2016 Chevy Tahoe 4WD LTZ: Handling the Storm of the Century
The 2016 Chevy Tahoe 4WD LTZ – A beauty and a beast.
The 2016 Chevy Tahoe 4WD LTZ is a beast in every sense of the word. But don’t let that scare you away. I mean it as the highest compliment!
Originally, I requested to review a large vehicle and didn’t really care what it was. I have a modest little family of three and sensible sedans usually work just fine for us. But when my son decided he wanted to have his 9th birthday party at a laser tag park about 35 minutes away, I thought it might be best to find a way to haul all of the boys with us.
I falsely assumed that a minivan might be sent my way. It’s the classic family car, right? Instead, the Chevy Tahoe LTZ was dropped in my lap and I was dropped into the lap of luxury.
The only problem was that before the big birthday weekend, I had to spend some quality time at the Washington Auto Show. That meant this beast was going to have to navigate DC rush hour, city streets, and gulp…a parking garage.
Seating for seven – true story
Little did I know that my trip to DC was the calm before the storm. Literally.
After a lovely evening at the Washington Auto Show with female social media influencers from all over the area, I put the people capacity to the test and invited six other women into the vehicle for the ride back to our hotel. We fit comfortably and as you might imagine it was a loud (but fortunately, short) ride to the hotel.
Putting the 4WD to the test
The real surprise, however, came when we arrived at the hotel. While at dinner, we had experienced an unexpected dusting of snow and ice making the roads and sidewalks extremely slippery. So slippery, in fact, that when I tried to enter the drive of the hotel, the Tahoe slid on the ice. Not wanting to gun it and make it fishtail (I was supposed to return it in one piece), I figured it was a great time to try the 4WD control.
After a quick switch, we rallied up the curb where I switched it back to 2WD and promptly handed the keys over for valet parking. I had tried my luck enough with the city driving and knew that the tight parking garage might not be my friend.
The next day, I headed home hoping that was the last I’d need of the 4WD and that the birthday weekend would go off without a hitch. Little did I know, the “storm of the century” was on the way.
And then this happened.
The 2016 Chevy Tahoe was the storm’s silver lining
Unfortunately, the birthday party was canceled (the whole reason I was test driving a large vehicle!) but I knew I could still put the Tahoe fully to the test. So I decided to dig out.
How often do you get the chance to test out a 4WD vehicle and really put the 4WD to the test? For me, not that often and I wanted to take full advantage of it. Here’s how my 4WD adventure went.
But I promise the 2016 Chevy Tahoe LTZ has more to offer even when the snow melts. After three days of being snowed in, I took my son out for lunch at Qdoba, hit the grocery store, and then spent some real time exploring the interior.
When I wasn’t focused on the weather, I really explored the interior and marveled at all the luxuries in this large SUV. Scroll through to see some of my favorite comfort and technology options.
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- Cruise control, collision avoidance, and (yes!) heating steering wheel
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- Cord free charging (for Android phones)
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- Easy to navigate control screen
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- Text messages can be read to you.
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- DVD player for the backseat passengers
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- Finally! Heated seats in the second row!
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- Parking assist, lane detection warning, and traction control are added safety features.
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- The key fob is smartly designed for the liftgate.
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- The center console could fit a large suitcase (okay, not quite, but a big purse!)
If you’re looking for a large, luxury SUV that comfortably seats up to 7 passengers, this just might be your vehicle. It’s comfortable to drive although it does takes a little practice if you aren’t used to a large vehicle. Below are some of the standout features for me as well as things you should be aware of before you decide to check out the Tahoe for yourself.
What We Loved
- It’s a big vehicle. It can comfortably carry a lot of people and the third row can actually fit adults!
- It clearly can handle the snow and ice. That 4WD badge isn’t just for fun. It’s for real.
- The connectivity in the vehicle was not only seamless but actually intuitive.
- The speaker placement above the driver’s visor made talking on the phone feel like talking in person.
- The second and third rows weren’t treated like an afterthought. Cupholders, lighting, and climate controls were available in every row.
- Bonus points for extra luxuries like AC power outlet in the rear and heated seats in the second row.
What You Need to Know
- It’s a big vehicle. While it is easy to drive, it wasn’t the most comfortable vehicle for me (I’m 5’3″). The gas pedal required strong pressure and the seats, even when adjusted, gave me a back ache.
- The sideboards were a must for me; (and for my son) having them made it easier for this shorty to get in and out.
- While it has a 5.3L V8 Ecotec 3 engine (which allows it to change the number of cylinders in use for fuel efficiency), I still averaged about 15 mpg (EPA estimate is 18 mpg).
- When the third row seats were up, the cargo space was very minimal. You’d struggle to fit 7 people and their luggage without a roof rack of some sort.
And finally, let’s talk price. Luxury isn’t cheap! As outfitted, the 2016 Tahoe 4WD LTZ that I drove retailed for $70,435.
This vehicle was provided to me by General Motors for a one week driving period in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
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