2021 Chevy Tahoe Delivers Trusted and True Performance

Consistently known for being a true mover and shaker here at Chuck Hutton Chevrolet of Memphis, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe is on deck and ready for families who are desiring bigger and burlier SUVs. This year's model boasts a deep work-over, aggressive new looks, and a slew of improvements in the technology and chassis departments, including a thorough reworking of the independent rear suspension.

The most potent engine option is the 6.2-Liter V8 cranking out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, followed up by the 3.0-liter Duramax offering up 277 horses and 460 lb-ft of torque.  The testing crew for Tractionlife.com was equipped with the 5.3-liter V8, the in-between choice churning out 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. This capable engine still allows for an 8,200-lb towing rating, and the troupe also enjoyed the addition of the Z71 Package, adding to the mix red tow hooks and skid plate, 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, and the fantastic four-corner air ride adaptive suspension. 

Even the “lower-output” 5.3-liter V8 provided excellent and immediate response, with the pairing to the 10-speed transmission always offering the right gear at the right instant. In regards to the independent rear suspension, the tester fitted with the Magnetic Ride control gave it a useful dose of quick response during steering on winding roads, and resulted in a pleasantly “point and shoot” style of handling that is ideal for daily tasks of city life. This year's model boasts a 66 percent increase in cargo space behind the third row, and the on-board entertainment category is taken care of with GM's top-ranked infotainment system. 

A new dashboard layout is waiting inside, with a cleaner and up-to-date feel, and the bottom line was that key ingredients are tweaked regarding the new model, but the successful recipe remains the same. At its core roots, the Tahoe is an ideally bulky, capable, and do-it-all vehicle that has experienced one of the most resilient aging processes of any vehicle ever created. Much like its larger-sized relative in the case of the Suburban, consumers who simply love cars and need a practical yet current form of transportation will immediately take notice and opt for a test drive. 

The Car and Driver staff praised the current-model Tahoe for its quiet cabin, massively comfortable third row, and segment-leading towing capability. What most people notice first is that the new model is more spacious and sophisticated, and the choice of two V8s offers powerful options with slightly different personalities on the open road. What is our favorite feature that really sets this vehicle apart in a family-friendly class of its own? Every model is outfitted with a 10.2-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a rear-seat infotainment system with two 12.6-inch displays mounted behind the front seats.

2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country's Felt Presence Is “Big, Broad, and Powerful”

Even as a movement for incredibly efficient and tiny-sized cars has gained steam within some circles, everyone here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis still appreciates the big-and-bad stature of a large vehicle that can appropriately command the road! The Tahoe is now new for 2021, and it boasts more third-row room, greater cargo volume, and generally enough space to handle any family or growing business's growth. Senior Editor and correspondent Robert Duffer took a lengthy test drive of the new Tahoe around some of southern Michigan's Metroparks on Lake Erie and along the Huron River, and immediately loved the way the large vehicle felt from behind the wheel.

 

A brand-new independent rear suspension works overtime to cushion uneven grades, and magnetic dampers with available air suspension let the new Tahoe glide in a way that ranked way better than seen in the competition such as the Nissan Armada  and Toyota Sequoia. The 2021 Tahoe grows 6.7 inches longer to now become nearly as huge as the last-generation Suburban, and now sees cargo room increase by a whopping 30%. The wheelbase is extended by 4.9 inches to improve legroom in the third row, and also increase cargo volume to 25.5 cubic feet. 

 

This makes the new Tahoe an ideal choice for anyone going on super large grocery runs or shuttling loved ones from the airport, and second-row seats that slide forward and back five inches also help the comfort of rearseat passengers. If you start to have the need for hauling more massive cargo, another manual handle collapses the seat and lowers nearly two inches to yield a flat floor for 122.9 cubic feet of maximum storage. There are also power-folding third-row seats that can be raised or lowered from the cockpit or the rear liftgate.

 

Up front, the steering-column mounted shifter has now changed to an electronic shifter positioned on the dash between the 10.2-inch touchscreen and the dash. The available power center console slides 10 inches back, covering up a hidden tray and lower storage level. This feature allows second-row riders to access another set of USB ports and cupholders, and opting for the tech package provides second-row passengers with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD entertainment screens as well as adaptive cruise control.