Steve Miller once famously sang, “time keeps on slipping into the future.” Here we are, barely into 2020 and the new decade, and automobile manufacturers are already preparing to start introducing their 2021 model year vehicles. Chevrolet has already begun promoting the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, one of its two premiere three-row, full-size SUVs. There are a number of new features and additions to the Tahoe line that should expand the market for this spacious, luxurious vehicle. Chevy is looking to build on Tahoe’s reputation in the full-size SUV vehicle class. While a great many specifics have not yet been released, including an MSRP, Chevrolet has begun to provide some clues for what to expect with the 2021 Chevy Tahoe. Based on what I have seen so far, as the Who once sang, I “got a feeling 21 is going to be a good year.”
All-New Trim Levels for the 2021 Tahoe
The current 2020 Chevy Tahoe comes in three trim levels: LS, LT, and Premier. Chevrolet will be expanding the line to a full six models. The top of the line will be the High Country, a trim that is currently only available in the mid-size SUV Chevy Traverse and on Chevy Sierra pickup trucks. If the same attention to detail, style, and performance is carried over from the Traverse and Sierra to the Tahoe, then drivers are really in for a treat. You will ride the High Country in comfort that is probably only rivaled by your living room, with gorgeous brown leather seats and trim that are specific to this model level.
Chevrolet is also expanding the Tahoe line to capture two distinct customer markets. The first is the Z71 model trim, specially equipped for off-road performance. While other large SUVs pretend to be trucks, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe Z71 will allow you to hit the trails and take your Tahoe to places others have only dreamed about.
Both the High Country and Z71 will also be the first Tahoes to feature Chevy’s Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. This system optimizes ride height and comfort by adjusting the Tahoe’s suspension to alterations in driving conditions. This is intended to make the ride more balanced and softer, something of paramount importance when taking your Tahoe Z71 off-road.
The final trim level is the 2021 Chevy Tahoe RST. This Tahoe will feature some real bling with its incredible street styling. You are sure to turn heads and get serious street cred in the Tahoe RST, making it not just about driving, but the entire life style.
Three engine options for 2021
The 2021 Chevy Tahoe will give drivers three engines to choose from. In addition to the standard 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine, drivers can choose two other engines. There is a 6.2-liter V8 for greater power and performance, so you can get the most out of your 2021 Tahoe. For those who want to experience incredible fuel efficiency in a full-size SUV, Chevy offers the option of a 3.0-liter Duramax Diesel. This is sure to give you mileage that will be the envy of other full-size SUV drivers. Both the 6.2-liter V8 and 3.0-liter Duramax Diesel are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. To improve the ride, Chevy is making an independent rear suspension standard on all 2021 Tahoe models. In addition, drivers can opt for Magnetic Ride Control to improve the handling and drivability of their Tahoe.
Spacious and Comfortable
It may seem as if by magic, but the 2021 Chevy Tahoe promises to be even roomier and spacious than the 2020 model. The current model ranks as having one of the largest passenger compartments in its vehicle class. The new 2021 model will have even greater passenger volume, particularly in the second and third rows. I know from personal experience on some full-size SUVs, the third row is really only adequate for small children. This is already not the case with the Tahoe and will be even more so for 2021.
Chevy has increased the openness of the Tahoe’s interior without making an appreciable change to the outside dimensions of the vehicle. The designers at Chevrolet have used their knowledge and abilities to maximize interior space on the 2021 Tahoe. It is a masterpiece of efficient design. All this has been done without sacrificing the luxury details that are synonymous with the Chevy Tahoe brand. This should enhance the enjoyment of your second and third-row passengers should increase, as well as their ability to enter and exit your Tahoe.
Entertainment Meets Information for You and Your Passengers
All 2021 Chevy Tahoes will feature Chevrolet’s Infotainment System. This wonderfully designed system seamlessly integrates key information you need with entertainment features that you and your passengers will enjoy. The Infotainment System includes Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB ports, and the ability to turn your Tahoe into a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. All of this will be featured on an easy-to-use, conveniently located 10-inch color touchscreen.
For 2021, Chevy will be taking things a step further. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe will feature not one, but two 12.6-inch Rear Seat Media System displays so that your second and third-row passengers won’t feel left out of all the fun. This will allow everyone to participate in the wonder of the Chevrolet Infotainment System, and even choose to watch or listen to something different than what the driver and front-seat passenger listen to. It appears the days of the choruses of “are we there yet?” from the second and third-row passengers may be a thing of the past, even on those long family road trips that are a feature of many of our summers. Well, at least for folks who are fortunate to buy a 2021 Chevy Tahoe. Maybe other people like being serenaded by their kids or in-laws with the “how much longer?” refrain. However, I am not one of these people, and can’t wait for the new 2021 Chevy Tahoe with the twin Rear Seat Media System displays.
Improved Available Safety Features
Chevrolet has earned a solid reputation for putting the safety of its customers first, and this has been especially the case with the Chevy Tahoe. This is why J.D. Power named the Tahoe the lowest rate of reported problems among SUVs in the 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study. This dedication to safety continues with the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, which will offer drivers a best-in-class up to nine camera views on the Tahoe’s display screen. This camera will be in addition to certain standard and available safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, safety alert seat (which gives the drivers pulses for crash-avoidance alerts), rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and forward collision alert. Each of these features enhances the safety of the Chevy Tahoe and improves your ability to respond to hazardous driving situations in a prompt and effective manner.
Yes, 2021 looks like it is going to be a good year for Chevy Tahoe. The new 2021 Chevy Tahoe will feature new models, new safety and entertainment features, increased passenger space and comfort, and improved engines and performance while retaining the luxury refinements and styling that has made the Chevy Tahoe one of the best models in the large SUV vehicle class. I, for one, cannot wait for the release of this amazing new version of a classic SUV and look forward to test driving one as soon as the 2021 Chevy Tahoe hits the road later this year.
