Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Everything You Need To Know

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Chevy Suburban by Gold Pony — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban are both full-size SUVs produced by General Motors. The Chevy Suburban has been in production since 1934, making it the longest continuously running automotive name in the United States. On the other hand, the Chevy Tahoe is a relatively newer entry to the market, with models in production since 1991 under the name Yukon and 1994 as the Tahoe. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban.

Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Performance

When it comes to performance, drivers may doubt that an SUV can deliver on power and handling. However, both of these popular Chevy models offer their drivers a fun driving experience and superior acceleration that is fueled by a powerful V8 engine. While both the Suburban and the Tahoe handle like an SUV, the Tahoe is slightly smoother when it comes to maneuverability, ride suspension, and handling turns.

The base model of the 2021 Chevy Suburban base model delivers 383 lb-ft of torque and 355 hp from a 5.3-liter V8 engine, with the option to upgrade to either a 6.2-liter V8 engine or a 3-liter 6-cylinder diesel engine.

Likewise, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe base model also offers drivers 383 lb-ft of torque and 355 hp from a 5.3-liter V8 engine, with an available 420 hp from the High Country trim.


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Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Safety

Safety is one of the most important considerations of any vehicle purchase, especially for those in the market for a mid-size SUV. Families want to make sure that their precious cargo is well protected with advanced safety technologies, quality craftsmanship, trustworthy airbags, and other safety features. Crash ratings are also a significant part of the safety evaluation process. Thankfully, Chevy owners will be well pleased with either the Suburban or the Tahoe when it comes to safety.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban give the model a 4-star overall rating, plus 4 stars in a frontal crash, 5 stars in a side crash, and 4 stars in the event of a rollover accident. The NHTSA ratings for the 2021 Tahoe are similar, with a 4-star overall rating, 4-star frontal crash rating, 5-star side crash rating, and 3-star rollover rating.

Standard safety features in the Tahoe include rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning, while optional driving aids include a rear camera mirror, lane departure warning, lane assist, lane change alerts, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front parking sensors, and a surround-view parking camera system.

The 2021 Suburban also offers a host of advanced safety features and driver-assist technologies such as rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, pedestrian detection, forward collision alerts, and automatic emergency braking. Optional upgrades for the Suburban include front parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and rearview mirror cameras.

In summary, while both the Tahoe and the Suburban are committed to passenger safety, the Suburban offers slightly more safety features than the Tahoe and has a better safety rating in the event of a rollover crash.

Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Reliability

According to U.S. News & World Report, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe is rated at a 79 out of 100 when it comes to quality and reliability. On the other hand, the 2021 Chevy Suburban is rated at just 70 out of 100. These scores are determined by J.D. Power Quality and Reliability ratings and are based on owner feedback from both initial and long-term responses.

Unfortunately, both the Tahoe and the Suburban have been subject to a high number of recalls for the 2021 model year, coming in at 9 and 7 recalls, respectively.

Both vehicles are covered by a 3 year / 36,000 mile basic warranty and 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty, which is industry standard.

Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Value

Both of these vehicles have a similar starting price before optional upgrades and trims are selected. The Chevy Suburban is slightly more expensive than the Tahoe by just a few thousand dollars, making it hard to determine a clear winner when it comes to value.

The starting MSRP of the 2022 Tahoe starts at just $49,700 for the base model and ranges all the way to $75,195 for the upgraded 4WD High Country trim.

Similarly, the starting price tag of the 2022 Suburban is $52,900 MSRP, and the most expensive trim is the 4WD High Country with a starting MSRP of $77,895 before upgrades.

Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: MPG

When it comes to MPG, the fuel economy of both of these vehicles is decent for the mid-size SUV class.

According to fueleconomy.gov, both the 2021 Suburban and the 2021 Tahoe have a combined MPG of 18, which breaks down to 16 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highways. (This is true of the 2WD 8 cyl, 5.3 L, Automatic 10-spd model.)


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Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: Interior Design & Features

The Tahoe’s interior is spacious and luxurious, especially at higher trims, and offers a plethora of advanced technologies and fun features like an easy-to-use infotainment system complete with Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard features include a massive cargo area, hands-free power liftgate, 8-way adjustable power front seat, remote start, push-button start, keyless entry, climate control, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.

Available upgrades include a panoramic sunroof, navigation, leather upholstery, rear-seat entertainment system, heated front and second-row seats, and heated steering wheel. Seating configurations can seat either 7 or 8 people with the option of power-folding second and third-row seats.

The Chevy Suburban’s roomy interior is impressive, with plenty of cargo space, a well-appointed cabin, and spacious seating in all rows. There is more flexibility with the Suburban’s seating arrangements, and drivers have the ability to seat up to 9 passengers with upgraded seating configurations.

Standard interior goodies in the Suburban include keyless entry, remote start, climate control, a 10.2 touch screen infotainment system, power-adjustable front seats, and a whole host of helpful safety features. Available upgrades include rearview camera mirrors, leather upholstery, heated front and middle row seats, navigation, wireless charging, an additional dual-screen entertainment system for the backseat, and retractable power side steps for your convenience.


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Chevy Tahoe vs. Chevy Suburban: The Bottom Line

While either of these popular Chevy SUVs would make a great choice for your next family car, the determining factor for your purchase will come down to which features you desire most in a vehicle and how much cash you are willing to shell out for those features and upgrades from the model and trim you select. For example, if you desire an SUV with the most seating possible, the Suburban is the clear winner with the option to seat 9, while the Tahoe may be the better choice for those on a budget but seeking an SUV with all the latest technology.

Both vehicles offer impressive quality and safety ratings, roomy interiors with optional seating configuration upgrades, fully integrated infotainment systems, and best-in-class performance for a similar price tag. So no matter which Chevy SUV you choose, you can’t go wrong with a purchase of either the Tahoe or the Suburban.



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