Whenever I hear the term “three-row SUV,” I always ask the same question: What kind of people are those rows sized to fit? Typically, the first two can accommodate adults without an issue. The third row is always a toss-up. In some vehicles, it has enough room for grownups; in others, it only provides enough horizontal and vertical space for children.
The new Tahoe is a three-row SUV in the most mature sense of the words. Chevy capitalized on its longer wheelbase and overall length and made a cabin with an additional three inches of second-row legroom, 10 inches of third-row legroom and 10.2 cubic feet of cargo space in the very back. That meant that there was plenty of room for all 5’10” of me to “sit behind myself” comfortably in both rear rows.
4. Bigger, but Smarter
Despite the Tahoe’s larger dimensions, I never felt nervous about its size. I give most of the credit for that sense of calm to my tester’s driving and parking aids. Changing lanes was much less stressful thanks to the available Premium Package’s Rear Camera Mirror, which gave me a clear view of what was behind me completely devoid of headrests or D-pillars. The HD Surround Vision system’s multiple camera feeds made parking cleanly within the lines of a spot on the first attempt a quick and easy process.
5. Truly New and Improved
One of the fundamental components of the 2021 Tahoe is an independent multilink rear suspension, a setup that Chevy chose for its improved ride quality, steering response and driver control. I didn’t get a chance to drive the last-generation Tahoe, so I can’t give you an apples-to-apples comparison. What I can say is the Tahoe Premier’s combination of new underpinnings and standard Magnetic Ride Control produced a surprisingly gentle ride. Most body-on-frame vehicles tend to feel a little clunky over rough roads, but the Tahoe masked its utilitarian DNA incredibly well.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
