While Chevrolet's customers praised the K5 Blazer for its rugged ability to cross through a construction site like a hot knife through butter, the Tahoe tried to offer something more.
The Americans quickly noticed that a big SUV could handle a family's needs just as well as any other station wagon, but with an extra ability to tow a boat or clean the driveway from snow during winter. Chevrolet introduced the Tahoe in 1991 to replace the K5, and, apart from the rugged chassis, it offered a comfortable interior for at least five people, even in the three-door version. The SUV was still named K5 Blazer until the bow-tie brand decided to change its name to Tahoe after the 1995 mid-life cycle refresh and use the Blazer name for a smaller, less-rugged SUV.
At the front, the 1991 Blazer/Tahoe, which was still named Blazer, featured a new look with two rows of lamps separated by a horizontal slat that crossed the entire front fascia. In the three-door version, the Tahoe was a mix between a K5 and a comfortable family MPV. The long side window behind the B-pillar offered a 30% larger glass area than the previous K5.
Inside, Chevrolet carried over the entire dashboard from the Suburban, with a broad and squared instrument cluster that included climate control and the stereo buttons. In the back, there was room for three adults with adequate leg and headroom. The trunk was big enough for everything, and if needed, the owner could have folded the entire rear bench.
Under the hood, GM installed a 5.7-liter V8 offered in two output versions. Chevrolet also equipped the vehicle with a 6.5-liter V-8 diesel unit.