Over the past few months, GM Authority has been here to provide you with the most comprehensive coverage of the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, including its six trim levels, fuel economy ratings, exhaust treatments, pricing and availability in various international markets. All of that coverage was focused around the model people will buy at dealers, and what we haven’t yet discussed is the government-only version in the form of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police variant. As luck would have it, that’s exactly what we have for you here today.
Last-generation Chevrolet Tahoe PPV
Though GM has yet to officially announce such a model, GM Authority has uncovered that the all-new Tahoe will also make available an all-new 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Package Vehicle, or PPV. As was the case with the last-generation model based on the K2 platform, the all-new Tahoe PPV on the T1 platform will carry the 9C1 identifier. No photos of the police cruise are currently available, but we do have all kinds of details to share with you.
Mechanical
All 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police models will be powered by the naturally-aspirated 5.3L V8 L84 EcoTec3 engine with Dynamic Fuel Management mated to the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission. Power output is rated at a maximum 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. Both 2WD (rear-wheel-drive) and 4WD configurations are available, with the 4WD models getting an active single-speed transfer case. This powertrain is essentially what’s offered in the civilian-market Tahoe LS, LT, RST and Z71.
Other mechanical highlights include:
- High-capacity air cleaner
- 250 amp high output alternator
- 760 cold-cranking amps auxiliary battery, electrical power & vehicle signals for connection (located at the center front floor)
- Auxiliary battery circuit for connection (located in the rear cargo area)
- Heavy-duty, police-rated suspension
- Front independent torsion bar and stabilizer bar
- Rear, multilink suspension with coil springs
- Police brakes
The police-duty Tahoe also gets a unique key as standard with keyless open and extended-range Remote Keyless Entry. The full-size SUV also features protected idle, which allows vehicle engine to remain idling and vehicle immobilized while FOB is outside vehicle. It’s possible to replace the unique unique key with a common fleet key, if desired.
Last-generation Chevrolet Tahoe PPV on duty for Ventura County Sheriff’s department
Ship-Thru To Kerr Industries
Like the prior model, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police vehicle features the option ship-thru to Kerr industries, which upfits the Tahoe with various law-enforcement elements, including:
- Red and white front auxiliary dome lighting
- Unique door locks and handles
- Left- and/or right-hand spotlamps (deletes the A-pillar mounted assist handle/handles)
- Alternate flashing Red & Blue rear compartment lid warning lamps
- Radio Suppression Package (with ground straps)
- Grille lamps and siren speakers wiring
- Horn and siren circuit wiring
- Auxiliary speaker wiring
Exterior
Outside, the 2021 Tahoe PPV features a unique front fascia, with a high-approach angle, a unique front skid plate, and recovery hook openings (though the actual recovery hooks are not included).
The SUV rides on 20-inch steel wheels wrapped in 275/55R20SL all-season tires, with a P275/55R20 all-season spare.
Meanwhile, the luggage rack side rails are deleted, as are exterior badging though the front & rear Chevrolet bowties will remain. In fact, the PPV is offered with black Bowtie emblems, as well as those really nice-looking illuminated ones.
Interior
Inside, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police vehicle is equipped with a unique instrument panel that contains:
- Certified 150 mph speedometer
- Odometer with trip odometer
- Engine hour meter
- Fuel level meter
- Voltmeter
- Engine temperature
- Oil pressure
- Tachometer
There’s also a special “Surveillance Mode” interior lighting calibration.
Two types of seating are offered for the front row: a 40/20/40 split-bench is standard, while a high-back reclining bucket seat is optional. The second row is offered exclusively with a 60/40 split-folding, manually-operated bench. Finally, the third row seat is deleted, as is the rear storage compartment.
A manual day/night rearview mirror is standard, while the Rear Camera Mirror with full camera display is optional.
Finally, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto is standard, as are various USB ports. SiriusXM Radio is deleted. OnStar with Chevrolet Connected Services and 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot is standard, but can be deactivated.
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71
Packages
Lastly, a few words about 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Vehicle packages.
The new Tahoe PPV does not offer the Max Trailering Package. However, the police-duty bruiser does offer an optional 1FL Safety Package, which includes various active safety features, including:
- Forward Collision Alert
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Following Distance Indicator
As we mentioned, there are no photos of the 2021 Tahoe PPV just yet, but we will bring them to you as soon as they become available. In the meantime, we invite you to subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevrolet Tahoe news, Chevrolet Suburban news, Chevrolet news and ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
Good to know GM makes an expensive buffalo in a police uniform instead of an proper sedan based PPV. You’ll still have Exploders also with GM and Ford fooling themselves think this is a great idea, with shrinking budgets, small streets to manipulate in cities and towns also due to a high-center seeing PPV SUVs spinning on their tops like an flipped turtle on videos reminds me of fights on the 90s live action TMNT movies.
OTOH do you really want to cops to get ya?…
GM sells lots of Tahoe’s to police forces, and they are not the primary vehicles, but more of command cars and rugged terrain pursuit machines. GM doesn’t offer a true standard police car. Rather the selling point is the Tahoe will go where the fords stop.
They have no choice but to sell inefficient tanks to PDs, yes Tahoe PPV is best used on highways, SWAT, fire chief, EMS etc.. but too much for a patrol vehicle and far too heavy for an interceptor.
Around here I see plenty of cops in the Explorers, and they are just the normal cops giving people tickets.
I saw some lame excuse from one of the departments about dirt roads or something, but I’m pretty sure they just like driving around in the SUVs.
Well we know there good enough for the Secret Service, CIA, FBI, ATF and Defense Department. So that’s all any Police Department or Highway Patrol needs to know and why so many Highway Patrols use them. Screw the Ford Explorer I’ll put my money on the Tahoe any day.
Lol, lots of Keystone cops here, good luck keeping up after a drunk in a old Evo, Z28 or gang of bikers in a Buba-Tahoe with no air-support and backup miles away…
Are they pursuit rated and what is the tow rating with the PPV?
One night I was watching Live PD and one officer was in pursuit of a Honda,I believe not sure, and could not keep up with it. He made a comment “damn Tahoe”. I don’t know if many other people heard it, but I did. You would think that GM would equip these vehicles with a super charged motor or one that has more horsepower than the standard one for the general public. The officer later caught up with the vehicle because he had the license number, but it was parked at the residence.
Do you think he would off caught them driving a piece of crap exploder or an under powered ford police car . Good Luck ! The cop was probably a ford lover !
The naturally aspirated Explorer with the 3.7 is faster then the Tahoe and it handles and rides much better. The 3.5 ecoboost Explorer is a rocket. The new Explorer is the fastest Pusuit vehicle on the market, both acceleration and handling.
Tahoe will out last the Ford Explorer, besides the Explorer isn’t worth a darn in the west like Montana and Wyoming in the winter time Tahoe’s rule in that part of the country.
Tahoe might outlast an Explorer if you spend enough money on it. In our Police fleet the Explorer’s have been more reliable then Tahoe’s.
He was chasing a civic si so whether in the Tahoe or explorer they were not going to catch that car especially with all the turns he was making to get away. Folks seem to forget most departments even when higher HP models are available only by a few of those models while the vast majority are the standard models.
i heard that too. he was chasing the car through bumpy streets and some tight turns and could not keep up. I think a lot of that had to do with bouncing on rear axle. the handling of the old Tahoe not made for pursuit…
He did catch the guy a couple days later. he was on a mission to get him. I loved that part of it.
Having sold Chevrolets for 38 years the Tahoe is the most capable PPV in history. They are safe, rugged, and have an unprecedented dependablility record. I have 10 years old Tahoes still being used daily when the Explorers are rusting away in salvage yards. I do wish that Chevy would offer a mid size PPV to compete with the Explorer and new entry, the Dodge Durango police units. They are less expensive than Tahoe and for city use is an alternative that GM is missing out on.
Chevrolet does now offer the Traverse as a mid size PPV but think the Blazer would work as well
I’m sure all the municipalities can justify tax money on illuminated emblems!
150 mpg certified speedometer—that’s about 40-50 mph faster than a 5.3 Tahoe can go!!
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/TestResultsCombinedMY2020_666841_7.pdf
120 for the 4WD and 134 for the RWD
The Durango was 117 (V6) and 118 (V8)
What is the radio suppression package?
It prevents interference from other signals or u it’s nearby by locking signal on receiver.
The vehicle has capacitors and additional ground straps to reduce radio interference caused by onboard electrical systems such as the alternator, ignition system, etc
134 mph top speed for rwd Tahoe says Michigan state police testing
4 wd —120! Only takes rwd 1.5+ miles at FCA proving grounds to reach that top speed! Bottom line is 5.3 is underpowered for large vehicles like the Tahoe!
IMO the Tahoe PPV is adequately powered, GM just need a sedan a PPV. Maybe GM should use the 3.0 CT5 as an highway interceptor PPV. An luxury police car?, Chrysler did this in the 60s as they took an Newport and turn it into the Enforcer, also multiple Buick Special PPVs form the 50s to 81′.
There are a far cry better than the piece off crap ford police cars and exploders ! Sit on a car frame .
The Explorers have been more reliable then the Tahoes and unlike the Tahoes the Explorers actually have Police package brakes, we replace Tahoe brake calipers often because the dust boots are burnt away.
The new Explorers have been huge pieces of trash for us – even worse than the previous gen. If you are having good luck with them, you are in the minority.
The new Explorers are a reliability nightmare already for both fleet and consumer buyers.
The Tahoe’s have always been sturdy, but expensive.
For a few dollars more.. they could get a Chevrolet Suburban with the 6.2L V8 or possibly a returned Cadillac Escalade.
Appears we have a couple Ponch and jon’s here.
Today the Tahoe has enough power to do what it needs.
Most chases are on side streets in neighborhoods with speeds under 50mph. If it is faster it is on the freeway and stop stick do the stopping.
Sadly any more the only people who get away are the folks running where forces call off or are not allowed to chase.
Watch Live PD and you see seldom anyone gets away in a pure chase. I recall only two. Both were in high traffic and the chase was called. The one did get busted later as they had his info and knew who he was.
Also the officers love the SUV models as the extra room And ground clearance is so much better than the Caprice and Crown Vic.
You need to talk to my cop buddy, that throw what you say out the window. He was alone chasing and stayed up with a felon drunk driver in the middle of nowhere, 5 miles from the state line suspect crashed and he fought/hold the guy down until backup finally got to him. BTW my buddy was driving a 5.7 Charger..
Well based on what I see on live PD and with speaking to my neighbor a country sheriff he has had no issues with any pursuits .
If the cruiser can do 120 generally it will work for most areas as cops seldom run kore than that unless the are highway patrol or way out in some state like AZ, TX or UT.
Like they say you can’t out run a radio.
A v6 Charger can do what’s said without costing a PD much also where you live at isn’t the rest of America, next you’d be saying snowmobiles are the best PPV around because they’re awesome in Anchorage.
And based on my experiences, you can’t outrun a radio but you can outrun his partners by the time they get the call ….😉
Is the 2021 tahoe going to offer the diesel engine? also what size radio will it have 10in like its retail counterpart also i think 355hp 5.3 for a police tahoe is not enough if 5.3 shouldve been one step above in power like 375 at least and or supercharged the 5.3 it considering the fact that explorer has twin turbo v6 with 400hp ppv tahoe should have a big engine such as a 6.2 with 420 now that be a fast cop car it will be pretty competitive with competition
GM products are so great that the company had to be bailed out in 2009 to prevent bankruptcy. In this day and age when many Asian-branded vehicles are famously reliable and well-built (many in America btw) people continue to spend good money on domestic junk. Their brand loyalties are very misguided.
Go away..