User-friendly, fully-loaded, and a true beast of burden, the 2021 Tahoe has been on the keen sights of many customers this year here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis. One well-documented test drive this year took it cruising on a sample of Michigan's roads that ranks the ninth-worst in the nation! This is where the new air springs, magnetic shocks, and a four-link rear setup dealt superbly with every roughed-up inch of pavement, and provided the driver with light and linear behavior.
The staff on hand at GM Authority spent a full day with the top-of-the-range High Country model deriving power from the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 L87 engine that cranks out 460 lb-ft of torque and is mated to the GM 10-speed automatic transmission. Their tester model also had 4WD, the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension Package, the Magnetic Ride Control suspension system, and the Maximum Trailering package enabling an 8,100-pound towing rating. They also enjoyed the panoramic, dual-pane tilt-sliding sunroof, and closely speculated upon the quality, fit, finish, and initial driving impression. Following are some pressing questions from loyal customers, and the response the team had after spending a good chunk of time with this Chevy favorite.
Question: I'm curious to hear about the difference in ride quality and handling over the outgoing models, what is your take on this?
Answer: The new Tahoe's ride quality is very good, and the air suspension softens the rebound effect on bigger bumps, so passengers feel a bit less of a jolt. There is not a huge difference between the new Tahoe and the previous-generation model equipped with the Magnetic Ride Control suspension. The fit and finish may not compare with what is seen on an Escalade, but there is definitely vast improvement. Everything feels solid and the button layout is easy to use during a drive. The High Country's zebra-like seat piping adds a nice touch. The center armrest slides for and aft and there's a concealed storage tray inside of it.
Question: Is the High Country trim worth a little extra spend over the GMC Yukon Denali based on your testing?
Answer: There are a few subtle differences in design between the High Country's interior and the GMC Yukon Denali's. We see woodgrain accenting in different areas: the seat stitching is different, and there are some variations in the color schemes. In the GMC, the infotainment screen is placed into the center stack, with air vents located above it, while the touchscreen is now mounted up higher in the Tahoe. This is an issue of personal preference, and perhaps the price difference could be justified elsewhere in the Tahoe.
Question: How is the ride quality compared to luxury SUVs such as MB GLS, BLW X7, when paired with Air Suspension and Magnetorheological dampers?
Answer: The ride quality is similar, yet different at the same time. Passengers in the GLS and X7 will feel bumps and road imperfections a bit more, if only because of the lower-profile performance tires usually found on German models. The Tahoe High Country tested here rode on 275/50R22 all-season rubber while the BMW X7 xDrive40i rides on 385/45R21 tires. The X7 M50i is equipped with 275/40R22 tires up front and 315/35R22 at the rear. The Tahoe High Country's ride is very refined and very smooth.
Question: Does the Tahoe have start/stop? If so, can it be turned off by the driver?
Answer: The Tahoe does have automatic stop/start. It is easily activated by pressing a button on the left side of the steering wheel and turns itself back on after every engine restart. The engine does restart very smoothly and does not shut off until you reach a full stop. Within some of the German competitors, this system will shut the engine down as you are approaching a full stop, which is an annoyance if you're not planning to completely halt at a stop sign.
Question: What is the MPG on the 6.1-liter and grade of recommended fuel?
Answer: The 6.2-Liter L87 V8 is rated at 420 horsepower and 460- lb-ft of torque. In the Tahoe, it boasts city/highway/combined ratings of 15/20/17 mpg in 2WD configuration, and 14/19/16 mpg in 4WD trim. The testing team managed 16 mpg with a combination of city and highway driving. As far as fuel, the L87 can run on regular fuel with an octane rating 87, but GM highly recommends 93-octane fuel. As the automaker points out, “using unleaded gasoline rated below 93 octane will lead to reduced acceleration and fuel economy. If knocking occurs, use a gasoline-rated at 93 octane as soon as possible.” Otherwise, the engine may suffer damage.
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