2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban: Road Test
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban ▼
- MSRP: $34,750 - $42,100
- Invoice: $30,406 - $36,838
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Our road test for the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban includes a full evaluation of the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban help you decide if a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 5 | 4.3 |
Always adequate, aided by smooth automatic's astute shifting, but 4.8 V8 feels taxed for towing or heavy hauling. Maximum towing capacity: 8700 lb on Tahoe, 12,000 on Suburban.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Test Tahoe averaged 12.2 mpg, a Suburban 11.5; both were 4x4s with the 5.3-liter V8. Test GMC Denali XL with 6.0 V8 averaged just 9.8 mpg. All engines use regular fuel.
RIDE QUALITY
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.2 |
Base suspension affords better overall control than the Chevy models' optional Autoride system. It absorbs bumps better and is more sure-footed on rough pavement. Z71 is stiff, so try before buying. With any setup, high center of gravity and lots of curb weight can trigger typical full-size SUV pitching on wavy surfaces.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.2 |
More balanced and agile than you might think, but these SUVs still drive like big, heavy trucks. Here, too, the base suspension affords better overall control. Steering is reasonably precise, but road feel could be better. Available antiskid system enhances stability in turns and we recommend it. Tahoes are relatively easy to maneuver, and Suburban's Quadrasteer option works as advertised, though only the 2500s offer it. Good stopping power with firm, progressive pedal action.
QUIETNESS
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.3 |
Wind rush not intrusive. Low tire noise for full-size SUVs, but still audible at highway speeds. Engines throaty but smooth under full-throttle acceleration.
CONTROLS
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.2 |
Fine ergonomics, with legible, well-placed gauges and generally clear, handy controls. Unlike Ford and Toyota, GM does not offer curtain side airbags in its full-size SUVs, and Tahoe/Suburban (and GMC Yukon) buyers must pay extra for front side airbags. Available leather helps offset GM's usual unappealing interior plastics that seem especially inappropriate for the higher-priced LT versions.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.7 |
Substantial seats, generous room. Power-adjustable pedals add convenience, but available only in pricey LT package. Drivers get commanding view of road, but tall stance can hide smaller nearby objects, and no obstacle-detection system is offered.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.7 |
Spacious 2nd row. Third row best suited for kids in Tahoe, but adult-size roomy in Suburban. Step-in lower than Ford Expedition and Excursion, but rear doors' inexcusably narrow thresholds hamper ingress/egress, especially on Tahoe.
CARGO ROOM
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.8 |
Space behind 3rd row is generous in Suburban, limited in Tahoe. All 3rd-row seats fold easily and remove. However, Tahoe's 50/50 split 3rd-row seat is more versatile and more manageable than Suburban's heavier one-piece bench. Either way, cargo room is expansive with rear seats folded or removed.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 10 | 9 | 6.6 |
Capable, comfortable, competitively priced, Chevy's full-size SUVs nicely bracket Ford's Expedition and Excursion in size, and beat Toyota Sequoia for payload and towing capacity. Lack of curtain side airbags is a shortcoming, but Tahoe and Suburban otherwise offer most all the standard and optional features people want. That makes them the best values among GM's big SUVs and Best Buys in this class.
Total Score
| Tahoe LS 2WD, 4.8 V8 | Tahoe LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Suburban LT 4WD, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 65 | 64 | 58 |
Total Score: 63
Scores for all Large Sport-utility Vehicles
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