2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Overview SUV Cars. Power for the 2016 Tahoe is again provided by a 355-hp 5.8-liter V8 engine with standard 6-speed
Chevrolet Tahoe Overview
Not
quite as large (or as expensive) as its Suburban cousin, Chevrolet’s
truck-based 2016 Tahoe full-size sport ute nevertheless offers admirable cabin
space, 7- to 9-passenger seating in 3 rows, 94.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity,
and V8 power. On top of that, a sleek yet commanding profile and some nifty
moves would seem to ensure the continued popularity of this family-oriented
SUV.
Look
for the 2016 Tahoe trim iterations to remain the base LS, the quasi-posh LT,
and the flagship LTZ, with all trims once again offered with standard
rear-wheel drive (RWD), while on-demand 4-wheel drive (4WD) returns as an option
for all trims.
After
a hefty reworking for the 2015 model year, the Tahoe offers only a few
noteworthy changes for 2016. A couple of new exterior colors, Siren Red
Tintcoat and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat, are expected to grace the upcoming
Tahoe, while Chevy has apparently paid heed to customer complaints in offering
a reconfigured gauge cluster for 2016. Additionally, the Driver Alert package
that’s standard for the LTZ and remains optional in the LT, is slated to offer
such extras as IntelliBeam headlights, a safety-alert seat, and a new
lane-keeping assistance function that replaces the old lane-departure alert.
Further alterations scheduled for next year’s Tahoe also include a cap-less
fuel fill and a liftgate shield, while the once-ubiquitous CD player, as well
as the handy SD-card slot, are both eliminated from the standard entertainment
suite.
Power
for the 2016 Tahoe is again provided by a 355-hp 5.8-liter V8 engine that, when
mated with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, throws down
383 lb-ft of torque. Look for a maximum of 8,600 pounds of towing grunt with
the proper equipment, while mileage should remain a tepid 16 mpg city/23
highway/18 combined in RWD variants, and 16/22/18 in 4WD versions. Oh, and 4WD
configurations again include the competent 2-speed transfer case, while both
RWD and 4WD iterations in LT and LTZ garb come with a standard rear locking
differential that remains optional for the LS. Furthermore, an adaptive
suspension is standard in the top-shelf LTZ and again available in the midlevel
LT.
Appearance-wise,
expect the lower-echelon 2016 Tahoe trims to sport, besides one of the 2 new
exterior hues, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a Class II tow hitch and
wiring, step running boards, a roof rack, and heated power-adjustable mirrors.
The LTZ, meantime, will doubtless remain offering 20-inch alloy wheels and
reverse-tilt power mirrors, while both the LT and the LTZ are slated to return
with the standard power-opening liftgate.
Inside,
this hefty Chevy, in its base LS configuration, is scheduled to return boasting
premium cloth upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and full power
accessories, along with cruise control and tilt-wheel steering. Also, look for
standard rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera to return in all 2016
Tahoe trims, along with tri-zone automatic climate control and
Bluetooth-integrated OnStar telematics, once again complemented by last year’s
debuting 4G LTE infotainment boost that includes an 8-inch touchscreen display.
The
LT and LTZ, meanwhile, are each expected to offer such standard add-ons as
telescoping tilt-wheel steering, heated front seats, a remote garage door
opener, power-adjustable pedals, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Again,
look for the LTZ to re-assert its upper-crust image with standard memory for
driver’s settings and heated second-row captain’s chairs, as well as the
upgraded Driver Alert Package, premium leather upholstery, and a heated
steering wheel.
With
the expected deletion of the CD player and SD-card slot from the 2016 Tahoe,
look for the LS to now carry an audio system boasting an AM/FM stereo with 6
speakers, satellite radio, and an auxiliary audio input. The LT, meantime, adds
3 additional speakers, while the LTZ is slated to carry a standard Bose premium
audio package with 10 speakers.
As
for options, look for higher Tahoe trims to remain eligible for available
upsized wheels, a power moonroof, and GPS navigation, while all trims are
scheduled to remain in the running for the Max Trailering package that comes
with a standard load-leveling suspension in the higher trims. Optional seating
configurations, furthermore, should again include an available front bench seat
in the LS for 9-passenger total capacity, while the LT can be ordered with an
available second-row bench seat for 8-passenger capacity.
Standard
safety equipment for all 2016 Tahoe trims is expected to remain 4-wheel
antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted
airbags, 3-row head curtain airbags, and GM’s unique front center-mounted
airbag that offers front-seat passengers additional protection in side
collisions (front bucket seats only). Further standard safety stuff aboard all
trims includes daytime running lights, a post-collision safety system, OnStar
emergency alerts and communications, and a remote antitheft alarm. The LT and
LTZ also boast standard turn-signal-integrated mirrors, while the LT remains
eligible for the enhanced-for-2016 Driver Alert package that’s standard in the
LTZ. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), meantime,
gives the current Tahoe its second-best 4 stars out of 5, overall, in various
crash tests.
Drivers
complain that the 2015 Tahoe’s rear visibility is challenging, at best, while little
seems to be accomplished for 2016 regarding current owner laments about its
occasionally frustrating telematics and infotainment technology. On the
positive side, owners laud the current Tahoe for its ride comfort and
quietness, while, as mentioned, the slick profile continues to draw its
traditional acclaim.
Expect
the value-conscious 2016 Tahoe to go on sale in the early fall of this year,
when rivals will once again include Ford’s competent and techno-heavy
Expedition and Toyota’s well-wrought Sequoia.
