2019 / 2020 Tahoe Buying Help

[Will Campbell]

Greetings,

I’m looking at 2019 - 2020 4WD Tahoes. I’d be coming from a Toyota Sequoia. I’m wondering if any current or previous owner of one would be willing to offer what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the Tahoe including reliability. If possible, please tell me why you did (or would) choose a Tahoe over a Ford Explorer and a Suburban. This would be my first Tahoe.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rdr854]

I chose the Suburban over the Tahoe because of its versatility. The Suburban has greater cargo carrying capacity - which is needed when taking two kids to college. Additionally, when traveling, there is sufficient cargo room In the Suburban with the third row up - which you may need if you have three or more kids. The Tahoe does not.

 

[Will Campbell]

I chose the Suburban over the Tahoe because of its versatility. The Suburban has greater cargo carrying capacity - which is needed when taking two kids to college. Additionally, when traveling, there is sufficient cargo room In the Suburban with the third row up - which you may need if you have three or more kids. The Tahoe does not.

Thanks so much for this helpful reply. I’ve read / heard other people say the Suburban was the best value choice overall if a person was considering a Tahoe or a Yukon. My only concern with it is I don’t know if I need that much space all of the time. I do the missions ministry as one of my duties at the church I serve. When I’m delivering loads of food supplies, the Suburban would come in handy. When I have my 7 year old and silver Labrador plus bikes, it would also come in handy. The other 60% of the time, a Tahoe or Expedition would suffice. Anything else about the Suburban you really enjoy? How’s reliability?

 

[Miami-Dade]

Thanks so much for this helpful reply. I’ve read / heard other people say the Suburban was the best value choice overall if a person was considering a Tahoe or a Yukon. My only concern with it is I don’t know if I need that much space all of the time. I do the missions ministry as one of my duties at the church I serve. When I’m delivering loads of food supplies, the Suburban would come in handy. When I have my 7 year old and silver Labrador plus bikes, it would also come in handy. The other 60% of the time, a Tahoe or Expedition would suffice. Anything else about the Suburban you really enjoy? How’s reliability?

I generally hear Tahoe owners say I wish I bought a Suburban. I have never heard a Suburban owner say I wish I bought a Tahoe. There are times when I drive from Miami to New York City [usually 3 times a year] that I say the same thing.

Welcome from Miami Beach Will!

 

[Bob2C]

I bought a Tahoe last year and now looking to possibly get into a suburban. The Tahoe cargo space fills up quick. There are lots out there and with the new models coming out I’m sure they are willing to negotiate heavily. I’m starting to look, but it all depends on the trade.


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[Will Campbell]

I bought a Tahoe last year and now looking to possibly get into a suburban. The Tahoe cargo space fills up quick. There are lots out there and with the new models coming out I’m sure they are willing to negotiate heavily. I’m starting to look, but it all depends on the trade.


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Well, it seems like the Suburban is definitely worth a look. Used ones, a year old, look to be in relatively abundant supply at a great value. Yet, with the newly designed 2021, I suppose it could be possible to buy a new 2020 for close to the cost of a used 2019 or 2020. Thank you all for the helpful input so far. And what about reliability? Dare I ask on a Chevy forum why the Expedition isn’t a consideration?

 

[K2 Kaiju]

Burb all the way in this generation - 2021 tahoe is stretched quite a bit (9 inches?), but you want to wait a few years for GM to work out the kinks. The longer wheelbase gives smoother ride, plenty of space for kids, dawgs in kennels, and gear without having to use a roof/hitch carrier. Also better for towing and has the bigger 31gallon gas tank for long trips. I actually commute in mine since it gets 21 mpg. I would love the 6.2L engine, but its only packaged on high level trims, and I specifically didnt want a sunroof, noise cancelling, or magnetic shocks (buffeting issues). You can add a lot of stuff to an LT (I did) with the information on this forum. Good luck!

 

[K2 Kaiju]

Well, it seems like the Suburban is definitely worth a look. Used ones, a year old, look to be in relatively abundant supply at a great value. Yet, with the newly designed 2021, I suppose it could be possible to buy a new 2020 for close to the cost of a used 2019 or 2020. Thank you all for the helpful input so far. And what about reliability? Dare I ask on a Chevy forum why the Expedition isn’t a consideration?

When it comes to full size suvs, GM has ruled the market for some time. Expeditions have caught up, but dont hold their value as well imo. Drive them all and see what you like better. I havent had any major issues with my tahoe/avalanches/suburban, but I buy them new, and do my own oil changes. Any used truck could be mistreated. I have seen the inventory dropping on new ones, and prices are holding with gas still low. Better hurry...

 

[sealandsky]

I previously owned a GMC Suburban (with panel doors) when I had kids around and a big boat to tow. Nowadays, no kids so am on my second Yukon. The size is perfect for my needs, though we do fill it 100% when going for a long cabin weekend (have never had to leave anything behind). So I'd say that it boils down to if you will have passengers during the times when you also have a big load.

 

[Captain Insaino]

The weight penalty, mileage loss, etc. of a Suburban vs Tahoe is minuscule. Having gone from an Avalanche to a Tahoe, I can tell you that I miss the hauling capacity and space even though I rarely need it. A rack or trailer is necessary for the occasional home improvement project. If you're over 6' it tough to sleep or camp in it. Hell, I couldn't even haul a lawnmower to my kid without breaking it down with the second row up. The Tahoe's third row is useless for anything except midgets or hostages. If I hadn't got such a ridiculously good deal on the Tahoe, I would have bought a 'Burb.

 

[Miami-Dade]

[QUOTE="Will Campbell, post: 1458977, member: 78816" And what about reliability? Dare I ask on a Chevy forum why the Expedition isn’t a consideration?[/QUOTE]



As far as reliability goes...The 5.3 in my 2016 Tahoe [besides the a/c Condenser which was a issue only in the 2015-2017 models] has had nothing but plain old regular maintenance. Bought it brand new. I just turned 87K miles. I am sure the 2019-2020 are even better so I would not worry.

I rented several Tahoe's Suburban's before buying my Tahoe. I get around 24 MPG or slightly higher if is ALL highway. The Suburban seemed to get around the same even though I never paid much attention to it. All on 87 octane fuel and the front and rear a/c was on the entire time.

I am sure most people here would much rather have a V8 then a 3.5 EcoBoost 6 Banger Expedition.

 

[Will Campbell]

[QUOTE="Will Campbell, post: 1458977, member: 78816" And what about reliability? Dare I ask on a Chevy forum why the Expedition isn’t a consideration?

This is extremely helpful and reassuring info. I’ve only had one GM product (a new 2019 AT4). It was a rattle trap (dash area; looked at everything; they never could fix it.) So, I traded it back in for my Toyota Sequoia (I’ve owned many Toyota’s: Land Cruisers, FJ’s, Tundras, 4Runners). Anyway, I really liked the AT4 save the infuriating rattle. Otherwise, do you or anybody else who has researched have any idea what percentage off MSRP is considered a good deal for a 2019-2020 Suburban?



As far as reliability goes...The 5.3 in my 2016 Tahoe [besides the a/c Condenser which was a issue only in the 2015-2017 models] has had nothing but plain old regular maintenance. Bought it brand new. I just turned 87K miles. I am sure the 2019-2020 are even better so I would not worry.

I rented several Tahoe's Suburban's before buying my Tahoe. I get around 24 MPG or slightly higher if is ALL highway. The Suburban seemed to get around the same even though I never paid much attention to it. All on 87 octane fuel and the front and rear a/c was on the entire time.

I am sure most people here would much rather have a V8 then a 3.5 EcoBoost 6 Banger Expedition.[/QUOTE]

 

[GTNator]

Burb all the way in this generation - 2021 tahoe is stretched quite a bit (9 inches?), but you want to wait a few years for GM to work out the kinks. The longer wheelbase gives smoother ride, plenty of space for kids, dawgs in kennels, and gear without having to use a roof/hitch carrier. Also better for towing and has the bigger 31gallon gas tank for long trips. I actually commute in mine since it gets 21 mpg. I would love the 6.2L engine, but its only packaged on high level trims, and I specifically didnt want a sunroof, noise cancelling, or magnetic shocks (buffeting issues). You can add a lot of stuff to an LT (I did) with the information on this forum. Good luck!

Yup, I agree with everyone’s sentiments. Go with the long wheel base Suburban for maximum capability. Reliability is great in these vehicles, but like everything else, you have to take care of them and follow maintenance schedules. I do this and haven’t had any problems. It’s large enough to take everything, people are all comfortable during long road trips, and it’s safe. The perfect vehicle imo.


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[sd172]

This is extremely helpful and reassuring info. I’ve only had one GM product (a new 2019 AT4). It was a rattle trap (dash area; looked at everything; they never could fix it.) So, I traded it back in for my Toyota Sequoia (I’ve owned many Toyota’s: Land Cruisers, FJ’s, Tundras, 4Runners). Anyway, I really liked the AT4 save the infuriating rattle. Otherwise, do you or anybody else who has researched have any idea what percentage off MSRP is considered a good deal for a 2019-2020 Suburban?

You are going to have rattles in these GM products. My Tahoe has a very annoying headliner rattle that is weather dependent (between 20 and 40 F). As far as the reliability goes, it will depend on your luck and who was building your truck that day. It will definitely feel a lot more modern compared to the Sequoia, but there will be some caveats.

 

[Hrocks]

You are going to have rattles in these GM products. My Tahoe has a very annoying headliner rattle that is weather dependent (between 20 and 40 F). As far as the reliability goes, it will depend on your luck and who was building your truck that day. It will definitely feel a lot more modern compared to the Sequoia, but there will be some caveats.

 

[Hrocks]

I've been a very happy long term owner of a 2010 Tahoe LTZ . I gave it to my son who had to drive in bad weather to high school and now has it in college.

Here's where I don't make any new friends...If you check some previous posts, I was bent on buying a new Tahoe RST with the 6.2 and Brembo brakes a few years ago. That was until I started reading about the horror stories of the redesigned GM2KXX vehicles. I was convinced that the myriad of problems were typical of first year GM designs, so I went out and drove a bunch of new (then) Tahoe's, Yukons and Escalades. I heard and/or felt the droning and felt vibrations on the highway that were well documented on forums. Totally different from my 2010 Tahoe. Bottom line, I have two Lexus GX460's and could not be happier and impressed. I'm looking at going into a larger truck and am strongly considering an LX460. Not because I need the space, but I really love the mass of the vehicle. If you've owned that many Toyota products, I think you will find very quickly, the difference in the refinement and quality of the vehicles. There's a reason that people hold on to Sequoias, Land Cruisers and LX's until they get tired of driving them, only because they want something different and not because they're a headache.

 

[Will Campbell]

I've been a very happy long term owner of a 2010 Tahoe LTZ . I gave it to my son who had to drive in bad weather to high school and now has it in college.

Here's where I don't make any new friends...If you check some previous posts, I was bent on buying a new Tahoe RST with the 6.2 and Brembo brakes a few years ago. That was until I started reading about the horror stories of the redesigned GM2KXX vehicles. I was convinced that the myriad of problems were typical of first year GM designs, so I went out and drove a bunch of new (then) Tahoe's, Yukons and Escalades. I heard and/or felt the droning and felt vibrations on the highway that were well documented on forums. Totally different from my 2010 Tahoe. Bottom line, I have two Lexus GX460's and could not be happier and impressed. I'm looking at going into a larger truck and am strongly considering an LX460. Not because I need the space, but I really love the mass of the vehicle. If you've owned that many Toyota products, I think you will find very quickly, the difference in the refinement and quality of the vehicles. There's a reason that people hold on to Sequoias, Land Cruisers and LX's until they get tired of driving them, only because they want something different and not because they're a headache.

Yes, indeed. And I’ve owned a LX570, so I can attest to you it is built like a tank and the fit and finish is even better than that on a GX460 (I’ve had those USA Prado-like beasts too). Your post sums up my concern regarding the GM’s. Toyota is boring and usually about 5 years behind per tech upgrades, yet no rattles, and usually no surprises. Boring can be good. I’d truly like the larger Suburban or Yukon XL with the more comfortable cabin and updated features. Just going to drive and compare, and go from there. Thanks again for the post and enjoy those GX’s! Oh, and PS - If it were me, I’d go newer Land Cruiser instead of newer LX570 as the former uses regular unleaded vs premium, and is more easily modified while maintaining the same guts as the more luxury-like LX.

 

[Rdr854]

Thanks so much for this helpful reply. I’ve read / heard other people say the Suburban was the best value choice overall if a person was considering a Tahoe or a Yukon. My only concern with it is I don’t know if I need that much space all of the time. I do the missions ministry as one of my duties at the church I serve. When I’m delivering loads of food supplies, the Suburban would come in handy. When I have my 7 year old and silver Labrador plus bikes, it would also come in handy. The other 60% of the time, a Tahoe or Expedition would suffice. Anything else about the Suburban you really enjoy? How’s reliability?

Will —

Sorry I have been out of pocket. I have the base LT with no options (which is a great value). The truck is very comfortable and quite frankly, it is a hard choice as to what is going to be a highway driver when I go into Washington DC. The Volvo V90 or the Suburban. I like them both that much. I do wish the headlights were better because they are pretty bad at night. Not near as good as the Volvo. I also wish that GM offered an approved after market accessory fir the heated steering wheel and fog lamps. Neither are available as official accessories and with the heated steering wheel, it requires a replacement of the steering wheel and clock spring to implement. Because GM will not approve it, I am not willing to take the risk that the airbag might not deploy when needed.

While I have had some minor warranty issues, the truck has not left me stranded or required an immediate visit to the dealer in the 12.3 K miles of ownership - except once where a brake booster sensor failed.

You also asked about the Expedition. I looked at the Expedition Max. It is a nice truck, but is more expensive out the door and not as well packaged when looking at base trucks, whether the base LS or base LT.

 

[hcvone]

I had 6 Suburban's from 1989-1996, from 2003-2016 I had 12 Escalade's, standard length, I then switched to a 2019 Callaway Tahoe, standard lenght, my needs changed, early 90's I was towing a boat fairly long distance, and snowmobiles, by the mid 2000's I was only towing snowmobiles around the east coast and Canada, so the Escalade's did good, by late 2000's had a home in upstate NY so towing stopped, had some Range Rovers too, and a few AMG gl 63's, they just got stupid expensive, really happy with my Calklaway Tahoe, it's been 100% better than I ever thought it would be

 

[5strmtrp]

All,

Correct me if I’m wrong, Tahoe and Explorer. Suburban and Expedition?

Ive owned both GM and Ford’s, and a few imports, however, always liked the way a GM truck/SUV drove and handled. Have gotten both of the makes stuck off-road and always got the GM out, where I needed assistance getting the Ford out. In the past had major issues with spark plugs blowing out of the Fords motor early 2000’s Expedition, 2 transmissions, and electrical issues all under 100,000 miles. All mentioned on the same truck that I bought brand new from the dealer.

My pickup ‘03 Silverado 1500 that I still own n drive, likes to eat transmissions but every 100,000 miles. 345, 000 on it now!

GM’s powertrain to me seems to last longer, proper scheduled and preventative maintenance have always been #1 for any of my vehicles.

The size, Tahoe or Suburban comes down to your 80% daily needs. Haul alot daily Suburban, on occasion Tahoe.

Currently here 3 adults, one being a 6 foot 15 year old son, hopefully a pup in the next few weeks. I’m an adult leader for my sons Boy Scout Troop, camp a lot, use the back of the truck occasionally to sleep in. I do have to sleep sideways to fit but it’s on an occasion.


Hope this rant helps.