600 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A) - $65,600 MSRPHigh Country 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $69,600 MSRPHigh Country 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $72,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　On the inside, the new Tahoe has more rear legroom, particularly for the third row. Max cargo room gets a significant boost, going from 94.7 cubic feet last year to 122.9 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Tahoe also gets an independent rear suspension for the first time. As a result, the new Tahoe rides more smoothly over bumps and around turns than the old Tahoe, which had a traditional solid-axle rear suspension.

　　A more car-like three-row crossover SUV such as Chevy's Traverse will still be easier to drive and get you better fuel economy. But along with the Ford Expedition and the Tahoe's corporate twin, the GMC Yukon, the 2021 Tahoe is worth checking out for a roomy three-row SUV with stout towing and hauling capabilities. Read our Expert Rating for our in-depth evaluation and test results on a 2021 Tahoe.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Tahoe drive? Considering its size, the Tahoe does all right for itself under acceleration and braking. We tested a 4WD Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V8 engine and recorded a 0-60 mph sprint of 7.7 seconds, which is an average time for a large SUV. But for higher-speed passing maneuvers, you'll need a lot of throttle and some patience since the Tahoe's smaller V8 engine simply runs out of steam once you're past 65 mph or so. The somewhat soft brake pedal is our only complaint with the otherwise smooth and capable braking system.

　　Navigating city streets with the Tahoe is easy thanks to its tight turning circle and light steering. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts promptly and unobtrusively. But the Tahoe's light steering is vague, especially at higher speeds, and the Tahoe makes it clear that you're driving a large SUV and should probably take it easy around corners.

　　When equipped with the optional Z71 package, the Tahoe benefits from its height-adjustable air suspension and good approach and departure angles. It's quite capable in moderate off-roading situations.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Tahoe? The Tahoe's new independent rear suspension has cured many issues that plagued the last generation. Our test vehicle was equipped with a fully adaptive suspension and easily soaked up bumps big and small. The Tahoe could have scored higher in this category, but the first and second row seats are overly hard and lack the support and padding needed for long-distance driving. The Tahoe's third-row seats at least offer better padding and support than the third rows in most of the competition.

　　The Tahoe's multi-zone climate control system's effectiveness does not disappoint; heating and cooling are effective for all three rows. We're less fond of the smaller climate control buttons in the front and the excessive noise of the rear climate system, especially if you're sitting in the third row. Another source of elevated noise is the windshield. It produced a distinct roar at highway speeds.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The wide-opening doors offer easy access to front and rear seats, and even third-row passengers have ample headroom to get to their seats. The driver's seat and steering wheel have a wide range of adjustment to suit a variety of drivers. Visibility is generally good, though the tall front end can make it nearly impossible to see obstacles closer than 6 feet away. Thankfully, the Tahoe offers an excellent multi-view camera system to make parking in the tight spots a breeze.

　　Our biggest complaint is the Tahoe's inefficient use of space. The dash-mounted push-button shifter has forced many secondary controls to be relocated and bunched together, for example, and the redundant controls for the audio system and touchscreen take up too much prime dashboard real estate. The Tahoe's steering wheel-mounted controls aren't very intuitive either.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Our test vehicle was equipped with a 10.2-inch screen and navigation. We're fans of Chevrolet's latest touchscreen interface — it offers crisp graphics, an easy-to-understand menu structure and quick response times. It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

　　You'll find plenty of charging ports through the cabin, but if you opt for the power center console, those charge ports are moved to the same bin that holds the wireless charging pad. That creates a somewhat inconvenient mess of wires.

　　Our Z71-equipped test vehicle did not offer adaptive cruise control, which is a bit of an oversight for a nearly $70,000 SUV. We also found the lane-keeping assist system to be slow to respond and inconsistent. Another disappointment: Our test Tahoe's stability control system was poorly calibrated. It was prone to overreacting when going around turns and dramatically reduced the vehicle's speed far beyond what we thought was necessary.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Thanks to the new independent rear suspension and larger overall dimensions, the new Tahoe can hold 25.5 cubic feet of stuff behind the third-row seats compared to the predecessor's 15.3 cubic feet. The maximum capacity grows to 122.9 cubic feet, larger than last year's Suburban.

　　The driver and front passenger have little in the way of small-item storage, with only two cupholders and a bin that, depending on your options, may or may not be a wireless charging pad. The center console isn't as big as we expected either and is lined with hard plastic. Chevrolet did give the Tahoe a lot of door pocket storage, with the front doors getting three tiers for your personal items. Second-row passengers lack a center console but also get ample storage in the door pockets.

　　When properly equipped, the Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 pounds. Our 4WD Z71-equipped test vehicle was rated to tow 8,200 pounds, though we think the 5.3-liter V8 might be pretty strained doing so. Consider getting the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 or more frugal diesel six-cylinder if you plan on doing a lot of towing. For comparison, Ford's Expedition can tow up to 9,000 pounds.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates a 4WD Tahoe will get 18 mpg combined with the 5.3-liter V8, which is an average figure for a big SUV. On our 115-mile evaluation route, our test Tahoe returned 17.8 mpg, nearly matching the EPA's estimates.

　　It should also be noted the 5.3-liter engine in the Tahoe does not require premium gasoline, while the Expedition recommends it. Chevrolet offers a more powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine that is estimated to get 17 mpg combined. There's also an available diesel engine that's good for an impressive 24 mpg.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Tahoe a good value? Packing a full-size SUV with technology and luxury isn't going to result in a low price tag. The Tahoe starts at just over $50K and can easily exceed $80K if you like your options. Our fairly well-equipped Z71 test vehicle came in at $68,940, and for the most part it looked every bit worth that price. There are some areas of unimpressive hard plastic, but the overall fit and finish is generally good. It's definitely a match for Ford's equally pricey and capable Expedition.

　　The Tahoe's bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties are fairly standard at three years/36,000 miles and five years/60,000 miles, respectively. More impressive are Chevy's five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance and year of free scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　People expect comfort, capability and convenience with a large SUV, and the Chevrolet Tahoe delivers. Its redesigned rear suspension offers better interior space, increased cargo volume and a smoother ride over a wide variety of surfaces. In short, it does a better job at being the family workhorse.

　　

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe models

The 2021 Tahoe is offered in six trim levels: the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier and High Country. The standard engine on the Tahoe is a 5.3-liter V8 (355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft) mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels (standard on the Z71). Two other engines are also available:

　　For the High Country trim only, Chevy swaps in a 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft). There's also an optional turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft). It won't be available at the start of the Tahoe's production run, but eventually Chevy will offer it on every Tahoe trim except the Z71.

　　LS

　　Starts you off with features such as:

　　LED headlights 18-inch wheels Eight-passenger seating (2-3-3); front-row bench seat is optional on LS only Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)LT

　　Adds to the LS with:

　　Hands-free liftgate Wireless charging pad Leather upholstery Nine-speaker Bose audio system Driver-seat memory settings and heated front seats Auto-dimming rearview mirrorRST

　　Includes these features:

　　22-inch wheels Unique front fascia and black exterior trim Special RST seats with contrasting stitchingZ71

　　Adds extra off-road capability with:

　　Unique front fascia to improve the Tahoe's approach angle Two-speed transfer case (for low-range gearing) Hill descent control All-terrain tires Front skid plate and tow hooksPremier

　　Steps up the standard equipment by including:

　　Magnetically controlled shock absorbers (better ride and handling capabilities) 8-inch digital instrument panel 10-speaker Bose audio system Heated and ventilated front seats Second-row bucket seats (drops capacity to seven passengers) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)High Country

　　Adds more luxury with:

　　420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 Surround-view parking camera system Head-up display Rear pedestrian alert system Special grille with bronze accentsMany of the features on the higher trim levels are available as options on the lower trims. Other significant options, depending on the trim level, include:

　　Max Trailering package Panoramic sunroof Rear entertainment system Traffic-adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Tahoe and the car in front) Air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)

　　

2021 Tahoe Highlights

Trim: FleetLSLTRSTZ71PremierHigh CountryFleet

　　

Base MSRP	$48,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$213/month
Seating	9 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles