2025 LT vs Premier and HC

[nomech]

I've never owned a chevy SUV with MRC and/or air suspension upgrades, how much of a noticeable difference is there in ride comfort?

I've also done some searching on here and the general consensus seems to be, some people notice a big difference in ride comfort and some people don't notice much of a difference (comparing MRC and/or air ride vs 'normal' no MRC and/or air ride).

Like all things, there are pros and cons to both.

Can anyone provide feedback on their decision/thought process?

For example, if you have MRC and/or air ride, do you regret it (maybe it is too early to tell based on your vehicle purchase). I'm looking for feedback from newer Tahoes. Do the 21+ Tahoes all use the same MRC and air ride system? I live in the midwest where it does get very cold during the winter months. Of course I know these these are designed to work in colder climates, but I wanted to make sure I pointed that out.

I currently have a 2020 Tahoe Premier with whatever suspension ships on that car along with 22" rims and I'm not saying it is the best ride, but I'm fine with the current suspension.

That being said, I think I'm only looking at 2025 Premier and HC trims.

 

[2024 White Tahoe]

I have a 2024 Tahoe Premier 4wd with 20-inch factory wheels and MRC.

The ride is excellent. I’m sold on the MRC.

 

[jerry455]

I have a 2021 Suburban High Country with MRC and no air ride. I rides fantastic. I love putting the control to sport mode. It stiffens the suspension and steering and adjusts shift feel.

 

[Antonm]

We test drove a few different Tahoe's/ Yukons/ Escalades before buying our high country Tahoe. Both my wife and I could feel the difference and preferred the ride of the air suspension option, so that's what we bought (HC can be had either way, we specifically bought one with air ride).
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[Stinkyfurgeson512]

When it bursts on the side of the road and the whole front of the car is bottomed out, remember, it's probably just a flat tire or any other mechanical issue, definitely not the air suspension :|

 

[nomech]

When it bursts on the side of the road and the whole front of the car is bottomed out, remember, it's probably just a flat tire or any other mechanical issue, definitely not the air suspension :|

I did read that thread, I don't want that to carry over into this thread.

 

[Antonm]

When it bursts on the side of the road and the whole front of the car is bottomed out, remember, it's probably just a flat tire or any other mechanical issue, definitely not the air suspension :|

Of all the problems this platform has (DFM lifters, engine bearings, NTHSA probe into engine failures, trans shifting issues, improper heat treat on critical bolts, etc.), frequent failure of the air suspension just isn't one of them (and every Escalade and most Denials have air suspension).

Air suspension is a proven tech that's been around for literal decades , pretty much every medium duty or above truck and 18 wheeler uses air suspension in some way. The 2013 Mercedes we bought brand new and traded in on the Tahoe had full air ride, that car had plenty of issues in the 11 years we had it, but the air suspension wasn't one of them.

If you're worried about air suspension breaking, then you should probably also have manual hand crank windows in your truck because the electric window can fail too leaving you without the ability to roll down the window. Same logic for power steering and power brakes, better take that crap off too because it can fail.
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[nomech]

We test drove a few different Tahoe's/ Yukons/ Escalades before buying our high country Tahoe. Both my wife and I could feel the difference and preferred the ride of the air suspension option, so that's what we bought (HC can be had either way, we specifically bought one with air ride).
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My local dealer only had two tahoe's and they both had MRC and air ride, I took one for a drive but the roads I took it on were very flat and smooth so I'm not sure that I would have noticed anything had it not been equipped with MRC and air ride. It was a nice/smooth ride, I just don't know if MRC/air ride had any help in that given the flat, smooth roads.

 

[Antonm]

My local dealer only had two tahoe's and they both had MRC and air ride, I took one for a drive but the roads I took it on were very flat and smooth so I'm not sure that I would have noticed anything had it not been equipped with MRC and air ride. It was a nice/smooth ride, I just don't know if MRC/air ride had any help in that given the flat, smooth roads.

We don't have that smooth road issue here in Texas at the moment,,, seems like very highway is under construction or being widened. So I drove through a bunch of road construction areas on my test drives (not really on purpose or anything, there was just pretty much no way around them if you wanted to get on a highway).
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[nomech]

We don't have that smooth road issue here in Texas at the moment,,, seems like very highway is under construction or being widened. So I drove through a bunch of road construction areas on my test drives (not really on purpose or anything, there was just pretty much no way around them if you wanted to get on a highway).
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There are plenty of roads that are horrible in my area, but I limited my test drive to within a few miles of the dealership mainly because of a time restriction on my end.

 

[nomech]

I have a 2024 Tahoe Premier 4wd with 20-inch factory wheels and MRC.

The ride is excellent. I’m sold on the MRC.

Does the air ride add anything for the suspension smoothness or is that all MRC?

I know air ride helps with lowering the car for different modes, but is it 50/50 MRC and air ride....80/20, 70/30....?

Maybe you or someone else can answer.

I like the idea of lowering the car a bit, if/when needed, but if it doesn't help with suspension smoothness, I can also look at tahoe's with MRC only.

 

[Scarey]

I believe the drop ability is air ride only.

 

[nomech]

I believe the drop ability is air ride only.

I'm sure it is, I'm not expecting MRC to have the ability to raise or lower the vehicle.

 

[2024 White Tahoe]

Does the air ride add anything for the suspension smoothness or is that all MRC?

I know air ride helps with lowering the car for different modes, but is it 50/50 MRC and air ride....80/20, 70/30....?

Maybe you or someone else can answer.

I like the idea of lowering the car a bit, if/when needed, but if it doesn't help with suspension smoothness, I can also look at tahoe's with MRC only.

I do not know if the air ride adds anything for the suspension.

I have been driving and owning vehicles for 50+ years. My last one was a 2015 Expedition Limited 4wd, purchased new. I have owned numerous Corvettes, beginning with my first one - a 1965 convertible (none had the MRC). The Tahoe ride and control is no comparison to the Expedition (with standard suspension).

The MRC system is remarkable on a large, heavy vehicle. I am very impressed and even my wife commented on how smooth and comfortable the new Tahoe with MRC is.

 

[djnice]

Air springs ride different. Some people seem to like them. I like the ride more firm and connected. I don't like the floating and bouncy feeling they provide. I have an SUV with air and hate that about it, but we use it for ride height adjustment and it doesn't bother primary driver. Test drove the Yukon with and without and it has the same issue. So no air for me in the Yukon.

 

[Antonm]

The "feeling", be it bouncy or firm is a result of the shocks, and to a lesser extend the sway bars, but not the spring (be those air springs, coil springs, or leaf springs)

Old Cadillacs of the 70's and 80's floated all over the road (hence why people called them boats or land yachts), they had coil springs (and loose shock valving).

If you've ever play with a vehicle that has adjustable compression and rebound setting shocks, then you'll find out just how much you can make the thing handle completely differently with the turn of a few knobs.

Air suspension just doesn't transit the NVH as much, that's really its only ride quality advantage.

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[nomech]

I'm still on the fence. I didn't realize this, but my 2020 Tahoe has MRC and I do like how the 2020 rides even with all the miles I have on the vehicle.

I just can't seem to make up my mind, everything I read always keeps me in the middle.

 

[mp5pdw]

I love the air suspension on my 25 high country it lowers when we are parked and raises an inch when were driving, it has a very smooth ride and it is very stabile ride as well.

 

[BacDoc]

Air springs ride different. Some people seem to like them. I like the ride more firm and connected. I don't like the floating and bouncy feeling they provide. I have an SUV with air and hate that about it, but we use it for ride height adjustment and it doesn't bother primary driver. Test drove the Yukon with and without and it has the same issue. So no air for me in the Yukon.

If you have a newer SUV with air suspension and it feels “floating and bouncy” I think it might have a problem. My 2024 Tahoe has magnetic ride and air suspension and it’s definitely not floaty or bouncy. The truck is solid and feels like a sports car in turns and a luxury sedan on the straights. As a life long truck/van guy I think the mag/air suspension is a great improvement.

 

[AJ1936]

Does anyone know if the air+MRC tuning is identical between models — Tahoe HC, Yukon, Escalade?