The Sport Utility Vehicle market can be a funny place sometimes. Like most things, it is cyclical. When SUVs first shot to popularity in the 1990s, size was king. The bigger the SUV, the more impressive it was. It didn’t matter that many were heavy and didn’t handle well at all. Size mattered. Recently, however, SUVs have started to scale back on size, opting more for interior convenience and better maneuverability. But not the 2019 Chevy Tahoe.
This model year Tahoe is as big as ever, while still managing to include interior creature comforts and SUV capability. In a world where many of its competitors are scaling back to a sleeker, trimmer body, the 2019 Chevy Tahoe is still as big and powerful as ever. That’s not a bad thing, though.
Formerly known as the Chevy Blazer, the Tahoe got its own nameplate in 1994 and left the Blazer behind. Since then, it has become a very popular SUV, capable of hauling around plenty of people and equipment. The 2019 Chevy Tahoe continues this tradition. In comparing it to other similar SUVs in size, it is built better for towing than most, leveraging its size and power to its advantage. It is surely built like more of a truck and better suited for utility and comfort more than anything else.
Still, though, the 2019 Chevy Tahoe is impressive both inside and out. Starting at $47,900, it sure to catch the eye of more than a few SUV drivers.
Engines
The standard engine for the Tahoe, for some time, has been a powerful 5.3 liter V8, capable of 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. That is plenty of tow power, especially for an SUV that specializes more in its ability to tow than its ability to go off-road. This engine is paired with a six-speed transmission and can get 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. All of these figures are respectable for a vehicle of the Tahoe’s size and power and are pretty much what Tahoe drivers of past generations have come to expect.
Two years ago, Chevy introduced a new, more powerful engine on its full-size trucks and a couple of select SUVs, including one specific Tahoe trim. The newer engine is now available on the 2019 Chevy Tahoe. It is a larger 6.2 liter V8 that ramps up the horsepower to 420 and the torque to 460 lb-ft. With this engine, the Tahoe can now tow up to 8400 pounds in 4WD and 8600 in 2WD, which is plenty of tow capacity and behind only larger vehicles like the Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Dodge Durango.
One of the more interesting facets of the new and improved 2019 Chevy Tahoe 6.2 liter engine is that it comes with Active Fuel Management. With this feature, whose name is trademarked by
General Motors, the engine doesn’t use all of eight of its cylinders at the same time. When this service is activated, and under light or no towing conditions, the cylinders will rotate working and allow the engine to save on fuel. You can still have the power of a V8 engine while having the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. As gas prices continue to shoot higher, and with no end in sight, fuel economy has become a great concern to car buyers everywhere, particularly those who intend to buy a less fuel efficient SUV.
Technology
The 2019 Chevy Tahoe comes with tons of technological goodies for people of all ages to enjoy. Some of the standard features that you may not find standard on other comparable vehicles include a Wi-Fi hotspot, an 8” touchscreen monitor, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and five different USB ports. Whatever device you bring into the 2019 Chevy Tahoe with you, you can hook it up to the Tahoe’s infotainment system and access your music playlists, podcasts, directions and so on, except maybe a cassette tape.
A Luxury Package is also available on the lower trims (it is included on the highest trim level). This package includes a hands-free tailgate, power folding second and third-row seats, a wireless charging pad, and blind spot monitoring. While these are just a few of the items featured in the Luxury Package, they are good examples of the kind of experience a family can have in a 2019 Chevy Tahoe. The hands-free tailgate is very convenient for loading cargo in the rear compartment. The power folding bench seats allow the Tahoe to transform from a passenger vehicle to a cargo vehicle with substantial room behind the front seat. The wireless charging pad keeps your cell phone handy and utile while still charging. Blind Spot Monitoring alerts the driver of another vehicle or object in a potential blind spot. These cover both convenience and safety that drivers look for in a new SUV.
Trim Levels
The 2019 Chevy Tahoe only comes in three trim levels: the LS, the LT, and the Premier. The LS is the base model and can seat up to nine if you opt for the bench in the frontmost seat. It features all of the standard options mentioned above, and then some. It also features a six-speaker sound system and Teen Driver Assist. This feature has different options that keep teens safer on the road and give parents a report on the teen’s driving habits, such as speed.
The LT features seating for eight in leather upholstery and a power liftgate. The Luxury Package is available and highly recommended with this trim level. The sound system is amped up to nine speakers in a Bose system.
The Premier trim offers available second-row bucket seats, which will bring overall seating down to seven. However, the sound system increases even further with ten speakers in the Bose sound system. It also comes with Navigation and the Luxury Package mentioned above. This being the highest trim level, you will get pretty much whatever you could need in terms of safety, infotainment and interior perks.
Why the 2019 Chevy Tahoe?
Starting at $47,900, the 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe is right in the middle of large SUV price range, costing less than big brother Chevy Suburban or the Ford Expedition, both of which are also slightly larger. However, it has a ton of perks and is a really good fit for just the right driver. Its lack of off-road handling might deter some buyers, but its impressive tow capacity and interior perks more than make up for that.
It isn’t the most customizable SUV on the market, either. Having only three trim levels and fewer bonus packages than some of its competitors means that a prospective buyer can’t fully personalize it without going all the way to the highest trim level. However, the standard safety and infotainment features that come without the hassle of adding packages and trim levels will surely appeal to some.
The 2019 Chevy Tahoe is worth more than just a quick glance. It needs a deeper look at the engine capabilities and interior technology. When you do take a closer look, though, we think you’ll like what you see.
