Good evening and happy almost weekend. I sit here with the 2024 Tahoe in my signature with close to 10k miles on the odometer. 9,8xx and change, and it'll roll over this weekend. I figured it's been a good amount of time to give a decent mini-review of my thoughts after 5 months/10k miles of ownership.
The Tahoe was bought off the lot back in early August 2024. It is a Z71 trim, 4x4 with an L84 DFM Gen V 5.3 LTx and a 10L80 transmission. Base Z71 plus the Luxury package -- heated 2nd row captains chairs, power panoramic sunroof, heated mirrors, HD surround cameras and some other usual GM appointments. Paint is Empire Beige Metallic and Jet Black leather interior. This is the 5th generation Tahoe and rides on the GM T1XX truck platform. It deviates from the pickups in that it has an independent rear suspension. It is a Texas truck from the Arlington Truck Plant SUV with a Texas decal on the inner door lip -- I don't know I just find that cool!
Fuel Economy -- now with remote starts and cold weather + winter blend fuel... a solid 15-16mpg. I let the thing warm up, I do not care to be cold. In summer, I averaged 18-19mpg around town driving and my best was 22-23mpg on all highway/thruway driving. I do have a Range DFM disabler installed. So I am running in full V8 mode all the time. Except at 0% throttle coast events. Then it collapses all lifters, the engine becomes silent exhaust wise, and just before you come to a stop it re-fires. This is something in the GM PCM logic.
Maintenance wise, I have changed the oil at 500mi, 2,500mi, 5k mi, 8k mi and will probably again around 10-11k. Have been on 0W-20 Mobil 1 EP, but might experiment with some 5W-30. I know, I know, I know, overkill on the intervals, but I wanted to keep clean oil in it for it being so new and man if I'm keeping any sort of piston rings spotless clean, I'm all about that. I installed a JSC Oil separator almost as soon as I bought it. I get maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of a catch can full of oil over 3k miles. I do not see any oil level variations on the dipstick anytime I check it.
Buddy of mine bought a new Silverado this year. So in August we pulled both trucks in, tore the wheels off and the fender liners and LIBERALLY coated each truck with Woolwax. We will spray the trucks every year. Hoping to keep the bodies on these nice. I also like to keep my truck washed.
Interior/Comfort
The push-button shifter took some getting used to. I'll still say it's goofy, can I just please have a column shifter? But after seeing the nonsense in a Cybertruck all on the screen, I'll take this anyway. Plus it's not in the center console so I'm happy to have my cup-holders and cubby storage. The center console under your elbow is Huge! It's deep and well lit. Awesome for storing your junk.
The seats are comfortable and the seat heaters are nice and hot. At first I missed my GMT800 couch seats, but I did get use to these. I do find myself very comfortable and not tired after driving for extended periods of time -- anytime after a few hours, I want to get out and take a break. The 2nd row is pretty big. Floor pan/door access for the 2nd row is huge and the rear seats are very comfortable. The heated rear is a nice addition for passengers.
I have a heated steering wheel which I didn't specifically seek out, but I do not know how I'd go without it now. My aching hands love it. Steering wheel controls are well laid out. I really like the volume/skip buttons on the back of the wheel. What a good layout. The digital dash is rich with instrumentation. You can choose between, minimal, some and maximum gauges. I choose Max which gives me fuel, engine temp, oil pressure and volts. Then I have the trans temp in one of the circular gauges. This screen and the infotainment screens are well lit, color rich and pretty responsive. No screen-quality complaints. The rest of the dashboard I find very attractive. A faux leather/soft touch material is the dash and upper door panels. All materials inside feel pretty nice for a GM and I like the fake wood grain inserts.
This has a mid-tier BOSE stereo system. I am not an audiophile but I cannot stand base stereo systems. This scratches my itch. From 70s-90s country, heavy metal, grunge rock, progressive metal, 90s hip-hop and rap, I am pleased. I find it has a good amount of base and pretty decent range. Again to the true enthusiast the whole "NO highs NO lows must be BOSE" probably sticks, but for me, it's great. The infotainment system has Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. CarPlay has worked great, both wired and wirelessly. Call-quality for myself (listening) and my microphone quality for callers on the other end has been great, many can't even hear I'm driving. I've had vehicles where the other person couldn't hear you because of background noise, so it's good to know this is not the case. The infotainment is Android based and has Google integrations. Navigation is provided by Google Maps. It worked fine when I tested it. I did sign into the Android/Google services with an account and installed Spotify as a backup to me using my iPhone with CarPlay. The Spotify app on the infotainment also works well and looks nice. GM I believe uses AT&T as the cellular provider for the connected services. I think I inadvertently signed up for a data plan so that is probably how that whole thing is currently working. Any rate, the infotainment works well with its built in software. Only thing I wish it had was HD radio so I could listen to the FM simulcast of WBEN 930am talk radio. I have to play around some more, maybe it does and I'm just dumb.
I have WeatherTech mats throughout even a rear mat. I keep the 3rd row folded down and have a larger WeatherTech cargo liner that sits atop the folded down 3rd row. There is a small storage compartment under the cargo area. It's kinda useless, only fits small stuff and is hard plastic inside so anything hard will rattle. Its small but its OK for gloves and other dumb small stuff.
Powertrain/Performance
I love these Gen V engines! The LTx platform is awesome. Supposed to be about 355hp and 380ish torque. This engine makes my cammed Gen 3 6.0 LS look like a complete dog. When you get into the pedal the little small-block wants to go. Redline is around 5,800-6k RPM. If you mash the throttle, the 5.3 winds up to near redline and the 10L80 keeps shifting, going through each gear. Acceleration is great and you'll easily find yourself over the speed limit. I truly have no complains with the transmission logic GM has for these 10L80 transmissions. Some people say the 10L hunts... I don't see this really. Then again, I also don't try to make an automatic transmission do weird things. I learn how they like to shift and work with them. The 10L shifts are quick, confident, firm yet smooth, solid and well placed. The transmission does shift better when it is up to temp. In these cold temperatures we've had as of late, the 10L will stay 50-80 degrees for a good 10-15 minutes into my drive. I let it warm up. Anything above 90-100 degrees, it shifts the same. Once fully warmed up, if I am 'hot-dogging' around, the 10L shifts as firm as it needs to and doesn't give any indication that you're abusing it or that it isn't up to the task. Coolant wise/heater performance, the 5.3 heats up pretty quick.
Over the end of summer, I towed a few heavy loads with my dump trailer. Under tow-haul mode, with the power of this 5.3 and the transmission logic, 5-6,500lbs didn't seem to both it one bit. Sure you felt the weight behind you, but there was plenty of power on-demand for towing up grades, transmission logic was great at keeping a gear to pull up a grade. Again, shifts were well timed and confident. Of course this is not a 3/4 ton truck but a 1/2 ton-based SUV. I don't try to pretend I can tow a low-boy but for the trailers I need to tow, I do not think the max towing capacity of these SUVs are over-rated. Suspension squat is not bad at all.
Driving/Road Manners
Right off the bat, the Tahoe has a really good on-center feel. The wheel always wants to correct to center and drive straight. I owe this to the independent front suspension with front struts and the electric power steering. There are different driving modes, Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul and Off-Road. Steering assist is not over-boosted during in Normal mode. In Sport mode, the steering becomes incredibly responsive and tight. I can hug corners with moderate speed (55mph) and really take some curvy backroads well. Body roll is present, this is a BIG SUV, but it isn't excessive for its size.
The IRS really shines at making this thing not seem super stiff in the rear. I'd almost compare it to a nice compromise between truck and car. For example, when I drive Dad's '22 Silverado you can feel the stiff "working as one-unit" rear suspension when going over un-even terrain, bumps, etc. In the Tahoe, you notice less of that and can get a sense of the rear suspension, at each rear wheel, dampening as needed. This Z71 does NOT have any air shocks in the rear, plain old dampeners. Ride quality is very comfortable.
Final Thoughts
I have had an awesome time so far with this truck. It has been trouble free and a great 10k miles of driving. I know that isn't saying a lot but if any of you remember my F-150 and PowerBoost fiasco... you'd understand why I'm thrilled. This spring I'm thinking on purchasing an extended warranty. I want to drive this thing for a long time. Ideally I'd love to pass it down to my kid when they start driving.
I love this truck. This is the first time I've bought a new vehicle and didn't have some sort of regret, major complaint, or headache issue with it after the honeymoon phase wore off. Honestly way to go GM. They build a fine SUV.
The Tahoe was bought off the lot back in early August 2024. It is a Z71 trim, 4x4 with an L84 DFM Gen V 5.3 LTx and a 10L80 transmission. Base Z71 plus the Luxury package -- heated 2nd row captains chairs, power panoramic sunroof, heated mirrors, HD surround cameras and some other usual GM appointments. Paint is Empire Beige Metallic and Jet Black leather interior. This is the 5th generation Tahoe and rides on the GM T1XX truck platform. It deviates from the pickups in that it has an independent rear suspension. It is a Texas truck from the Arlington Truck Plant SUV with a Texas decal on the inner door lip -- I don't know I just find that cool!
Fuel Economy -- now with remote starts and cold weather + winter blend fuel... a solid 15-16mpg. I let the thing warm up, I do not care to be cold. In summer, I averaged 18-19mpg around town driving and my best was 22-23mpg on all highway/thruway driving. I do have a Range DFM disabler installed. So I am running in full V8 mode all the time. Except at 0% throttle coast events. Then it collapses all lifters, the engine becomes silent exhaust wise, and just before you come to a stop it re-fires. This is something in the GM PCM logic.
Maintenance wise, I have changed the oil at 500mi, 2,500mi, 5k mi, 8k mi and will probably again around 10-11k. Have been on 0W-20 Mobil 1 EP, but might experiment with some 5W-30. I know, I know, I know, overkill on the intervals, but I wanted to keep clean oil in it for it being so new and man if I'm keeping any sort of piston rings spotless clean, I'm all about that. I installed a JSC Oil separator almost as soon as I bought it. I get maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of a catch can full of oil over 3k miles. I do not see any oil level variations on the dipstick anytime I check it.
Buddy of mine bought a new Silverado this year. So in August we pulled both trucks in, tore the wheels off and the fender liners and LIBERALLY coated each truck with Woolwax. We will spray the trucks every year. Hoping to keep the bodies on these nice. I also like to keep my truck washed.
Interior/Comfort
The push-button shifter took some getting used to. I'll still say it's goofy, can I just please have a column shifter? But after seeing the nonsense in a Cybertruck all on the screen, I'll take this anyway. Plus it's not in the center console so I'm happy to have my cup-holders and cubby storage. The center console under your elbow is Huge! It's deep and well lit. Awesome for storing your junk.
The seats are comfortable and the seat heaters are nice and hot. At first I missed my GMT800 couch seats, but I did get use to these. I do find myself very comfortable and not tired after driving for extended periods of time -- anytime after a few hours, I want to get out and take a break. The 2nd row is pretty big. Floor pan/door access for the 2nd row is huge and the rear seats are very comfortable. The heated rear is a nice addition for passengers.
I have a heated steering wheel which I didn't specifically seek out, but I do not know how I'd go without it now. My aching hands love it. Steering wheel controls are well laid out. I really like the volume/skip buttons on the back of the wheel. What a good layout. The digital dash is rich with instrumentation. You can choose between, minimal, some and maximum gauges. I choose Max which gives me fuel, engine temp, oil pressure and volts. Then I have the trans temp in one of the circular gauges. This screen and the infotainment screens are well lit, color rich and pretty responsive. No screen-quality complaints. The rest of the dashboard I find very attractive. A faux leather/soft touch material is the dash and upper door panels. All materials inside feel pretty nice for a GM and I like the fake wood grain inserts.
This has a mid-tier BOSE stereo system. I am not an audiophile but I cannot stand base stereo systems. This scratches my itch. From 70s-90s country, heavy metal, grunge rock, progressive metal, 90s hip-hop and rap, I am pleased. I find it has a good amount of base and pretty decent range. Again to the true enthusiast the whole "NO highs NO lows must be BOSE" probably sticks, but for me, it's great. The infotainment system has Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. CarPlay has worked great, both wired and wirelessly. Call-quality for myself (listening) and my microphone quality for callers on the other end has been great, many can't even hear I'm driving. I've had vehicles where the other person couldn't hear you because of background noise, so it's good to know this is not the case. The infotainment is Android based and has Google integrations. Navigation is provided by Google Maps. It worked fine when I tested it. I did sign into the Android/Google services with an account and installed Spotify as a backup to me using my iPhone with CarPlay. The Spotify app on the infotainment also works well and looks nice. GM I believe uses AT&T as the cellular provider for the connected services. I think I inadvertently signed up for a data plan so that is probably how that whole thing is currently working. Any rate, the infotainment works well with its built in software. Only thing I wish it had was HD radio so I could listen to the FM simulcast of WBEN 930am talk radio. I have to play around some more, maybe it does and I'm just dumb.
I have WeatherTech mats throughout even a rear mat. I keep the 3rd row folded down and have a larger WeatherTech cargo liner that sits atop the folded down 3rd row. There is a small storage compartment under the cargo area. It's kinda useless, only fits small stuff and is hard plastic inside so anything hard will rattle. Its small but its OK for gloves and other dumb small stuff.
Powertrain/Performance
I love these Gen V engines! The LTx platform is awesome. Supposed to be about 355hp and 380ish torque. This engine makes my cammed Gen 3 6.0 LS look like a complete dog. When you get into the pedal the little small-block wants to go. Redline is around 5,800-6k RPM. If you mash the throttle, the 5.3 winds up to near redline and the 10L80 keeps shifting, going through each gear. Acceleration is great and you'll easily find yourself over the speed limit. I truly have no complains with the transmission logic GM has for these 10L80 transmissions. Some people say the 10L hunts... I don't see this really. Then again, I also don't try to make an automatic transmission do weird things. I learn how they like to shift and work with them. The 10L shifts are quick, confident, firm yet smooth, solid and well placed. The transmission does shift better when it is up to temp. In these cold temperatures we've had as of late, the 10L will stay 50-80 degrees for a good 10-15 minutes into my drive. I let it warm up. Anything above 90-100 degrees, it shifts the same. Once fully warmed up, if I am 'hot-dogging' around, the 10L shifts as firm as it needs to and doesn't give any indication that you're abusing it or that it isn't up to the task. Coolant wise/heater performance, the 5.3 heats up pretty quick.
Over the end of summer, I towed a few heavy loads with my dump trailer. Under tow-haul mode, with the power of this 5.3 and the transmission logic, 5-6,500lbs didn't seem to both it one bit. Sure you felt the weight behind you, but there was plenty of power on-demand for towing up grades, transmission logic was great at keeping a gear to pull up a grade. Again, shifts were well timed and confident. Of course this is not a 3/4 ton truck but a 1/2 ton-based SUV. I don't try to pretend I can tow a low-boy but for the trailers I need to tow, I do not think the max towing capacity of these SUVs are over-rated. Suspension squat is not bad at all.
Driving/Road Manners
Right off the bat, the Tahoe has a really good on-center feel. The wheel always wants to correct to center and drive straight. I owe this to the independent front suspension with front struts and the electric power steering. There are different driving modes, Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul and Off-Road. Steering assist is not over-boosted during in Normal mode. In Sport mode, the steering becomes incredibly responsive and tight. I can hug corners with moderate speed (55mph) and really take some curvy backroads well. Body roll is present, this is a BIG SUV, but it isn't excessive for its size.
The IRS really shines at making this thing not seem super stiff in the rear. I'd almost compare it to a nice compromise between truck and car. For example, when I drive Dad's '22 Silverado you can feel the stiff "working as one-unit" rear suspension when going over un-even terrain, bumps, etc. In the Tahoe, you notice less of that and can get a sense of the rear suspension, at each rear wheel, dampening as needed. This Z71 does NOT have any air shocks in the rear, plain old dampeners. Ride quality is very comfortable.
Final Thoughts
I have had an awesome time so far with this truck. It has been trouble free and a great 10k miles of driving. I know that isn't saying a lot but if any of you remember my F-150 and PowerBoost fiasco... you'd understand why I'm thrilled. This spring I'm thinking on purchasing an extended warranty. I want to drive this thing for a long time. Ideally I'd love to pass it down to my kid when they start driving.
I love this truck. This is the first time I've bought a new vehicle and didn't have some sort of regret, major complaint, or headache issue with it after the honeymoon phase wore off. Honestly way to go GM. They build a fine SUV.