​​Deciding Which Tahoe You Should Get​

The freeways and city streets are awash with crossovers. They are shaped like SUVs but have unibody construction and likely a front-wheel-drive architecture with all-wheel drive. These vehicles combine cargo-carrying ability with a comfortable ride, all-weather traction, a raised ride height, and some off-road ability. And this is more than enough for many people’s needs. But some situations still call for a body-on-frame SUV like the Tahoe. Foremost among these is towing. Second is off-road use. Some crossovers may be surprisingly adept off the pavement, but when things get rough, it is good to have a 4-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case to help you get through. And if you want that with 3-row seating or just a lot of enclosed cargo space, the Tahoe is what you need. As for which Tahoe? Let this Barry’s Chevrolet post hop you out with that, with some help from Car and Driver. 

Crossovers can tow some, but body-on-frame SUVs will tow more and be happier doing it, as all the stress of towing is concentrated on the frame rather than the whole body.  A rear drive architecture can help as well. If towing is the sole reason for getting a Tahoe, here is something you should know.  Among a certain model line, the lower the vehicle weight, the higher the towing capacity.  You might think it is the engine’s torque that makes the difference, and there is no doubt that greater torque will make it easier to get that trailer up a mountain incline, but the capacity will largely be a function of the vehicle’s weight.   

Thus, if you need a Tahoe strictly to tow something large, your best bet is the Tahoe LS with RWD and the 5.2-liter V-8.  It has the base Tahoe MSRP of $63,495.  Again, the more powerful 6.2-liter V-8 or the Duramax Diesel will tow the trailer more easily, particularly up steep inclines. Because those engines weigh more, their maximum towing capacity will be lower.  And if your towing is mostly on flat or mildly hilly areas, the 5.2-liter V-8 is likely all you will need.  

While the RWD LS is the utilitarian choice, if this model is also supposed to carry your family around in comfort and a bit of style, Car and Driver recommends the RST.  At $71,495, the RST offers street-sport style with 22-inch wheels, while the interior features leather seating surfaces.  And again, if you have some margin in your towing capacity, the 4-Wheel drive gives you the rig a bit more capability after the pavement ends.  

If you plan to venture off the pavement frequently, not just on a grassy field, consider the Tahoe Z71. It won’t beat you up on the highway but has all-terrain tires, a set of skid plates, hill descent control (a kind of slow rock-crawling cruise control), and recovery hooks if you take things a bit too far. If you really want to be prepared for rough terrain, check the Z71 Package on your order sheet. This adds a rear limited-slip differential to help keep you going when things get really rough, extra cooling when you are working the engine hard, and an adaptive ride suspension to keep you high over obstacles on the trail but well buttoned up on the highway. As Car and Driver sums it up, “A Z71 kitted out like this is a go-anywhere machine for the whole family.”  The fact that the Tahoe has a fully independent rear suspension also makes it a much more pleasant highway cruiser than your average Pickup truck with the same capability. 

This takes care of the functional towing and off-road needs. Moving up from there is simply a matter of how fancy you want to get. As Car and Driver mentions, if you decide to add the 10-speaker Bose audio system and perforated high-end leather seating, you may want to consider the High Country Model, which includes those plus several other conveniences, as well as the 6.2-liter V-8 as standard. Just remember what we said about towing capacity. If that is important to you, the higher you go, the heavier the vehicle and the lower the towing capacity.    

The Tahoe costs more than most non-luxury crossovers. Its capability, technical sophistication, and three rows of passenger capacity really do make it the one vehicle that can do it all. See for yourself with a visit to Barry’s Chevrolet and a Tahoe test drive.