The Battle of the Chevrolet SUVs - Suburban vs Tahoe vs Traverse
Chevrolet offers a stout lineup of SUVs to meet the needs of drivers across Canada. Three of the most popular, and largest, are the Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Traverse. While offering similar attributes, there are also differences between the three models that can help drivers decide which model best fits their needs.
Similarities
The Traverse, Suburban, and Tahoe all provide third row seating to give you enough room to haul up to eight passengers in the Traverse and nine in the Suburban and Tahoe if the SUV is designed to have all bench seats.
All three SUVs also feature premium interior comfort offered by Chevrolet. This includes cubby storage compartments, high-tech infotainment systems, multi-zone climate control systems, and more.
However, they all offer different capabilities, different fuel economies, and different prices, but the most capable might not be the one that you think.
Differences - Price
Size does play a factor in the initial price points of the Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and Traverse. The Traverse, being the smallest, starts at just $36,498 for the base model while the base models of the Tahoe and Suburban are significantly more. They cost $57,048 and $60,048, respectively.
Differences - Size
The Chevrolet Suburban is the manufacturer's largest SUV, offering a spacious third row and an expansive cargo capacity. The Suburban can hold up to nine passengers, along with 3,446 litres of total cargo when the seats are folded down. It also offers the biggest exterior footprint being 574cm long, 205cm wide, and 193cm tall.
The Chevrolet Tahoe is the manufacturer's second-largest SUV, and it also offers seating for nine passengers. Its cargo space, at 2,681 litres, is actually the smallest amount found between the three three-row Chevrolet SUVs. It has the same width and height as the Suburban but is shorter at 535cm.
The Chevrolet Traverse is the manufacturer's smallest three-row SUV, but that does not mean it is actually small. On the flip side, the Traverse actually offers more interior cargo space than the Tahoe, holding up to 2,780 litres, almost 100 litres more than the Tahoe. For drivers worried about maneuvering a large SUV, the Traverse's mid-size configuration makes it easier to park, maneuver on city streets, and handle on crowded highways. It is 523cm long, 200cm wide, and 180cm tall.
Differences - Capability
As seen in the cargo space category, the Chevrolet SUVs have some surprises in store. While the Suburban can tow up to 3,764kg, the most capable Chevrolet three-row SUV is actually the Tahoe, which can tow up to 3,900kg when properly equipped. Significantly smaller, the Traverse only offers a max towing capacity of 2,780kg, which is still pretty significant for a mid-size SUV.
Differences - Fuel Economy
In terms of fuel economy, size also plays a factor. The Chevrolet Traverse offers the best with 13.1 L/100km city and 8.7 L/100km highway fuel economy. The Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe are fairly equally matched with the same highway fuel economy--16.8 L/100km--and just slightly differing city ratings. The Suburban gets 11.2 L/100km city while the Tahoe gets 10.7 L/100km.
Choosing a Three-Row Chevrolet SUV
The Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and Traverse are all extremely capable vehicles that can hold more passengers than two-row SUVs. However, the best fit for your lifestyle depends on budget, towing needs, and space considerations.