The interior of the 2018 Chevy Tahoe has comfortable front bucket seats.In some Chattanooga suburbs, the Chevy Tahoe SUV is practically the official neighborhood vehicle.
Truck tough but still quiet and comfortable, the Tahoe is a near-perfect family hauler. Still, the price can be pretty dear and it tends to chug gas in stop-and-go driving.
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The Tahoe, a cousin of the GMC Yukon, is essentially a Chevy truck which has been framed-in with sheet metal and equipped with a compact, third-row seat. My skinny, 11-year-old son found the "way-back" quite comfortable, but it would be arduous for me to drag my middle-age body into the third row. In fact, I'm not sure it would even be possible.
That said, I found the front bucket seats to be supremely comfortable on a jaunt to a kids' soccer game up the road in Cleveland, Tenn. There is something about these vehicles that makes them magnetically attracted to soccer pitches.
Our tester, a 2018 Tahoe FWD Premier model, has been upgraded with Chevy's lush and powerful 6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower. A second V-8, with a more modest 5.3-liters of displacement, is standard fare on most Tahoes.
While you can snag a Base LS trim model starting at $48,745, prices can climb quickly. Our tester has a base price of $65,130, but the bigger engine and other options push the MSRP to $78,450. Still, many families will see Tahoes as long-term investments that will get a houseful of kids from kindergarten to college.
STYLING
Hmm what can we say about the Tahoe's styling?
Well, "boxy" comes to mind, but that's self-evident. Let's go with "massive." The Tahoe is more than 16 feet long, with broad shoulders and straight, horizontal lines. Our top-of-the line Tahoe FWD Premier is gussied-up with 20-inch rims, high-intensity headlights and LED daytime running lights.
Summit White, the exterior color of our tester, is a good hue for the Tahoe. White is one of the most visible automotive colors, and you definitely want others to see this behemoth coming. Inside, the furniture and trims are done out in cocoa and mahogany hues, a relaxing color combination.
Our tester comes with a fully automatic locking rear differential, magnetic ride-control suspension, front and rear parking assistance and an array of safety-tech features. Also standard on the Tahoe Premier are perforated leather seats, heated steering wheel, heated front- and second-row seats, Chevrolet MyLink audio system, 8-inch touch screen and XM Radio. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces are standard.
Major options include the $5,450 Performance Edition package, which bundles the 6.2-liter V-8, a 10-speed transmission, active noise cancellation and a few other minor upgrades. The $2,885 Sun, Entertainment and Destination Package includes a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment system and a 9-month satellite radio subscription.
If you are counting, there are nine cup-holders, or about 1.5 per occupant when transporting six.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
While our four-wheel-drive Tahoe is fully equipped for off-roading, the feeling here is that most of that capability is overkill. How many folks are really going to take a $78,000 family SUV over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house?
That said, it's nice to know that in case of one of our rare, deep snows in the Tennessee Valley, you'll be all prepared with ample ground clearance and four-wheel traction.
The most remarkable thing we observed about the Tahoe Premiere is just how comfortable it is. The cabin is quiet and airy, steering is nearly effortless and the ride quality is sublime. You'll soon forget that you're driving a truck.
Meanwhile, the upgrade to the 6.2-liter V-8 means that you always have plenty of passing power in your back pocket. If you tow a boat or a trailer, it will have to be a big one for the Tahoe to break a sweat, as it can pull more than 8,000 pounds.
Our tester was configured with front buckets and second-row captain's chairs. Unless you need the added capacity of second-row bench seats, go with the captain's chairs. As all parents know, kids need a bit of personal space to cut down on backseat shenanigans.
BOTTOM LINE
While our tester's MSRP makes it a reach for most middle-class families, lower-trim alternatives have most of the same virtues. GM's V-8 engines are among the most durable on the road, ensuring long-life for your Tahoe.
Expect fuel economy for the big V-8 to come in at 22 mpg highway and 14 mpg city.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.