Used Chevy Tahoe

Whether you need to space for all your family and friends, or you are interested in all that cargo space for a great road trip, a used Chevy Tahoe represents an incredibly versatile vehicle. In addition, a used Chevy Tahoe will give you a great combination of a powerful engine to tow your trailer and creature comforts like a spacious interior and the technologically advanced Chevrolet Infotainment systems that blend key vehicle information with the entertainment features you and your passengers will love. This tradition goes back over 25 years and continues to this day.

Five Generations of Chevy Tahoe

Today’s Tahoe has quite a pedigree. When Chevy unveiled the Tahoe for the 1995 model year, drivers were pleasantly surprised to find a full-size SUV that had it all without looking like the other vehicles in its class that were more truck-like in ride and appearance. Those first-generation Chevy Tahoes broke the mold of the full-size SUV, giving passengers a ride more akin to a luxury sedan without sacrificing the strength, ruggedness, and safety of a large SUV. This would become a hallmark for the lineage of the Tahoe.

If you are buying a used Chevy Tahoe, please keep in mind that the model was a four-door, two-row vehicle with seating for up to 6 passengers for the first generation, which lasted from 1995 to 1999. Also, the Tahoe comes with either a rear-wheel drivetrain or four-wheel drive, so if you prefer one over the other, make sure you ask which drivetrain is equipped to the used Tahoe you are looking at.

The new millennium brought the second generation of the Chevy Tahoe. The 2000 Tahoe is now a three-row model with plenty of room for up to 9 passengers. This feature continues to this day. In addition, the Tahoe became more aerodynamic with each generation.

The third generation, introduced in time for the 2007 model year, was larger than the prior model. If you are looking for a third generation used Chevy Tahoe, you should look for one built between the 2007 and 2014 model years. The fourth generation of the Tahoe was introduced with the 2015 model year and would remain the style up through the 2020 model year. 2021 marks a new era of the Chevy Tahoe.

How Big Is the Inside of the Tahoe?

The Chevy Tahoe is one of the roomiest full-size SUVs on the market, surpassed only by its fellow Chevrolet, the Suburban. One of the hallmarks of the Tahoe is its amazing amount of trunk space. The size inside of the Tahoe depends upon what generation you look at. If you buy a used Chevy Tahoe from the first generation, you will get a vehicle that can hold up to 124.5 cubic feet of cargo. That should be more than enough room for whatever you need to haul.

Nevertheless, Chevrolet didn’t stop there when it introduced the second-generation Tahoe in 2000. This new three-row model could not only seat up to 9 passengers; it could also hold 63.6 cubic feet of your stuff. Not enough space? Just fold down the two rear rows of seats and free up 104.6 cubic feet of space. The third generation Chevy Tahoe went even further with up to 108.9 cubic feet of trunk space, easily created by simply removing the rear seat and folding down the 50/50 split middle row of seats.

The roominess of the Tahoe can also be seen in the excellent passenger space. Those first Chevy Tahoes from the late 90s provided 39.9 inches of headroom, 41.7 inches of legroom, and 64.7 inches of shoulder room for passengers in the first row of seats. If you buy a second-generation used Chevy Tahoe, you’ll find that the passenger compartment is equally roomy, even with the addition of the third row of seats. The front row has a comparable 40.7 inches of headroom, 41.3 inches of legroom, and 65.2 inches of shoulder room. This is similar to the interior dimensions of the third generation Tahoe, with 41.1 inches of headroom, 41.3 inches of legroom, and 65.3 inches of shoulder room.

The fourth generation of Tahoe cut back just a little bit on the trunk space but more than made up for it with an extremely roomy passenger compartment. The trunk in the fourth generation Tahoe holds up to 15.3 cubic feet of your belongings but can be easily expanded to 51.6 cubic feet of space with the third row of seats folded down and 94.7 cubic feet of space with the second row folded down as well. However, if you are looking for your Tahoe to carry 6 or more passengers consistently, then you might be best served by a Used Chevy Tahoe from the fourth generation because it has the most luxurious interior of any model until the introduction of the fifth generation.

Front row passengers in the fourth generation Tahoe enjoy 42.8 inches of headroom, 45.3 inches of legroom, and 64.8 inches of shoulder room, while those in the second row will appreciate 38.7 inches of headroom, 39 inches of legroom, and 65.1 inches of shoulder room. Third row passengers won’t complain about the 38.1 inches of headroom, 24.8 inches of legroom, and 62.6 inches of shoulder room either. As you can see, any Chevy Tahoe will give you plenty of room for your passengers and their belongings.

What Engines Can You Find in the Tahoe?

Throughout its history, the Chevy Tahoe has featured V8 engines. These large, powerful, and efficient powertrains are the reason why the Chevy Tahoe is a great ride for your passengers and a fun drive for you. The first generation Tahoe gave passengers a choice of gas engines. The original 5.7-liter Vortec V8 that was in the 1995 model provided 200 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, was upgraded in 1996 to deliver 250 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque.

This also improved the Tahoe's overall fuel economy from 11 miles per gallon in the city and 14 MPG on the highway to 12 MPG in the city and 16 MPG on the highway. Also, in 1996, Chevy began offering the Tahoe with an optional Turbodiesel V8. However, this was phased out for the 2000 model year and would not return as an option until the all-new 2021 edition. Each of these engines is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The second generation saw Chevrolet offering drivers a choice in the gas engine for the Tahoe. The 4.8-liter Vortec V8 produces 285 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and has an estimated fuel economy of 16 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway. The 5.3-liter Vortec V8 provides 285 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. While this is less fuel-efficient than the 4.8-liter V8, it does give you an improved towing ability and overall pickup. The initial models for 2000 and 2001 have an estimated gas mileage of 13 MPG in city driving and 16 MPG in highway driving, but this was improved in 2002 with the introduction of a Flex Fuel engine, improving overall fuel efficiency to 14 MPG in the city and 17 MPG on the highway. Each of these engines is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

These improvements in fuel efficiency continued with the third generation Tahoe. Like its predecessor, each Tahoe came equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. In addition, Chevy gave drivers a choice between a 4.8-liter V8 with 295 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque and a 5.3-liter V8 with 320 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. The 5.3-liter V8 provides 16 MPG in city driving and 22 MPG on the highway with rear-wheel drive, and 15 MPG in city driving and 21 MPG on the highway with 4-wheel drive. Some models feature a Flex Fuel option that should provide a nice little boost in those fuel economy figures.

With the 2009 model year, Chevy introduced a 6.2-liter V8 for the Tahoe that provides 395 horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque. However, this model proved to be somewhat inefficient with 12 MPG in city driving and 19 MPG on the highway. As a result, it was phased out for the 2010 model year, along with the 4.8-liter V8.

This initially was the case with the fourth generation Tahoe. This model came equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, regardless of the trim level you chose. This engine produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. It was also quite fuel-efficient for an SUV of its size, with 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway for rear-wheel drive, and 1MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway for 4-wheel drive.

However, with the 2018 model year, Chevy chose to add a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This larger engine comes equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission and can provide 14 MPG in city driving and 23 MPG on the highway with rear-wheel drive, and 14 MPG in city driving and 22 MPG in highway driving in 4-wheel drive.

The 2021 Chevy Tahoe, the fifth generation, welcomes back the 3.0-liter Duramax Diesel option after an absence of over 20 years. In addition, Chevy continues to offer drivers the option of either the 5.3-liter V8 or the 6.2-liter V8 from the fourth generation Tahoe. So, unless you want a Tahoe with a diesel engine, you can buy a used Chevy Tahoe from the fourth generation and get the same engine as a brand-new 2021 model.

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