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Large SUV; Built in USA
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $34,900 – $51,700*


2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71


2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71


2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ


2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ

Pros:
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Trailer-towing capability
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability
  • Price (High-End Models)

With many midsize crossovers combining sizable space and 3-row seating with less bulk and better V6 economy, it would seem as though the market – and argument – for these traditional full-size SUVs would be on the decline. But with their recent updates, Tahoes combine the room and comfort of a luxury car with unmatched cargo space and towing capacity, making them a thoroughly justifiable entity in our broad automotive landscape.

Overview

The Chevrolet Tahoe was redesigned for 2015, gaining new styling, more horsepower, and a host of new safety and technology features. The new body was a bit longer, lower and wider than the previous-generation model—passenger room was increased, but cargo room was down slightly. The 3rd-row seatbacks folded flat into the floor. Designers raised the cargo floor to accomplish this, which made for a higher liftover, but also allowed for some handy under-floor storage bins. The new engine was a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower—35 more than the previous engine—and its EPA ratings were 10 percent better. New safety features included forward collision alert, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Some of the new safety features used GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to warn the driver of potential obstructions. Interior materials were much improved over the outgoing Tahoe, especially on higher-end models. Enhancing the upscale feel were newly available features such as adaptive cruise control, a power-folding 3rd-row seat, and keyless entry and starting. The very notion of a hulking, V8-powered full-size SUV seems anachronistic to many shoppers these days, but for those who need the power, interior room, and towing capacity that only a large SUV offers, the Tahoe is an excellent choice.

Yearly Updates

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive

All Suburbans have a 5.3-liter V8 that produced 355 horsepower teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. Either rear-drive or full-time four-wheel drive may be installed. A two-speed transfer case is available.

ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.3/325
Engine HP 355
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 383
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/22

 15

Road Test

For 2015, Chevrolet revitalizes its full-sized sport-utility vehicles, the larger-than-life Suburban and its junior partner, the Tahoe. Both have picked up some things from the latest generation of the Silverado ½-ton pickup that was new for 2014, but the SUVs interpret them in their own way. That’s what Consumer Guide® editors experienced when testing a new Tahoe in top-of-the-line LTZ trim. It has exterior styling distinct from the Silverado, but uses the pickup’s essential chassis and adopts its 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8. Inside, there’s a more stylish look with a different instrument panel, but items like the steering wheel, gauge cluster, and audio/climate switchgear match what’s found in the Silverado. Engineered to tow up to 8500 pounds, the Tahoe feels pretty strong once under way. Getting started, however, isn’t quite as impressive. Accelerator response is kind of slow; your foot is pressing down and you’re hearing the engine rev, but it takes a long moment before any kind of forward motion begins. Axle gearing probably can’t be blamed—CG’s test Tahoe had the optional trailering package with a 3.42:1 axle ratio that’s a little more aggressive than the standard 3.08:1 cogs. Joined to a cooperative standard 6-speed automatic transmission, the Ecotec3 V8 features cylinder deactivation in pursuit of fuel savings. (The instrument display informs the driver when the Tahoe is operating in 4- or 8-cylinder mode.) Any kind of help is welcome, considering EPA mileage estimates are 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. However, this driver recorded just 15.29 mpg from a 124.1-mile stint in which 64 percent of miles driven were under city conditions. The LTZ’s standard-equipment list starts with features like an automatic locking rear differential, rear-vision camera, rear park assist, remote starter, automatic trizone climate control, a front center air bag, power adjustable pedals, leather first- and second-row seats with memory function for the front, Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with 8-inch color touch-screen, Bose sound system, lane-departure and forward-collision alerts, and a power liftgate that opens to a driver-programmable height. Features specific to Tahoe’s top model are high-intensity-discharge headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, fog lamps, keyless entry with push-button start, 12-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, heated power-release second-row bucket seats, a power-fold third-row seat, memory power-tilt and -telescoping steering column, front park assist, side blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, and lane-change assist. LTZ chassis equipment includes “Magnetic Ride Control” suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels. Base price comes to $62,000 for the 4-wheel-drive model—$3000 more than its rear-drive sibling. For that money, the Tahoe LTZ displays a high degree of cabin quiet. The leather seats are comfortable, and room abounds in the first two rows. Soft-touch materials impart a premium feel to areas like door tops and arm rests, but give way to large sections of grained hard plastic. The console features a covered bin and covered cup holders. Other storage is found in a box under the console arm rest, a decently sized glove box, and door pockets. Second-row seats fold flat to extend load space—though the gap between them might cause some loading problems. There is sufficient pass-through room even for adults to reach the third-row seat—but why would they? This low-lying seat is strictly for kids. Two cup holders are built into the left sidewall; one cup holder and an open storage cubby is built into the right side. Good flat-floored rear cargo space turns great with the middle and rear seats folded, and it’s a snap to drop or raise the latter by push button.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 3
30%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Front - 9
90%
Room/Comfort Rear - 8
80%
Cargo Room - 9
90%

Other

Value - 8
80%

Total: 70

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
116.0 204.0 80.5 74.4 5466
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
94.7 26.0 9
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
42.8 38.7 45.3 39.0
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Tahoe 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Starter
Description: Engine will crank, but not start.

Recall History

2015 Tahoe
Description: Turning key in ignition switch may be difficult. If stuck in Start position, key may suddenly snap back to Accessory position and cause loss of engine, steering and braking power, as well as airbag deployment.
2015 Tahoe with electric power steering
Description: The electric power steering module could fail and result in loss of power steering assist.
2015 Tahoe
Description: Curtain side airbags may be punctured on mounting hardware and not deploy properly.
2015 4WD Tahoe
Description: A short in the transfer case switches could cause the transfer case to shift to neutral unexpectedly. If the vehicle is parked, it could roll. If the vehicle was moving, it would lose power.
2015 Tahoe with base radio
Description: The radio could fail, and as a result, there would be no chime to remind the driver that the door is open with the key in the ignition or that a seat belt is not buckled.
2015 Tahoe
Description: Tie rod might not be correctly tightened and could separate from the steering rack. This would result in a loss of steering.
2015 Tahoe
Description: Transmission oil-cooler line might not be securely seated in a fitting and could leak. This could result in a fire.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on August 2, 2016.
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