The freshened Tahoe—and its twin the GMC Yukon—is an extremely functional three-row SUV that offers comfort, quietness, and great towing capacity. It gained refinement through ditching the old solid-axle rear suspension and moving to an independent rear suspension, as commonly found on cars and crossovers. This upgrade pays dividends in ride, handling, and interior room.
The standard 5.3-liter V8 engine delivers ample power at any time, with a satisfying purr. The smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission teams well with the engine. Fuel economy is 17 mpg overall, not great, but 1 mpg better than the previous generation.
The standard suspension absorbs bumps and rough pavement very effectively, but at highway speeds the Tahoe feels a bit buoyant. The Premier version with its adaptive suspension called Magnetic Ride Control is more composed. Handling has improved, but there is notable body roll in corners, and the light steering effort further detracts from agility.
This is a big vehicle, and consequently it is a climb to enter. Running boards help. The interior is stunningly quiet, like a truly hushed luxury sedan. The front seat is wide, roomy, and supportive. The two captain's chairs for the middle row are spacious, and the third-row seat can honestly accommodate adults, with much improved access over the previous Tahoe.
Most of the controls are easy to use, but there are a few quirks, such as having to interact with the new 17.7-inch center infotainment screen just to reset the trip computer. We also found it puzzling that the Tahoe places the wiper controls on a stalk on the left of the steering column, rather than the right, as is common. Because of this setup, it's too easy to mistakenly activate the windshield-wiper mist-clearing or spray functions when using the turn signal.
There is storage space everywhere you look. The large, center armrest can serve as a desk for a laptop, and underneath the lid there is a ton of space. Built-in 5G Wi-Fi is available and multiple USB type A and type C ports are located throughout the cabin.
The Tahoe has an unusually tall hood, compromising forward visibility. This is a particular concern in urban areas where the hood easily obscures small pedestrians. Its standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection could help. The cameras and sensors are key for parking.
AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and forward collision warning (FCW), lane keeping assistance (LKA) and lane departure warning (LDW) are standard.