Large and in charge, the 2022 Chevy Tahoe is a beast of a machine. Take a seat and get comfortable because we’ve got info that you’ll want to know. Firstly, some background. The Tahoe has been around since the early ’90s, and those who have an understanding of automotive history, you’ll know that it shares many of its features and design philosophies with the GMC Yukon. Using last year’s Tahoe as a basis, this latest model offers a similar level of performance. However, there have been several notable changes that may initially appear subtle.
As has been the case for years, the Tahoe is a full-size SUV that can comfortably seat up to eight passengers and has historically offered V8 engines, something that continues to this day. That may have been the case previously, but the 2021 and 2022 Tahoe both offer a diesel-powered engine for that distinctive blend of towing performance and fuel efficiency.
The assortment of available trim levels remains the same from the 2021 Tahoe. If you have a history with the Tahoe, then the LS may be familiar to you as the long-running base model. This year’s base trim has a starting MSRP of $49,700. What you can undoubtedly expect from the base Tahoe is a beastly level of performance. However, investing in one of the higher-tier trims will inevitably include a vast array of features for performance, entertainment, safety, and luxury. After the LS, the following trim levels include the LT, RST, Z71, and the two most sought-after trim levels, the Premier and the High Country. Off-roading enthusiasts will want to pay extra attention to the High Country, and if luxury is more your thing, then the Premier is the perfect trim level for you.
Two V8s and a Diesel
Over the years, the Tahoe has seen a fair share of engines come and go, but historically speaking, it’s always been powered on V8 engines. Starting with the 2021 model, the two V8 engines that we had seen the prior year had been complemented by a turbodiesel engine, both a welcomed and still present addition. With that said, the assortment of powertrains for the 2022 Tahoe is identical to last year’s. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a negative because of the exceptional performance and efficiency that these three powertrains have shown in the past.
If you’ve researched or owned a Tahoe in the past seven or so years, then the base engine should be immediately familiar to you. Firstly, each of the three powertrain configurations will come paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission, this not only being the same as last year but an upgrade over the 6-speed automatic transmission that used to come standard with this engine. This engine produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a maximum towing capacity of 8,400 lbs.
Eventually, a second V8 engine entered the scene as a more powerful option for drivers who want to amplify the power of their Tahoe. We’re talking about a 6.2L V8 engine that pumps out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Keep that torque output in mind, as we’ll discuss this in a moment. Upgrading to the 6.2L V8 engine is a smart move, especially since it offers 18% more horsepower and 20% greater torque output. Best of all, fuel efficiency is barely affected as a result. With the more powerful V8 engine, you should expect to see EPA-estimated ratings of 14 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway, which is only one mile less per gallon during city travel than the base offer.
As mentioned prior, the 2021 Tahoe brought with it a diesel-powered engine, and it’s still in the lineup today. With 277 hp and the same 460 lb-ft of torque as the 6.2L V8 engine, this turbodiesel 3.0L I-6 engine is the perfect choice for drivers who want to maintain the Tahoe’s performance yet also operate a more efficient powertrain. Opting for the diesel-powered engine will give your Tahoe EPA-estimated ratings of 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
King Size
Full-Size SUVs have something that sedans, crossovers, and even some mid-size SUVs don’t have—exceptional amounts of cargo space. One thing is for certain, the 2022 Tahoe, like its predecessors, is one of the most spacious SUVs that we’ve seen for both passenger comfort and room for cargo. Let’s quickly discuss the front row since that’s where you’ll likely be sitting a majority of the time. Up in the front, you get 42.3 inches of headroom. Legroom is even greater, measuring in at 44.5 inches, all but confirming that you should have no issues with fitting into the Tahoe. Of course, that’s just the beginning, as we have two more rows to discuss.
So then, what if you have friends along for the ride? Fortunately, the 2022 Tahoe extends its spacious nature to the rest of the vehicle. Starting with the second row, sitting here gives passengers 38.9 inches of headroom and a generous 42 inches of legroom. Now we move onto the third row, which unsurprisingly has historically been a tighter fit on most vehicles. With the Tahoe, we’re highly impressed with the 38.2 inches of headroom and 36.7 inches of legroom that it offers. With these dimensions, the Tahoe is one of those special vehicles that can comfortably seat up to eight adults, which is an impressive feat.
Lastly, we’ll take this opportunity to discuss cargo space, an undeniably important aspect of any SUV, full-size or not. The amount of space that will be available to you is dependent on which seats are folded down. For example, if you’re utilizing every seat with eight passengers aboard, the Tahoe offers 25.5 cubic feet of space. With 25.5 cubic feet of space, this is already far more than your average sedan, but it only gets better from here.
In times where you don’t need the third row, folding this down will reveal an additional 47.1 cubic feet of space, increasing it to 72.6 cubic feet. However, if you need to maximize the available cargo space of your Tahoe, then folding down both the second and third row of seats will give you 122.9 cubic feet of space. What does this indicate? It indicates that the 2022 Tahoe, like its predecessors, is highly versatile when you need it to be.
Another Grand Slam
The 2022 Tahoe wasn’t designed to flip the script but rather continue it. We’ve been impressed with the Tahoe for some time, and the latest Tahoe is the ultimate choice for you. Without going into detail about the underlying tech, the Tahoe is one of the most feature-rich vehicles on the market today. The exceptional cargo space, passenger room, and performance have been three legitimate reasons to recommend the Tahoe, but we’re impressed with how far the Tahoe has been pushed in recent memory. If you want performance, comfort, tech, and cargo space, few vehicles do this as well as the 2022 Tahoe. In a way, none of this should be surprising to you if you have any prior knowledge of Chevy, which not only has a long history but has also manufactured some of the most revered vehicles that have ever existed.
