Tahoe vs. Suburban: Which One Is Better? Here’s How To Choose!
So, you’re interested in one of Chevy’s full-size vehicles… nice choice!
Both the Chevrolet Suburban and the Chevrolet Tahoe are excellent choices as a family vehicle. They offer a ton of room, tech, and car seat capabilities that make it an easy choice for taking on whatever the daily commute brings. That being said, why does Chevrolet have both options if they seem so similar? That’s what I’m here to answer.
If you’re new here - welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a CPST, mom of three (and pregnant with my fourth!), and overall car lover, it’s my goal to help you find the best vehicle for your family. Without any further introduction, let’s break down the Suburban vs. Tahoe to decide which works best for you.
Why A Full-Size Family Vehicle?
Before we get into whether the Suburban or Tahoe is right for you, let’s take a step back and look into whether or not you actually need a full-size vehicle. The biggest factors to consider are space for passengers and trunk size.
How many passengers are you hauling on a daily basis? If you have a smaller family, 2 and even 3 kids, does not necessarily mean you need to look into full-size vehicles exclusively. The room is always nice, but so is a less expensive vehicle with better gas mileage.
As for trunk size, this truly comes into play when considering the third row up. Midsize vehicles (with the third row down) offer a lot of great trunk space. If you need that third row to not eat up all your trunk space, a full-size vehicle is the way to go.
I know trunk space is a huge factor to consider, so read my post on the best family vehicles for trunk space if this is one of your top essentials.
Suburban vs Tahoe: Which Is Right For You?
Chevrolet Tahoe
Tahoe Specs
The Chevy Tahoe is one of the most popular full-size SUVs, and for good reason with its room for 8 passengers. If you're a mom who needs a lot of room for storage (and who doesn't!?), the Tahoe offers 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.
Chevy uses the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) for child restraint seats, with lower anchors and top tethers in all second-row seats and top tethers in all third-row seats. Although the bench is 60/40 instead of three individual seats, you still have an excellent car seat set up for three across.
Pros of the Chevrolet Tahoe:
Simple infotainment setup - it’s one of my favorites out of all the full-size SUVs
Excellent safety features including: automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, and intelligent high beams
Second row can accommodate any three car seats across combination
Second row ceiling vents
Cons of the Chevrolet Tahoe:
Second row has a 60/40 bench. I much prefer three independent seats making up a bench.
No sun shades
The Tahoe trunk is small compared to Suburban.
Although the Tahoe on paper is similar to the Expedition, it just feels smaller in the second and third row
The third-row seats don't have lower anchors, and the middle seat lacks a head restraint. Really disappointing.
Third-row access is a Fold & Flip over a Car Seat Friendly Tilt
Fun features coming in 2025:
When you approach your trunk, it open automatically! This was so cool!
Super Cruise technology in more trim levels which is Chevy’s version of autonomous driving
Panoromic sunroof AND ceiling vents (even in the 3rd row)
Chevrolet Suburban
Suburban Specs
The Chevy Suburban is similar to its Tahoe sister, but larger. The Suburban is 15 inches longer than the Tahoe, which you’ll notice mostly in the third row and trunk space. It’s massive!
When looking at the interior of the Tahoe, it’s identical. I’m talking the same great infotainment system, same 60/40 bench with an excellent LATCH setup, and same technology available.
Pros of the Chevrolet Suburban
The Suburban is the biggest full-size SUV you can purchase on the market
Trunk space is incredible
Second and third row ceiling vents
Tether anchors in all seats (in the second & third row) and lower anchors in the second row
Cons of the Chevrolet Suburban
Gas mileage is not great
No sun shades
No lower anchors in the third row
No middle head restraint in the third row
Third-row access is a Fold & Flip over a Car Seat Friendly Tilt
Fun features coming in 2025:
Gorgeous refreshed exterior. Each trim has something unique
Like the Tahoe, the trunk of the Suburban opens automatically!
Updated infotainment system which was definitely needed. It’s excellent!
Redesigned center console with both USB and USBC ports and wireless charging
Suburban vs Tahoe: Comparison Specifics
Size Comparison
The ONLY difference between the Tahoe and the Suburban is their size. Think how you can get a Yukon/Yukon XL or the Expedition/Expedition Max. Chevrolet is the only manufacturer on the market that named its regular and extended wheelbase full-size vehicle two different things.
So… which one is larger?
The Suburban is larger (by 15 in to be exact) and you’ll see this room in the back half of the vehicle. While there is a little extra room in the third row, the majority of the space is in the trunk.
This means if you have a larger family, or frequently need to haul things, the Suburban is the better choice for you. If you prefer a slightly more compact vehicle (but not that compact since it’s full-size) the Tahoe is a better choice for you.
If you feel yourself leaning towards the Suburban just for the option of more space, I’d highly recommend you test drive them both. You can really feel the differences between the two in parking and overall maneuverability, even if they both seem large.
Cost and Value
The Tahoe, Chevrolet’s regular full-size SUV, has a starting MSRP of $56,200. The miles per gallon are as follows: 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 24 mpg combined. While this gas mileage is on the low side, it’s fairly standard for full-size SUVs because of the amount of vehicle you’re driving around.
The Suburban, Chevrolet’s extended wheelbase full-size SUV, is more expensive with a starting MSRP of $59,200. You are paying $3,000 for an additional 15 in of space in the trunk and third row, but you can really see the difference. The gas mileage comes in as follows: 16 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, 18 mpg combined. This is quite the difference from the Tahoe.
Which One Is Best As Your Family Vehicle?
The Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban are both amazing full-size SUV options on the market that allow you everything you could ever want in a full-size SUV. The real question to consider when debating between the two is: is the extra room in the trunk worth it?
While we all would love endless trunk space, the Suburban’s additional cost and increased difficulty to maneuver (this is a BIG vehicle), make the Tahoe a vehicle to really consider.
If you’re still not convinced either of these options are right for you, check out my Full-Size Showdown! This is an in-depth breakdown of every full-size SUV on the market to help narrow down your selection.
Can I be honest for a minute? Here’s my favorite full-size SUV…
These are great cars and I think you’d be happy with either option depending on the needs of your family. But I can’t wrap up this blog post without telling you to at least consider the Ford Expedition Max. There is so much to love about this car if you’re considering a full-size SUV. Check out my full review right here!
Do you prefer the Suburban or the Tahoe? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest car buying tips for families, check out my recent posts:
