Chevrolet’s all-new 2021 Tahoe Z71 is comfortable around town or in the backcountry

What do you get when rolling through National Forest in a truck with a base of 355hps and 383 lb.-ft torque? A truck with a bold, aggressive nature on the outside that’s secretly soft, spacious, and luxurious on the inside. You get the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71.

For 2021, Chevrolet has rolled up their sleeves and completely updated their iconic sport utility Tahoe, starting on the outside and updating the technology, space, and comfort on the interior. When this truck was delivered a few weeks ago, three years after driving a 2017 model to The Biltmore Estate in Asheville for the annual Overland Expo East event, I couldn’t wait to see what changed and what stayed the same. Aside from the bowtie on the front grille, Chevy’s 2021 Tahoe Z71 is qualitatively better than its predecessor. But is it worth the starting price tag of $59,200?

Before getting into the details of the new Tahoe Z71, I’ll preface this review by noting my personal feelings about new car and truck prices. With the growth of technology and how consumers use technologies designed to make life more efficient and easier to manage (these aren’t my words, these are the words of those developing said technologies), there’s a continued desire for vehicles that integrate this technology into the driving experience. This comes at a price, however, and continues a trend of new vehicle pricing highlighted by a host of technological conveniences, along with important emissions regulations (of which I believe are critical for their long-term environmental impact) that are passed on to the consumer. As such, we’re seeing more and more vehicles whose cost of entry is mind boggling and solidifies the love I have for the vehicles in my garage despite their age and simplicity. At least they’re paid for.

The base Tahoe starts at $49,000 with six trim options available with the top-of-the-line High Country edition setting you back at $69,600 (before options). My test vehicle, a Z71 version, starts at $59,200; however, my nearly fully loaded truck included $16,180 worth of options and upgrades, pushing the total cost of entry to a whopping $76,175 which included a $1,295 destination charge and a “discount” of $500 for the Z71 off-road package. Now, before you decide to stop reading let me at least throw a few bones to you.

Performance-wise, the Tahoe Z71 is truly exceptional. The 5.3L Ecotec3 V8 is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing plenty of power to pass traffic on pavement with a selectable low-range that provides all the torque you’ll need to borrow from its bank of 383 lb.-ft torque when off-road. A larger, more robust 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 pumping 420hps and 460 lb.-ft torque is available (it comes standard on the High Country edition) and can attest the additional power/torque is noticeable after having recently driven a GMC Denali 1500 mated to that powertrain. Regarding the 10-speed automatic transmission, the shifts are silky smooth and power/torque is delivered when needed. With a curb weight of 5,815lbs there’s still plenty of get up and go and I was reasonably impressed with the 18.1mpg I averaged around town and on the highway. For reference, a new Toyota Land Cruiser (not Heritage Edition) has the exact same curb weight with a larger 5.7L V8 that delivers 381hps and 401 lb.-ft torque but sacrifices fuel efficiency with mixed MPG around 15. That vehicle also starts at about $9k more than the fully-loaded Tahoe Z71 though long-term reliability may be the difference in cost of ownership when amortized over a decade or two. I’ll also note a 3.0L Duramax Diesel is available for Tahoe but interestingly enough, is not available with the Z71 edition which I found a bit perplexing given how well the 2.8L Duramax has proven with Chevy’s ZR2 pickup and the exceptional torque of 460 lb.-ft which is an off-road vehicle dream. However, not so with the Z71.

Getting around both on pavement and off-road is comfortable and functional with Chevy’s magnetic ride control suspension with four corner air ride adaptability. Air ride suspension isn’t new but Chevy’s Tahoe maximizes this technology by reducing ground clearance on the highway for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency while allowing the driver to adjust ride height when towing or driving off-road. This is included as part of the Z71’s optional off-road capability package with a nominal but useful 2″ of additional lift when engaging the vehicle’s 4Lo setting. That said, this benefit is lost by the Tahoe’s fixed position running boards which sit low enough to significantly affect total ground clearance and is an option I would do away with and instead look to source aftermarket rock sliders once available. Still, overall ride quality on varying terrains that included gravel and small boulders, as well as on pavement, is impressive and while not as technical or versatile as the multimatic suspension found on Chevy’s ZR2 pickup, the suspension on Chevy’s Tahoe Z71 is perfectly acceptable for most light to medium duty requirements. Additionally, hill descent control is included as well as a mechanical limited slip rear differential. Both function easily and work to increase driver’s confidence in sticky situations; however, locking differentials (front and/or rear) are not available for the Z71 Tahoe which I found to be disappointing and would like to see offered at some point.

Coupled with the Chevy Tahoe’s suspension is payload and towing capacity. Payload is pretty good with the base Tahoe offering a maximum 1,834lbs while the Z71 edition comes in at 1,746lbs. Towing capacity is close to 7,000lbs and the available Advanced Trailering System via an in-vehicle app is quite handy with the ability to customize the type of trailer you’re towing to maximize how the vehicle handles the load based on weight, tire pressure, and temperature. I didn’t have the opportunity to tow anything with the Tahoe Z71 but found this to be a useful tool for anyone pulling a teardrop trailer or camper behind the truck.

On the inside, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe Z71 is not only comfortable, it’s immensely spacious. While listening to a presentation about the new Tahoe from Chevy engineers, cargo space was increased a whopping 30% from the previous generation Tahoe and was achieved by nominally lowering the floorboard and lengthening the interior. The second row and third row seating provide plenty of seating comfort for virtually anyone (this includes big/tall folks) with the third row featuring a whopping (did I use that word already) 40% increase in leg room. Each zone also has its own climate control. Of course, the experience can also be enhanced with an optional $2,490 rear seat media system featuring a pair of 12.6″ LCD touchscreens capable of displaying their own content. Some people will like this, others won’t. Again, it’s another example of technological upgrades available if you so desire.

Up front, a myriad of safety enhancements have been integrated into the driving experience with an intelligently laid out Infotainment system on a 10.2″ touchscreen as well as Heads Up Display that toggles different types of information while driving (all controlled with the touch of your thumb on the steering wheel), camera views up front as well as on the sides and rear of the truck, as well as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and front pedestrian braking. Adaptive cruise control is available along with lane departure, HD surround vision, and a safety alert seat that vibrates when the vehicle detects a possible collision or when veering into another lane without using a turn signal. Leather seating is extremely comfortable with a variety of lumbar support settings and at no time did I ever feel confined while driving or while sitting in the passenger seat. There’s ample width up front with the interior height of the vehicle accommodating big/tall passengers. It really is a qualitative improvement from the previous generation in all aspects.

So the question begs, is the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 worth the cost of admission? That’s a bit hard to conclude. Even without considering the $16,180 worth of options integrated into my test vehicle, a base price for the Z71 edition at $59,200 is a lot of coin. However, each person has his/her needs regarding space, comfort, technology, safety, driveability, and reliability. Aside from Japanese-built Toyotas that have proven themselves exceptional with long-term reliability and all the attributes that make vehicles pricey worth their while, I’ve generally been pleased with Chevy products. Still, $59,200 is quite a bit and with my test vehicle approaching nearly $77k, I’m reluctantly coming to terms with the fact that any nice vehicle loaded with the conveniences and technological enhancements available today is going to cost a pretty penny. Lesson? Save up and buy a Chevy Tahoe Z71 if you require a capable, comfortable family vehicle that’ll get you there and back in style.

OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible vehicle-based adventure travel and outdoors adventure