Pros:
- Powerful V8 engines with smooth transmissions.
- Seating for up to nine passengers.
- Lower base price than many full-size SUV rivals
Cons:
- Design starting to feel its age.
- Short on cargo space with all of the seats up.
- Truck-like driving experience out of step with modern SUVs.
Would we buy one? Yes.
Vehicle Type: Four-door, three-row full-size SUV.
Price Range: From $49,000 to $62,700, with a $1,295 destination charge.
Powertrain: A 5.3L, 355-horsepower V8 engine with 383 lb-ft of torque, rear-wheel-drive, with a six-speed automatic.
A 6.2L V8 making 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, with rear-wheel-drive and a 10-speed automatic.
Four-wheel-drive is optional.
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, Toyota Land Cruiser, Dodge Durango.
Overall Score: 8.2/10
Safety Features: 8/10
Safety features are typical in the 2020 Tahoe with expected standards for all trim levels, including a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic emergency braking, traction and stability control, plus seven airbags.
An Enhanced Driver Alert Package is available, adding features like power-adjustable pedals, forward collision avoidance, lane departure warning, safety alert seat that vibrates with the lane departure warning, and automatic high beam assist. The higher-tier Premier model also gets blind-spot monitoring, lane change alert, front parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Tahoe four starts overall of five in crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed no tests.
Value: 8/10
This hefty full-size SUV has fair pricing and offers an all-wheel drivetrain option for all levels in the 2020 line up; plus, a giant 6.2-liter V8 option with the Premier trim. Properly equipped, the Premier's 8,400 lb towing capacity can handle big chores and is more than capable when going off-road.
There are 3 Tahoe models to choose from for 2020. The LS entry trim level starts at $49,000. For the LT, $53,800 is the starting price with a few more creature comforts, such as leather upholstery, but still includes the 5.3-liter V8. The top-level Premier rounds out the lineup on the high end at $62,700 with a larger engine, but before touching an extensive options list. Four-wheel-drive is optional on all models.
The mid-tier LT with the added safety features and smaller base engine is suitable for daily commutes, family transport, and general hauling for the money. The Premier with the engine upgrade is worth considering if the budget is not a factor.
Tech Features: 8/10
Chevy handled technology and connectivity adequately in the 2020 Tahoe. The intuitive and well placed Chevrolet Infotainment System with an 8-inch touchscreen has access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth functions, and wi-fi capability. Drivers get a 4.2-inch display for information located between the gauges for easy viewing.
Power-adjustable seats are standard for the driver and front passenger seat, as is a six-speaker sound system loaded with SiriusXM across all trim levels. The Tahoe Premier model adds a 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system. Remote keyless entry and push-button start are standard on all trims, as well as tri-zone climate control.
Practicality: 7/10
The Tahoe has seating for up to nine passengers and a spacious cabin with plenty of legroom for large adults in the front seats and the second-row seats. Entry and exit from the Tahoe isn't overly complicated, and getting out of the rear seat is easy in this large SUV. The third-row seat can be a little tricky to access and best saved for smaller children. On LT and Premier, the heated leather seats in both front and back are excellent additions, especially in colder climates.
Cargo space is a little short in the Chevrolet Tahoe compared to rivals coming in at 94.7 cubic feet total when all back seats are folded down. An electric powered liftgate makes loading objects easier.
Styling & Design: 7/10
The 2020 model year of the Tahoe had few changes in style inside and out. The addition of 20 and 22-inch polished-aluminum wheels are an option beyond the base 18-inch alloy wheels.
The LS offers some refinement in the interior with heated leather-appointed bucket seats in the front, while the Tahoe Premier ups the luxury ante a notch by adding ventilation to the leather upholstery seats and heating the second row. A heated steering wheel comes with the upper-tier trims. The sunroof addition is available as well.
Driving Experience: 8/10
With the four-wheel-drive option and 6.2L engine with 460 pound-feet of torque, the Tahoe has noticeably more punch on and off the road. While not the heaviest in its segment, these additions make the Tahoe feel comfortably at home in the full-size SUV market. Overall, the Tahoe offers a comfortable ride for daily commutes and transporting a family around. It also has the power to get up and go when needed and tackle most hauling and towing jobs.
The Tahoe is a useful hauler, and it stands even with its competitors. Features such as trailer sway control and a trailering hitch platform come standard on all trim levels. Optional upgrades that improve towing capabilities include a two-speed active transfer case, a trailer brake controller, and an auto-leveling suspension. We noticed these optional upgrades made hauling large loads much more effortless.
The Tahoe does get a little shaky on rough pavement due to its more truck-like nature. At highway speeds, it performs adequately, but the handling is not the greatest at any rate.
Fuel Efficiency: 8/10
The standard 5.3-liter V8 and rear-wheel drivetrain get an EPA estimated 15 mpg city, 22 highway, and 18 mpg combined, while the four-wheel-drive models coupled with the same engine gets a little less at 15/21/17 mpg.
The 6.2-liter V8 engine option with the rear-wheel-drive configuration, fuel economy decreases a little to EPA estimated 14/23/17 mpg for city/hwy/combined with a further small decrease coupled with four-wheel-drive.
