The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe receives a mid-generation refresh that brings updated exterior lighting with animated signals and a style update to the front fascia that is only noticeable to those profoundly familiar with last year’s design. Inside, it’s a different story.
A large landscape touchscreen brings the design up to today’s customer expectations and is in stark contrast to the 2024 model but not as great of a leap “forward” as seen in the 2025 Ford Expedition (more details on the updated Expedition and Expedition Max can be found here: https://www.carsdirect.com/ford/expedition/2025 ).
The initial impression is very welcoming with padded leather surfaces, a large infotainment screen, a digital gauge cluster, a low dashboard top, and a long continuous strip of wood trim across the instrument panel’s waistline. There’s also a new steering wheel design and a tidy, revised shifter concept. Unfortunately, extended real-world use reveals shortcomings in several of these areas. The leather material feels painfully basic, the wood trim feels thin and hollow, the turn signal stalk and new gear shift stalk are vague and loose in operation, and the plethora of controls to the left of the steering wheel is a frustrating mix of small buttons and two identically sized knobs placed next to each other; used for the drive modes and headlights. Lastly, though the new large touchscreen and digital gauge cluster are crisp and reasonably quick reacting, their level of personalization is extremely basic and the steering wheel’s controls’ tactile feel and operation are simply cheap feeling.
Regardless of those modernizations, the Chevy Tahoe (also updated 2025 Chevy Suburban: https://www.carsdirect.com/chevrolet/suburban/2025) remain dedicated to being among the largest and most capable vehicles available – especially in this Z71 trim with the Off-Road Capability package that includes an air-suspension system that can provide up to 10 inches of ground clearance and adaptive dampers that are impressively successful at settling the large and heavy 33-inch all-terrain tires and at balancing the 3-ton SUV as it sails down the highway. As fitted, the Tahoe shrugs off even the worst of our cratered roads, however, when put into a turn, there is noticeable lean. One quickly learns that the Tahoe is happiest playing the role of a highway cruiser and Chevrolet’s hands-free cruise control system, SuperCruise, has greater availability. Sadly, it was not included in this example.
Regardless of Tahoe’s task, the large 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline V8 is and always at the ready to flex its horses. At full wallop, its 460 lb-ft of torque and 420 horsepower makes quick work of the transmission’s first few gears and shoves the Tahoe to extra-legal speeds at an eye-brow raising rate – a feat made even more sensational by the amount of suspension squat. The 10-speed transmission is a big part of the powertrain’s success thanks to it’s ideal gear ratios and expert programming that helps the Tahoe feel light on its feet with predictable response and seamlessly shuffles through the gears as the Tahoe glides up to speed. Trigger the throttle when cruising, and the proper gear instantly falls in place and grabs onto the engine’s plentiful mid-range twist.
Although fuel economy will always take a backseat to overall capability in this class, the Tahoe’s big V8 integrates several advanced technologies, such as variable valve timing, direct injection, and cylinder deactivation. In return for that investment, the Tahoe manages to return a solid 18 MPG while routinely traveling in mixed traffic from Denver to Golden – quite impressive for a vehicle of its size and capability.
Any conversation about the Tahoe (or Suburban) isn’t complete until there is a mention of its size. Indeed, the Tahoe is impressively large inside and offers a third row that is even suitable for adults (although some cooperation from the second-row seat occupant is required). Cargo space is plentiful, and the power lift-up tailgate offers a narrow pop-glass section that may be useful someday.
The Tahoe’s primary skills are undeniable. However, most of those can be directly attributed to its sheer size as well as its heavy-duty construction and big power. However, that capability also contributes toward this model’s $90k price tag lands it against crossovers from other brands who do premium much better. If the Tahoe’s skills meet your needs, look no further.
