2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban: Road Test
2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban ▼
- MSRP: $35,915 - $42,840
- Invoice: $31,426 - $37,485
Explore
Features & Specifications
Related to Chevrolet Tahoe
Previous Year's Reviews
View Another Vehicle
Our road test for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban includes a full evaluation of the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban help you decide if a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban is right for you.
Advertisement
ACCELERATION
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Always adequate, aided by smooth automatic's astute shifting, but 4.8 V8 feels taxed for towing or heavy hauling. No opportunity to test 2500 model. Maximum towing capacities: 7800 lb on Tahoe, 12,000 lb on Suburban.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.1 |
Test Tahoe averaged 12.2 mpg, a Suburban 11.5; both were 4x4s with 5.3 V8s. Test GMC Denali XL with 6.0 V8 averaged just 9.8 mpg. All engines use regular-grade fuel.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.2 |
Base suspension affords better overall control than the 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 large SUV pitching on wavy surfaces.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 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. Standard antiskid system enhances stability in turns. Tahoes are relatively easy to maneuver, and Suburban's Quadrasteer option works as advertised, though only the 2500s offer it.
QUIETNESS
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.3 |
Wind rush not intrusive. Low tire noise for large SUVs, but still audible at highway speeds. Engines throaty but smooth in full-throttle acceleration.
CONTROLS
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Fine ergonomics, with legible, well-placed gauges and generally clear, handy controls. Unlike Ford and Toyota, GM doesn't offer curtain side airbags in its large SUVs, and charges extra for front side airbags.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.7 |
Substantial seats, generous room. Available power-adjustable pedals add convenience. Drivers enjoy commanding view, but tall stance can hide smaller nearby objects, and no obstacle-detection system is offered.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
Spacious 2nd row in all models. Tahoe's 3rd row best left to kids in Tahoe, but Suburban's has adult-size room. Step-in lower than Ford Expedition and Excursion, but rear doors' inexcusably narrow thresholds hamper ingress/egress, especially on Tahoe.
CARGO ROOM
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 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 manageable than Suburban's heavier one-piece bench. Either way, cargo room is expansive with rear seats folded or removed.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 10 | 9 | 6.7 |
Capable, comfortable, competitively priced, Chevy's large SUVs nicely bracket Ford's Expedition and Excursion in size, and beat Toyota Sequoia for payload and towing capacity. Lack of available curtain side airbags is a safety minus, but Tahoe and Suburban otherwise offer most all the features buyers expect. They're the top dollar values among GM's big SUVs, and Best Buys overall in this class.
Total Score
| 2WD Tahoe LS, 4.8 V8 | 4WD Tahoe LT, 5.3 V8 | 4WD Suburban 1500 LT, 5.3 V8 | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 64 | 63 | 58.6 |
Total Score: 62
Scores for all Large Sport-utility Vehicles
Next Step: Get a price quote from your local dealer ►
