USED: 2018 Chevy Tahoe Review – Own The Road In This Full Size SUV

By 
·April 12, 2022
Take a spin in this full size SUV to have a great view of the road

Do you test drive cars at night? Maybe you should!

It was late when I landed at Detroit Metro Airport. By the time I did the airport shuffle and made it to the parking lot it was after 11 p.m. As promised, there was a 2018 Chevy Tahoe 4WD Premier RST waiting for me. I tossed my luggage into the backseat and pulled myself up into the driver’s seat. At 5’6″ I took full advantage of the running boards to get a leg up.

I check out all the necessary buttons and gadgets I’ll need for the drive and use the push start to fire up the engine. The growl of the V8 Rally Sport Truck Performance Edition engine–this version of the Tahoe bit louder faster than other models– makes my tired heart sing, but I’m wondering if this is more car than I can handle. A full size SUV, it’s bigger than I’m used to driving. I’m sitting higher than my mini-van and it feels a lot broader. You think I’d be used to driving a large SUV since my husband Alan owns a 1997 Tahoe, but this 2018 feels much larger.

Our 1997 Chevy Tahoe posing with the 2018 Chevy Tahoe. You can see, with weather like this we need a capable SUV that is a haven inside. Photo: Deb Thompson

I pull out of the parking lot refusing to be intimidated by the size of the Tahoe and head down the highway. It’s interesting taking the first drive in a new car in the middle of the night. It gave me a whole new perspective and I realized that more test drives need to be done at night.

During my short commute from the airport I was able to see how I liked the glow of the dashboard lights and check the headlights range. Those are two important things that are often overlooked when test driving a car. I’m happy to report that the headlights were perfect and the glow of the dashboard didn’t interfere with my drive.

Fully adjustable seat AND adjustable pedals make it easy for a short person to command this large SUV. And, they make for a very comfortable drive. Photo: Alan Thompson

A short thirty-minute drive later and I’m starting to get really comfortable in the driver’s seat and I love feeling like I own the road. I love being in a position of seeing more of the road which makes me feel more in control of the drive.

Not sure an SUV is the right choice for your family? Take a look at the Toyota Sienna minivan

I might have created a monster: My husband Alan got quite comfortable in the 2018 Tahoe. And even though our kids are grown, a full sized SUV is still ideal for couples who need extra towing and room for hauling outdoor adventure gear. Photo: Deb Thompson

Who This Car Is For

Loaded with everything you could possibly need or want the 2018 Chevy Tahoe has it all. Photo: Deb Thompson

What This Car Costs

The traction and stability control on the Chevy Tahoe Full Size SUV made for very easy driving through a snowstorm. Photo: Deb Thompson

Sun, Rain or Snow the Chevy Tahoe, a Full Size SUV, Handles It All

I experienced every weather condition driving the Tahoe. I live in Michigan and the weather can never make up its mind. I went from dry roads to light and heavy rain and through a massive snowstorm. I’m happy to report the Tahoe easily drove through every weather condition without hesitation.

The biggest challenge was a massive snow storm but the Tahoe held to the road like it was another dry, summer day. It didn’t slip, slide or at any point indicate it was going to leave the road even feeling confident in the left lane which is usually avoided at all costs during a storm. I never even felt like I needed to use the 4 wheel drive option, though I could have. Living in Northern Michigan, where we deal with long winters, this was amazing.

For those who care about the mechanical details, this bad boy comes with a 6.2L V8 engine. In simple speak, it has a spine-tingling growl when you start up the engine and accelerate, AND it will have no problem pulling the family camper due to the 420 horse power engine, 65 more horse power than the standard 5.3 liter V8 engine in other Tahoe models.

Front collision warning not only lights up on the dashboard but also vibrates the driver seat. Photo: Deb Thompson

Safety First…and Always on: A Suite of Safety Tech Keeps You Solidly On the Road  

The Chevy Tahoe isn’t any slouch when it comes to keeping passengers safe, especially when rough weather hits. An abundance of safety features includes:

Traction control, stability control, antilock brakes: how these safety systems keep you safe in challenging road conditions

LOVE this dashboard reminder to check the back seat! It recognizes that I opened the rear door before driving away and reminds me to check the seat when I turn off the engine. Photo: Deb Thompson

The overall vehicle score for this full size SUV, as determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is 4 stars. Font and side crash for both driver and passenger garners a 5-star rating while in rollover crashes it is given a 3-star rating.

Let the sun shine through with the power sunroof. Photo: Deb Thompson

When They Say Fully Loaded SUV They Mean Fully Loaded

We all enjoy a bit of luxury when we spend a significant amount of time in our car. Regardless if it’s the daily work commute or a cross-country road trip, indulging in the car’s amenities makes the ride that more enjoyable. I drove the Tahoe from Detroit to Grand Rapids to go wedding dress shopping with my sister, then and home to Cadillac. Then I drove the car back to Detroit.

In a week’s time I drove 500 miles and spent about ten hours behind the wheel. And I enjoyed every single moment. All the extras found in the Chevy Tahoe made the driving that much more enjoyable, especially the Bose Surround Sound system so I could enjoy all my favorite road trip tunes.

Keep the kids entertained with a shared video screen, headphones included. Photo: Deb Thompson

Some of the ‘fully loaded’ features I loved most include:

8 Luxuries That Are Worth the Investment: What You Should Pony Up for in Your Next Ride

The Chevy Tahoe looks great with cowboy boots! Photo: Alan Thompson

But….Will it match my shoes & where will I store my purse?

We all have that little black dress hanging in our closet because it goes with absolutely everything and is perfect for almost every occasion. Just like that black dress, the Chevy Tahoe with a Cocoa & Mahogany interior makes sure you arrive stylishly and accents your outfit for any occasion. From stilettos to cowboy boots, the Chevy Tahoe has your back.

And the center console is deep and wide making it the ideal storage spot for your purse. It easily fits a wristlet or a Mary Poppins style bag that seems to be overflowing with all the daily family life essentials. You can see this storage area in the video below (which can also be found on our Facebook page).

Wireless charging station for the win! Photo: Deb Thompson

Tech That Keeps You Connected and Powered Up

This full size SUV does a great job of keeping us connected to the outside world. It includes everything from OnStar to Apple Car Play to a rear seat entertainment system and has enough charging outlets to keep everyone in the car happy.

 

Multiple charging ports will keep the entire family happy and bickering to a minimum. No promise that you won’t still hear “Mom….he’s touching me.” Photo: Deb Thompson

So You Think Your Phone is Connected? Wait Till You See What Your Car Can Do

My Look at the Tahoe on Facebook Live

Sometimes photos aren’t enough to really show all the fun details of a car, so I hopped on FB live to share all the things I love about the 2018 Chevy Tahoe. I showcase handbag storage, device charging options, and so much more!

Loading up the Tahoe for travel. With the third row up there is limited space for suitcases and tote bags. Drop the third row and there is more than enough room. Photo: Deb Thompson

Is There Enough Room For Groceries and/or Luggage?

Taking the family on a road trip or making a run to the grocery store you want to make sure that the SUV you buy has the required space to haul what you need it to. I made a run to the grocery store and the back easily help my grocery bags. By the way, I love the hand’s free liftgate for loading up the Tahoe.

When it comes time to load the car for a road trip it might require some creative luggage stacking if you need all the rows up. If you don’t need the third row for passengers than you’ll have plenty of room for luggage and tote bags.

Room For Everyone, But Shorter People Should Sit in the Third Row

It’s worth watching my video to see my tall husband Alan climb into the third row. He’s a champ, but I wouldn’t expect other adults to do this; leg room is tight back there. He found the most comfortable space to be the middle of the row so he could extend his legs into the center of the middle row between the captains chairs.

Heated and cooling seats for driver and front seat passenger makes for a comfy drive. Photo: Deb Thompson

What We Loved

BB enjoys this fully loaded, full size SUV as well. Photo: Deb Thompson

What You Need To Know

What We Listened to in the Chevrolet Tahoe

Disclosure: The Chevrolet Tahoe was provided for this review. All opinions are my own. 

By Deb Thompson
Deb lives in Michigan with her husband and a very spoiled Maltipoo. She is an avid road-tripper who always ... More about Deb Thompson
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