The one constant in life is change. Despite our seemingly best efforts, we all grow older. Our children don’t stay babies forever. We can fight against it, but it’s all to no avail. Some of us realize this inevitability and embrace the change. These are the wise ones who know that all of us must adapt or die. This is the case with Chevrolet, the great automaker that knows to stay with something too long is to risk becoming obsolete. And so we have the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, an all-new rendition of a great full-size SUV. Building on its expertise in the SUV market, Chevrolet has taken the best from the prior versions of the Tahoe and built upon them, giving us a bigger and better Tahoe for a new generation. Let’s explore the 2021 Tahoe further and see what changes have been made for you.
Space Is the Place in the 2021 Tahoe
The first thing you’re sure to notice about the 2021 Chevy Tahoe is that it is bigger. Much bigger! The wheelbase of the Tahoe alone has increased by 4.9 inches, with the total length of the 2021 Tahoe growing by a full 6.7 inches over the 2020 model. This translates into more cargo space and legroom for you and your passengers, meaning a roomier Tahoe for a new year.
One thing that many folks complain about with three-row SUVs is that you have to compromise between cargo space and carrying an extra passenger. With most three-row SUVs, you have to fold down at least one row of seats to capture sufficient space for your stuff. Sure, you can get more of your belongings that way, but now your three-row SUV can only seat five passengers. The designers of the 2021 Tahoe took this into consideration, adding a full 10.2 cubic feet of space in the Tahoe’s trunk.
Where the 2020 Tahoe had only 15.3 cubic feet of space for cargo, the 2021 offers a full 25.5 cubic feet so you can seat up to 9 passengers in your Tahoe depending on your choice of trim. This means that you no longer have to compromise. If you do need extra space for large loads, the 2021 Tahoe can accommodate this, with 72.6 cubic feet of space with the third row folded down and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet of space with both the second and third rows of seats folded down. That represents an increase of 28.2 cubic feet over the 2020 model, which is almost twice the size of the 2020 model’s trunk.
The 2021 Tahoe also offers more passenger space than the one from the prior year. This increase will be most obvious in the legroom of the second and third-row seats. Your second-row passengers will get a full 42 inches of legroom, a 3-inch increase over the 2020 Tahoe, while your third-row passengers will enjoy 34.9 inches of legroom, an amazing 10.1 additional inches. The days of your backseat drivers complaining of leg cramps are over!
Great Things Come in Three With the 2021 Tahoe
The 2021 Tahoe comes in six different trims, including three new ones for the new generation. The LS, LT, and Premier trims return from the 2020 Tahoe and are joined by the RST, Z71, and High Country models, each with its own unique benefits and features.
The Tahoe RST slots in between the LT and Premier as a model with a true street vibe in appearance and content. It begins with an exclusive front fascia featuring a black ice finish on the grille, an exterior trim black and black chrome look, and 22-inch bright machined high-gloss black aluminum wheels. This look is carried over into an interior with seats that have contrasting color stitching of jet black and victory red.
Where the RST is street ready, the Tahoe Z71 is all about the trail. This version of the Tahoe has a decided off-road focus with standard 4-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case with Hill Descent Control, and 20-inch wheels fitted with all-terrain tires. The Tahoe Z71 not only looks the part with rugged looks and a trim-specific front fascia, but it also has a front skid plate, red recovery tow hooks, and black tubular assist steps to give you the maximum assistance when you are out off-roading in your truck.
You can now ride the High Country in your 2021 Tahoe, as Chevy has brought its premium trim to this great full-size SUV. It starts with a bronze accented grille featuring High Country badges and all-season tires on 22-inch wheels with chrome inserts. Chevy has given the Tahoe High Country an interior that matches its gorgeous exterior looks with unique sill plates and seat embroidery that come in a vast array of colors and trim choices. Chevrolet has also added some trim exclusive safety features on the High Country, including Rear Pedestrian Alert, an HD Surround Vision Camera, a Rear Camera Mirror, and a head-up display to make driving safer. A premium Bose 10-speaker audio system completes the package. You will truly be riding high in the 2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country.
Did You Say Diesel?
The 2021 Chevy Tahoe carries over two of the powertrains from the prior year’s model while adding something new. The 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 gas engine with dynamic fuel management and the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 with dynamic fuel management return for the 2021 Tahoe. The 6.2-liter V8 is standard on the High Country trim, while all other models come equipped with the 5.3-liter V8.
The big news is that a diesel option is now available for all 2021 Tahoe models except for the Z71. This is a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, capable of producing 277 horsepower and generating 460 lb-ft of torque.
This engine is both powerful and fuel-efficient. The EPA estimates that Tahoe drivers with the Turbo-Diesel and rear-wheel drive can expect to get 21 MPG in the city driving, 28 MPG on the highway, and a combined 24 MPG. If you opt for four-wheel drive on your 2021 Tahoe with the Turbo-Diesel, the expected fuel economy will decline slightly to 20 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 22 MPG combined. Still, those are incredible numbers for a full-size SUV with three rows of seats.
As for power, the Tahoe with the Turbo-Diesel has been rated to be capable of towing up to 8,400 pounds. Those are trailering numbers usually associated with pickup trucks, not SUVs. That is because this Turbo-Diesel is the same one developed for the 2020 Chevy Silverado with a number of minor alterations to make it more fit for an SUV. This includes enhanced noise reduction, a new engine control module that improves data processing, and a smoother overall driving experience.
Finally, the Turbo-Diesel features driver-selectable stop/start technology. This automatically shuts the engine off at red lights or in a traffic jam and then restarts it as soon as you take your foot off the brake. In this way, the Turbo-Diesel will conserve fuel while also reducing engine emissions. With the Turbo-Diesel, you will get great fuel economy, incredible power, and exceptional performance on your 2021 Chevy Tahoe.
Time to Get a Tahoe
Chevrolet has shown that adaptation can be a good thing with the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, continually innovating its best models like the Tahoe to give you more benefits, whether it is more cargo space, better legroom or a Turbo-Diesel engine with great fuel economy. You also now have six great trims to choose from, including the street sexy RST, the off-road master Z71, and the luxurious High Country. Whichever one you choose, with a Chevy Tahoe, you will see that time may change things, but you can still trace time.
