Tahoe vs. Suburban

[cjf2]

 

I have a few questions to ask on Tahoes vs. Suburbans.

(Both LT 4x4's - only options added are wheel flares & side impact air bags)

 

1. What is the price differece on average at the dealers between these 2?

(I am under the impression that it is less than $1500)

 

2. What is the difference in fuel economy (MPG)?

(dealer stickers for both state 14 city, 18 hwy mpg)

 

3. Which has the better ride quality?

(I am told Subs ride better due to a longer wheelbase)

 

4. Which has the better 3 row seat comfort?

 

5. Is their much of a difference in handling between the two?

 

thanks,

cjf2

[Mule]

You may want to add one other consideration: How deep is your garage? Some don't fit the Sub.

[dannyukonxl]

 

I have a few questions to ask on Tahoes vs. Suburbans.

(Both LT 4x4's - only options added are wheel flares & side impact air bags)

 

1. What is the price differece on average at the dealers between these 2?

(I am under the impression that it is less than $1500)

 

2. What is the difference in fuel economy (MPG)?

(dealer stickers for both state 14 city, 18 hwy mpg)

 

3. Which has the better ride quality?

(I am told Subs ride better due to a longer wheelbase)

 

4. Which has the better 3 row seat comfort?

 

5. Is their much of a difference in handling between the two?

 

                                        thanks,

                                          cjf2

                                     

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

1. the price diff. should be around 2000 it really depends on what the dealer has in stock, if they have a lot of suburbans they will put some more incentive of them to get them off the lot, if there at lot of tahoe's the price difference will be greater, a good estimate would be about 1500 though because im finding a lot of the dealers have suburbans instead of tahoes on the lot now adays, at least around here

 

2. my friends tahoe gets about 17 mpg will about 50/50 driving like a grandma, but those numbers sound good, id expect maybe 12 around town and 15 if your in a hurry on the freeway

 

3. They both have airride and torsion bars so they should be equal in that category but the suburban will ride better because the frame can flex a little more

 

4. The suburban was made for hauling the 3rd row around, the tahoe they just put it in, so basically its a tight squeeze in the back

 

5. I have the 2500 so it handles and feels like a truck but i imagine the suburban will feel a little more like a truck compared to the tahoe because its longer and bigger, the tahoe will feel more like a car

 

bottom line: if your not towing a lot, if your not hauling a lot, if your not carrying a lot of people then go for the tahoe, but if your carrying 5 or more people on road trips then go for the suburban

 

[carguru]

My opinion:

 

1. It is less than $1500 difference. It was closer to $800 difference when we were looking.

 

2. At most, given same driving habits, it is identical or less than 1 mpg difference.

 

3. Suburban would have the better ride quality due to the longer wheelbase.

 

4. Suburban hands down. Suburban has a well for third row passenger's feet. Tahoe, when anyone else besides little kids, feels to have knees by your ears when in third row. Plus if you hauled luggage and full passengers, the Suburban would be much better. Very little luggage space with the third row in use in the Tahoe.

 

5. The Tahoe has better manueverability but twitchier handling due to the shorter wheelbase. But in off road situations, the Tahoe is a tad bit better (better turning radius, slightly better ability to not get high centered, etc).

[cjf2]

Thanks to everyone who replied.

 

cjf2

[Supurban]

Dannyukonxl is right : some dealers are trying to move more Tahoes while other want to move more Suburbans.

 

1. $1500-$2000 difference sounds about right.

 

2. When you are dealing with vehicles of this size, the MPG difference is going to be pretty small. Has anyone seriously accused these V8s of getting great mileage? I get 13-17 MPG in my 5.3L.

 

3. Subs ride better with the longer wheelbase. Hadn't occurred to me that more frame length also means more flex (absorbs bumps), but that is a factor. In either case, a couple of cases of water (or beer ) sitting on the back always smooths out the ride.

 

4. Suburban wins hands down here. The foot well on the 3rd row makes all the difference. Also, I believe the legroom on both the 2nd and 3rd rows is slightly shorter in the Tahoe. But holy cow is that third row bench HEAVY!

 

5. Tahoe is more parking lot friendly since it turns a little tighter. But since both are the same width, you'll be slithering between doors in either case. Suburban definitely takes some concentration in tight spots - I just park farther away. With Subs, count on doing three point turns when parking to straighten it out Too bad they don't have Quadrasteer on the 1500s.

 

Other thoughts:

* Suburban is great for carrying lots of people with lots of luggage. If you only need the third row occasionally, then a Tahoe is probably more practical.

* For 2nd row bench owners - beware of the cruddy little cable mount for the tilt/slide right side seat . You might want to ask the salesman to throw in a couple of extra of these since they break easily.

* Mule is dead on about the length of your garage - Subs are 18+ feet vehicles. Add push bars and trailer balls and you can easily cross 19 feet. Fortunately, mine does fit !

* Tahoe rear door windows do not roll all the way down - Subs' windows do.

 

Good luck with your purchase decision and make sure to show pics when you get your new truck!