2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE

WHEN SIZE MATTERS, CHEVROLET TAHOE  STANDS OUT AMONG LARGE SUVS

If you’re in the market for a large SUV, sooner or later — probably sooner — you’re going to find yourself in a Chevrolet showroom looking at a new Tahoe and/or Suburban.

Likely it will be the Tahoe, which through the third quarter of this year had more than doubled its older stablemate in sales.

There’s not really much difference between them. The Suburban is 15 inches longer which gives it the edge in cargo capacity, but the Tahoe offers its eight passengers the same amount of legroom in all three rows of seats.

Engine choices, trims, and features pretty much cancel each other out. Both are truck-based vehicles. The Tahoe holds a slight advantage in pricing, but the difference is really not to swing sales that much in its favor.

It’s all a matter of taste but to me the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe has a bit of a more stylish look about that the Suburban. The Suburban looks like it is made for work crews going to a construction site. The Tahoe looks like it is headed for the local country club.

The 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe comes in six trim levels starting with the base LS. This review is based on the RST, which is up the food chain over the LS and LT trims with Z71, Premier, and High Country models at the top.

A 5.3-liter V8 engine is standard on the RST, but my test vehicle came with the  upgraded 6.2L V8 available in the optional Sport Performance Package. Also included in that package were Magnetic Ride Control and dual exhaust tips.

The larger V8 boosts horsepower and torque to 420 ponies and 460-pound feet over the 355/383, respectively, in the 5.3L. A diesel engine also is offered as an option.

Whichever engine you choose is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel mileage with the 6.2L was given as 1 miles-per-gallon city, 18 highway, and 16 combined with the all-wheel-drive and using premium fuel, which isn’t all that different from what you get with the 5.3L model. The government puts the diesel version at 20/26/22 with a range of 528 miles.

The 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe RST is well-equipped when it comes to both technology and comfort feats.

Among standard features a hands-free liftgate, leather seats, 9-speaker Bose Premium sound, heated front seats with memory settings for the driver, a digital instrument cluster and 10.2-inch touchscreen for operation of Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and push-button start, and wireless charging plus tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front bucket seats with memory for the driver, LED headlights and tail lamps, and LED fog lights.

Safety systems include automatic emergency breaking, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, an HD rear vision camera, and front and rear parking assist.

RST models ride on 22-inch wheels in place of the 18-inchers on the LS and LT trims,  the grille is unique, and specail RST seats get contrasting stitching.

Also available is the RST Sport Perfromance Package. Among options on my test Tahoe were a rear-seat media system and a power panoramic sunroof. The radiant red exterior also was extra.

Starting at $64,000, the final bottom line came to $73,605 with the options and destination and delivery included.

What I liked about the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD RST: The biggest thing going for the Tahoe is that it is just that — it is big with lots of room for both passengers (even in the third row) and cargo. Tech features are plentiful and user-friendly. The ride is comfortable enough and quiet. Leather seating surfaces are standard on the RST trim.

What I didn’t like about the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD RST: The size is also a negative when it comes to maneuvering around urban parking lots or parking garages. Changing gears on the the push-button transmission is a bit odd. Actually, calling it push-button isn’t accurate since you have to tug on the switches to change settings.

Would I buy the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD RST? Only once in the last two decades have I had a need for a full-size SUV, and the Tahoe filled the bill quite nicely. So if a big family hauler is your need, the Tahoe should be on your shopping list. But not mine.