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How does a 2020 Chevy Tahoe stack up against a 2024 Chevy Tahoe? You’re about to find out in this new vs used comparison!
Is a New 2024 Chevy Tahoe Worth the Extra Money?
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The 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe was just released and there’s certainly a lot to be had with the full-size SUV. New infotainment, new safety features, new designs, and new colors. Of course, you always hope there’s a continuous improvement with the ride and handling of new models, too, especially for a price tag that ranges between just over $61,000 and around $81,000.
If you’re looking to save some money, you may be willing to give up a few of the amenities, but you don’t want to give up too much, right? That’s the question we pose today. How does the 2024 Chevy Tahoe compare to a used model? Just how much do you have to give up for a used, lower-priced Chevrolet Tahoe, and is saving some money worth it? For this comparison, we’ve selected the 2020 Chevy Tahoe. It was the end of the fourth generation of the popular family hauler.
Specs
Also available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), the 2020 Chevy Tahoe utilizes one of two V8 engines. First, there’s a 355-horsepower 5.3-liter that makes 383 lb.-ft. of torque with the help of a six-speed automatic transmission. Then there’s a more powerful 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 that mates with a 10-speed automatic to deliver 460 lb.-ft. of torque. With those engine options, the 2020 Tahoe has a towing capacity of up to 8,600 lbs. when properly equipped.
Gas mileage on the 2020 models isn’t exactly efficient, but it’s as good as you can expect for the segment. The 5.3-liter V8 on a 4WD 2020 Tahoe gets a combined 17 miles per gallon (mpg) with 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. The RWD increases highway driving to 22 mpg. Using the 6.2-liter V8, the 2020 Tahoe gets 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway with 4WD. A RWD 2020 Tahoe with the 6.2-liter gets up to 23 mpg on the highway.
The 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, available with RWD or 4WD, too, but it has more engine options than the 2020 Tahoe. There’s a 5.3-liter V8 engine or a 6.2-liter V8. The 5.3 makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. Going with the 6.2-liter V8 gets 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. There’s also a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbodiesel inline-6 that’s available on all trims except the Z71. It’s rated for 277 horsepower with 460 lb.-ft. of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard on all trims.
Those engines work to tow between 7,400 and 8,400 lbs. when equipped properly, but it’ll be using a lot of gas to do so. With a 24-gallon tank, the 2024 Chevy Tahoe gets 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. The High Country trim dips just a little, achieving 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. However, that turbodiesel gets 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Driving and Performance
The 2020 Tahoe isn’t exactly SUV-like, but it’s more composed than a truck when it comes to steering, handling, and braking. There is some body roll in curves and the body-on-frame construction makes for a rougher ride on gravel roads, but, overall, the 2020 Chevy Tahoe can handle bigger bumps just fine. The used 2020 Tahoe models with the optional adaptive suspension should be a little smoother.
All three engines on the 2024 Chevy Tahoe are pretty much gas-guzzling engines, but they’re also strong, smooth engines with good transmission tuning. The Tahoe is a heavy vehicle, but Chevy designers did a good job figuring out how to handle the weight. With an independent rear suspension in the fifth generation, the Tahoe handles less like a truck. It’s still a large vehicle, so it’s not going to be as nimble as those small crossovers by any means, but it’s not as cumbersome as it was before. An adaptive air ride suspension (available at the Z71 and High Country trim levels) and the high-performance suspension package (available with the RST) both help make the ride even better.
Comfort and Interior
There’s seating for up to nine people with the base model of the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe thanks to three bench seats. Otherwise, the 2020 Tahoe fits up to eight passengers. Soft-touch plastics, large control knobs, large windows, and cloth or leather-appointed upholstery all make the cabin of the 2020 Chevy Tahoe quite comfortable. A wide variety of features, including heated and ventilated seats give it a bit of luxury, too. A 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat came standard, but 12-way power-adjustable front seats were available, so look for a model with those if you can find one.
When it comes to space, the 2020 Chevy Tahoe has more front-row space than the 2024 model, but less space in the secondary rows. Up front, there’s 45.3” of legroom, but that measurement drops to 39” in the second row and 24.8” in the third row. Some of the third-row legroom is also used up by the raised floor, which accommodates the solid-axle suspension.
Power-folding second and third-row seats weren’t standard on the 2020 Tahoe, but they did come with LT and Premier trim levels. There’s also less cargo room (in all measurements) in the 2020 Tahoe, but it still has 15.3 cu. ft. of space behind the third row, 51.7 cu. ft. behind the second row, and 94.7 cu. ft. of space if all second and third-row seats are folded.
Drivers shouldn’t hear too much road noise in the 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and they shouldn’t feel too much of the road either. Beyond the suspension, there are comfortable cloth or leather-appointed seats to help shield the bumps of the road. Getting into the exact right position is easier with standard 10-way or 12-way power driver and front passenger seats, too.
With an 8” or 10.2” screen, the technology is updated and easy to use in most cases. The button placement on the 2024 Tahoe isn’t the most convenient, though. Particularly, it’s the buttons a driver must press to put the vehicle in drive, reverse, or neutral. It’s more difficult to reach over to where they are located than previous setups.
Up to eight people fit in the full-sized SUV. There’s 44.5” of space dedicated to front legroom, 42” of second-row legroom, and 34.9” of third-row legroom. There’s a good amount of space. Even if the cabin is full, passengers can enjoy the trip (however long it is) without feeling cramped. There’s room for storage, too. Behind the third row, there’s 25.5 cu. ft. of cargo room. Behind the second row, there’s 72.6 cu. ft. of space. Cargo volume eventually maxes out at 122.90 cu. ft. with the 40/20/40 split-bench front seat that’s available on the LS.
Trims and Features
There were only three trim levels on the 2020 Tahoe: the LS, LT, and Premier. The base LS trim started off with a remote engine start, tri-zone climate control, power front seats, a six-speaker audio system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, five USB ports, and five 12-volt outlets. It was also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and rain-sensing windshield wipers were all available, so some LS models may be equipped with those features, too.
Chevy gave the 2020 LT leather upholstery, heated front seats, a nine-speaker Bose sound system, and a power liftgate. In addition, the LT received safety features like lane keeping assist, a forward collision alert, and low-speed forward automatic braking. Although the Z71 wasn’t a trim in the 2020 Tahoe, the Z71 off-road package did offer suspension, tires, and underbody protection for better off-roading capability. Some LTs may also have keyless entry, a push-button start, a sunroof, integrated navigation, and dual screens as part of the rear-seat entertainment system.
The 2020 Chevy Tahoe Premier utilized an adaptive magnetic ride control suspension and 20-inch wheels. The top-of-the-line trim also came with heated side mirrors, fog lamps, power-folding second and third rows, and not just heated, but also cooled front seats. It was also the only trim at the time with the 6.2-liter V8 engine.
There are six trims on the new 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe. They include the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Automatic emergency braking, hill start assist, a following distance indicator, a forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, front and rear parking assist, a rear-view camera, and lane keeping assist are all standard across the lineup. Every 2024 Chevy Tahoe also has automatic stop/start, a keyless start, trailer sway controls, daytime LED running lamps, and a buckle-to-drive feature for parents looking to make their teenagers wear a seatbelt. The base model even comes with rain-sensing automatic wipers, a solar-absorbing windshield, 12 and 120-volt power outlets, and Bluetooth.
The LT adds 10-way adjustable power driver and front passenger seats, 10.2” infotainment screen, wireless phone charging, and a nine-speaker audio system. A panoramic power sunroof, an HD surround-view camera is available, and a rear pedestrian alert are all available at this level, too. After the LT is the RST trim, which only adds a leather-appointed seat trim. The off-roading Z71 includes a 2-speed transfer case, hill descent control, 20” all-terrain blackwall tires and aluminum wheels, and available adaptive air ride suspension.
Premier (and High Country) only has room for seven passengers but it does have other benefits. It adds a Bose 10-speaker audio system. Not included, but available are reverse automatic braking, a trailer-side blind zone alert, and trailering assist guidelines. Premier also has 22″ all-season blackwall tires, a rear pedestrian alert and a Head-Up display.
The Verdict
When comparing new and used vehicles, the warranty is always something to consider. A 2024 Chevy Tahoe comes with a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, a corrosion limited warranty for the same amount of time (rust is covered for six years or 100,000 miles), and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain/drivetrain limited warranty. There’s also a roadside assistance program (with available courtesy transportation) that lasts five years or 60,000 miles. Those warranties aren’t bad at all.
However, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price on a new 2024 Tahoe automatically sticks you with a $61,000 price tag, minimum. Personally, I’d go for the 2020 Chevy Tahoe. If there’s a lower-mileage 2020 Chevy Tahoe Premier with a clean Vehicle History Report, the savings will add up. There are plenty of 2020 Chevy Tahoe Premier models listed at around 60,000 miles for only around $50,000. That’s on the high end of the listings, too, so there are hundreds more that are less than that.
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe – media.chevrolet.com | Shop Chevrolet Tahoe on Carsforsale.com
I don’t think there’s that much to miss out on by going the 2020 route instead of the 2024 route. The 2024 Tahoe does have a turbodiesel option, but it also has those inconvenient gear selector buttons. The 2020 Tahoe doesn’t. Also, another point in the 2020 Tahoe column is that it’s new enough that it still has nearly all the amenities the 2024 version has. The 2024 Tahoe may drive a little nicer than the 2020 Tahoe, but the difference isn’t enough to sway me from the used version.
Of course, there are additional options beyond the 2024 and 2020 Tahoe models. Actually, other than some new color options, the 2024 Chevy Tahoe is pretty much the same as the 2023 Chevy Tahoe. If you’re expanding your search into some other used models, be sure to click on our review of the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe and our full 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe review. We also put the 2021 Chevy Tahoe up against the Toyota Sequoia in a head-to-head comparison.
