Eric's Autos: 2025 Chevy Tahoe

The Chevy Tahoe is an SUV, but it's also the replacement for the full-size, V8-powered and rear-drive American sedan -- which is a type of car that's not made anymore.

The last full-size, rear-drive, V8-standard American sedan was the Ford Crown Vic -- and it's been gone since 2011. It could seat six and it could tow -- because it had a V8 and a heavy steel frame that could bear the load. These are two things not a single one of the handful of front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive and four-cylinder-powered cars left on the market today offer.

Americans who need something that fills that gap have moved over to SUVs like the Tahoe.

What It Is

The Chevy Tahoe is a full-size SUV with room for up to eight people in three rows. It features body-on-frame construction, like a truck, and comes standard with a V8, like the full-size American sedans that were once commonly available in America.

It is also the only SUV in its class that offers a diesel engine too.

Prices start at $58,500 for the LS trim, which comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8, a 10-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels and rear-wheel drive. Adding the optional four-wheel-drive system bump the MSRP up to $61,500.

The LT ($61,700 with RWD, $64,700 with 4WD) adds a power rear liftgate and leather seat covers.

The RST ($66,500 with RWD, $69,500 with 4WD) gets 22-inch wheels, and upgraded interior/exterior trim; the RST can also be optioned with an adjustable-height suspension with GM's magnetically controlled shocks, Brembo high-capacity brakes, a free-flowing exhaust and air intake and sunroof, among other items.

The Z71 comes standard with 4WD, underbody skid plates, 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and higher-clearance front and rear ends. Z71 Tahoes can be ordered with the adaptive suspension and a limited-slip rear differential.

The Premier ($73,100 with RWD, $76,100 with 4WD) gets second-row bucket seats (replacing the otherwise standard three-across bench) with heaters for both the first and second row and unique-to-this-trim set of 20-inch wheels.

A top-of-the-line High Country ($78,200) comes standard with the 6.2-liter V8 that's available as an option in the RST, Z71 and Premier trims, plus a set of 22-inch wheels.

What's New For 2025

All but the base LS trim can be ordered with an updated version of GM's 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline six. All trims get a revised dash with a new 17.7-inch LCD touch screen.

What's Good

-- A big American sedan like they used to make them -- that's good in the snow too.

-- Still comes standard with a V8; is available with a bigger one.

-- Priced several thousand dollars less than rivals like the Expedition ($57,345 to start) and Sequoia ($62,425) that don't even offer V8s anymore.

What's Not So Good

-- Even though it costs less than rival big SUVs, it still costs much more than a big American car used to.

-- Will the huge touch screen still be working 10 years from now?

-- Both the optional diesel and the larger (6.2-liter) V8 are only available as options in the more expensive trims.

Under the Hood

Believe it or not, the Tahoe is the only remaining full-size SUV that still has a V8 under its hood.

The others used to, but their latest iterations now come standard with turbo (and turbo-hybrid) sixes instead. These engines are much smaller -- e.g., the Ford Expedition's 3.5-liter V6 -- and they don't use appreciably less gas, but they do tout more standard horsepower. For example, the Expedition's standard 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 claims 400 horsepower versus 355 horsepower for the Tahoe's standard -- and much larger -- 5.3-liter V8.

But which will last longer?

The V8 doesn't need a turbo to make sufficient (for a vehicle this size) power. A small six does. That's a difference that may matter once the odometer and the calendar roll past the warranty period and that may matter to you if you're planning on keeping the vehicle for longer than the warranty coverage.

If not, you may not care.

What's inarguable is that the turbo sixes have turbos (and intercoolers and other peripherals specific to turbocharged engines), and that makes them cost more. It is probably why even though the Tahoe comes standard with a big V8, it costs thousands less than its turbo-hybridized six competitors.

The Tahoe's optional 6.2-liter V8 touts 420 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque. This V8 is stronger than the Expedition's standard 3.5-liter, 400-horsepower turbocharged V6 but not quite as strong as the Expedition's optional, high-output V6, which touts 440 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque.

The Toyota Sequoia comes standard with the strongest engine of the bunch, a turbo-hybrid 3.4 V6 combo that touts 437 horsepower and 583 foot-pounds of torque. The Sequoia also touts a 9,520-pound maximum tow rating, just shy of the class-leading Expedition's 9,600-pound maximum tow rating

The Tahoe's max is considerably lower at 8,300 pounds.

Interestingly, the Chevy's available turbo-diesel six -- which touts 305 horsepower now and 495 foot-pounds of torque -- does not up the Tahoe's tow rating.

On the Road

The big American sedans of the past were long -- and so is the Tahoe. It's also tall -- and wide -- which makes it feel even bigger than a '70s land yacht. This can be both enjoyable and a bit unnerving, depending on where you're driving.

On the highway -- or on multilane roads where there's plenty of room to maneuver -- the Tahoe (and other full-size SUVs) are commanding vehicles to be in, precisely because they are so big and so tall. They enjoy the deference accorded to big dudes when they walk down the street. But as any big dude will admit, being a big dude isn't as great when you're trying to walk down a narrow corridor -- and it's a similar thing with the Tahoe and its rivals. These things are nearly as wide as some country roads, which leaves not much room to pass that cyclist up ahead. It's a similar situation trying to fit one of these big rigs into a car-size parking spot at the supermarket.

That aside, the Tahoe's standout driving attribute is the sound of its V8 engines. As strong as the turbo-sixes in rival big SUVs are, they lack the sound-appropriateness of a big V8 engine.

The optional diesel six also makes the right sounds. It also allows you to keep driving for almost 600 miles on the highway before the tank runs dry. That is more than 100 miles farther than either of the gas-burning V8s can take you. Equipped with the 6.2-liter V8, a Tahoe's highway range is only 432 miles -- and that's not with a trailer behind you.

At the Curb

The Tahoe is 211.3 inches long, which is almost exactly as long as the last full-size, rear-drive/V8-powered American sedan -- which was the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria. But the Vic could only seat six -- because it had only front and rear seats. The Tahoe comes standard with a third row that can accommodate two more passengers. But the most relevant point -- the reason why big SUVs are the modern full-size sedan of choice -- is because they can seat six in the first two rows, just like a full-size American sedan used to be able to.

The Tahoe is thus effectively not just one big car but two of them. And that is why it and others like it have become the "family car" of choice for many.

The Rest

There is one way the Tahoe and its like are not like the big sedans working and middle-income Americans used to commonly drive -- which they could because there were many that were affordable. For example, a 1976 Chevy Caprice sedan stickered for just over $5,000 when it was new. Granted, 1976 was 50 years ago -- but even when adjusted for inflation, a '76 Caprice only cost about $26,000 in today's dollars. A new Tahoe costs nearly twice as much and -- yes -- it is a much nicer vehicle in terms of all the luxury features it comes with. But what good are they if you can't afford them?

Increasingly, working and middle-income Americans cannot.

The Bottom Line

The Tahoe's the last of its kind, probably, that will ever come standard with a V8.

And that may change come 2026 or 2027.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.