The Autoguide staff chose a stellar story topic
this past week when they had their eyes set on the two largest and most
powerful SUVs from our brand. Both the Tahoe
and Traverse
can haul three rows of passengers when properly equipped, and most models see
the massive power available able to be sent to all four wheels. The Tahoe is
known as unforgivably large and commandeering, and for heartily offering up the
sensation that you're “going to get there in safety and style no matter what”.
The first order of business for comparison between
the two was the engines under the hood: the Traverse offers a 3.6-liter V6 and
a turbocharged inline-four. The 3.6-liter cranks out 300 horsepower while also
serving up 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to a nine-speed
automatic, and the inline-four generates 257 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Buyers
that choose the 2020 Tahoe have a range of V8s at their disposal: the base
5.3-liter V8 makes 355 hp, and 383 lb-ft of torque, while employing an active
fuel management system that will halt the action of cylinders to conserve fuel.
This is the exact same powertrain found in the GMC
Sierra, and the writers of this feature happened to prefer the optional 6.2-liter
V8 which is paired to a 10-speed automatic and puts out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of
torque. Since the testing team here were understandably big fans of the
old-school V8 bellow, they were prone to enjoying the audio-sensory benefits
that can only derive from a larger block.
As you may expect, all-wheel drive can offer up a
bit of a fuel economy penalty regarding any large three-row vehicle. You can
count on about 18 mpg during most city driving, and the turbocharged model
manages to break the 20 mpg mark in town while holding down 26 mpg during
highway jaunts. You may eventually gravitate towards the Tahoe if you prefer a
traditional SUV, and the 6.2-liter doesn't need to work as hard while hauling a
huge load. The Traverse heads up the team's challenge here in terms of finished
bodywork and an efficient engine.
Minus the sunroof, the Traverse sports 41.3 inches
of headroom in the front row, and the legroom checks in at 41 inches up front,
38.4 inches in the middle, and 33.5 inches all of the way in the back. When
dealing with the proportions of a vessel such as the Tahoe, it's important to
realize that “big on the outside means big on the inside”, and the first-row
headroom beats out the Traverse by 1.5 inches. The bottom line that the Autoguide.com
staff had regarding daily tasks is that the Traverse is the way to go for
hauling around any more than 5, due to its extra-spacious third row.
The Traverse
boasts second and third rows that open up an impressive 98 cubic feet of
storage space, and towing capability maxed out at 5000 with the V6 and
additional trailering packages. Sporting a very noticeable jaw and defined
lines, the Tahoe looks like an SUV through and through. A restyle a few model
years ago set it apart a bit from the Silverado, and it can fend for itself
aesthetically on a whim. If you are coming to see us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse looking to
trade up from a smaller car, you will probably feel most comfortable in the
Traverse, while those replacing a pickup truck would practically opt for the
Tahoe. We hope you come down to see us soon and decide which of these rigs will
be best for your family's fleet, and pick the best of the large-sized bunch!
