Big cars do not make me nervous. I grew up with her. My father, an engineer, advised a succession of pickups through fields and forests that developed agricultural and building materials. My mother, 5 feet, 4 inches in heels, was decades ahead of trends in the automotive industry, driving a Suburban – always calling it her car, never “the truck” – because of her commanding view of the road.
The Michigan State University School of Journalism asked me to hire a driver to visit editors around campus because I was not afraid to drive an Econoline van of 15 passengers in a parking structure.
Believe me when I say that the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is great.
Large enough to maintain social distance from the front seats to its new comfortable third-row seats – more than 6 feet away, through a tape measure strung nose to nose.
The 2021 Tahoe is 6.7 inches longer than the outgoing model, but size is the tip of the iceberg. Most of the improvements to the new SUV are below the surface, including an independent rear suspension that improves ride, and, more importantly, the third-row seat transforms from a car steering box into a premium seat that my passengers do not want to leave themselves after we measured.
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The Tahoe – and its even bigger brother, the Suburban – controls its large mass-market SUV market, accounting for nearly 50% of the lucrative segment’s sales. Add the upcoming GMC Yukon, and General Motors dominates the segment at around 70%.
It’s also great, establishing itself as the great SUV to beat.
The 2021 Tahoe is now coming into dealerships.
Drifting impressions
I spent a day loading a 2021 Tahoe High Country four-wheeler on highways, city streets, and country roads. The independent rear suspension ensures a remarkably smooth ride. Nicely tuned steering made the massive SUV easy to maneuver.
My top-of-the-line model had an adjustable air suspension and 22-inch alloy wheels. It forgot speed bumps like morning burritos and was quiet at highway speeds.
It was easy to hold conversations, even with third-row passengers pretending to be in a limo. The comfortable seats of the captain of the second row make nice foot rests if incident flat fold. They also slide front and rear and tip for rear access. Powerful boards and adjustable ride height contribute to easy entry and exit.
The base engine is a 355-horsepower 5.3L V8, but my car had the optional 420-hp 6.2L. I had a lot of power for acceleration and cruise.
A smooth, fast 10-speed automatic transmission is standard. The Tahoe uses new shift controls built into the 2-hour lane of driver. Pull-toggles control the commands you set in motion – reverse and drive – while pressing park and neutral buttons. It is a format that will probably be second nature in a few days. A rocker switch under those controls lets you scroll up and down for trailers, hills, etc.
At 14 mpg in the city, 19 on the highway and 16 combined, EPA fuel economy for my 6.2L 4WD High Country trail estimates its direct competitor, a Ford Expedition with a less powerful 375-hp twin-turbo V6. GM recommends premium gasoline for spec-sheet energy and fuel economy, while Ford’s EcoBoost V6 generates its figures with less expensive regular.
Tahoe’s maximum carrying capacity is 8,400 pounds. My 4WD 6.2L was rated at 8,100. Those reviews use SAE standards, but I did not have a chance to drag during my test.
Available security features
- Automatic front and rear brakes
- Collision alarm
- Pedestrian alarm
- Lane Change alert and assist
- Blind spot and cross traffic warning
- Assist parking
- Automatic high beams
- Security alert driver
How many?
Tahoe prices start at $ 49,000 for a 5.3L rear-wheel drive model. Adding 4WD increases the tab to $ 52,000.
Chevy builds a wide range of models: six trim levels, three engines and rear- or four-wheel drive. I tested a top of the line High Country. That model starts at $ 69,600 for RWD, $ 72,600 4WD.
I have a top of the line 4WD High Country test. It sits at $ 80,550.
Tahoe prices compare favorably with the Ford Expedition, its only serious competition.
All prices are destination costs exclusive.
Features on my car included:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Two rear / touch screens for rear seats
- 10-crack Bose audio
- Head-up display
- 10.2-inch touchscreen
- Navigation
- Voice recognition and Bluetooth
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Wireless charging
- Wireless CarPlay and Android car
- 22-inch silver painted wheels
- Hill descent control
- Trailering kit
- Two-speed transmission case
- Custom air suspension
- Panoramic sunroof
- Powerful governance
- Sliding consolidation
- Surround view cameras
- Digital rearview mirror
- Trailer hitch guidance
For $ 80G I would expect real wood
The interior of Tahoe High Country sets a new standard for Chevy trucks, with leather seats, soft materials wherever you are likely to lean on and touch, and leading controls and connectivity in the industry.
Climate, audio and navigation controls are refreshingly easy to use, with a combination of speech recognition, 10.2-inch touchscreen, and most importantly, buttons and dials for frequently used audio and climate settings.
You may be wondering what more a person could ask for, if you’ve never been to a Ford Expedition King Ranch or Platinum, or even a Ram Laramie Longhorn pickup. They have unexpected design blooms, like the Ram’s hand-marked wooden trim and saddle bag-style card pockets.
In this respect, the faux-wood trim of the Tahoe seems like a shiny pastime, undermining the virtues of the interior: space, comfort and generally attractive and appealing materials.
The interior of the Tahoe has many appealing features, including a panoramic sunroof and a motorized storage compartment in the center console that slides backwards for access by passengers of the second row.
GM’s safety alarm seats are one of the best features of the automotive industry, vibrating the driver’s front and side cushions in response to obstacles and oncoming vehicles. It may sound distracting, but it soon becomes second nature. I prefer warnings that beep rather than flashlights.
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe at a glance
Base price: $ 49,000
Tahoe High Country 4WD like test: $ 80,550 (excluding destination costs)
Four-wheel-drive SUV with six passengers.
Engine: 6.2L V6
Output: 420 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 460 pound meter torque @ 4,100
Transfer: 10-speed automatic
EPA: 14 mpg city / 19 highway / 16 combined
Wheelbase: 120.9 inches
Length: 210.7 inches
Width: 81 inches
Height: 75.9 inches
Low weight: 5,845 lbs
Compiled in Arlington, Texas.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more about cars and sign up for our cars newsletter.
