Over the next few days, GM Authority will be behind the wheel of a 2021 Chevy Tahoe Z71. The Tahoe is Chevrolet’s second largest model after the 2021 Chevy Suburban, which is essentially the same vehicle except that it is 15 inches longer. Both were completely overhauled (re-engineered and redesigned) for the 2021 model year, representing the first model year of their fifth (Tahoe) and 12th (Suburban) generations.
Both the 2021 Tahoe and 2021 Suburban are built on the GM T1 platform at the GM Arlington plant in Arlington, Texas. The same applies to the 2021 GMC Yukon and 2021 Cadillac Escalade, both of which are also in their first model year.
Z71 is the most off-road-oriented trim level in the Chevy Tahoe range, and as such it offers less choice than any of the others. For starters, only one engine is offered – the 5.3L V8 L84 gasoline engine from the EcoTec3 family, which produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque; the 3.0L I-6 LM2 turbo-diesel Duramax engine or the 6.2L V8 L87 are not available. The Tahoe Z71 is also unique in the line-up in that it is available only with four-wheel-drive, a two-speed transfer case and Hill Descent Control.
For the same reason, the Tahoe Z71 has a different look than versions in other trim levels. The front fascia is unique, which not only makes the vehicle look more rugged but also provides a higher approach angle for more effective off-roading. Also standard are 20-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, a front skid plate and red tow hooks. Black and chrome exterior accents do not affect the vehicle’s ability, but they help to distinguish it visually from non-Z71 models.
Our Tahoe Z71 is fitted with two optional packages. The more expensive of these is the Z71 Off-Road Package, which is priced at $5,735 and consists of the following features:
- Air Ride Adaptive Suspension
- Magnetic Ride Control
- Driver Information Center with eight-inch diagonal multi-color display
- Enhanced Cooling Radiator
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Advanced Trailering System
- Hitch Guidance With Hitch View
- HD Surround Vision
- Heated Power Outside Mirrors With Power-Fold
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Power Tilt And Telescopic Steering Column
- Memory settings for driver seat, outside mirrors and steering column
- Second Row Heated 60/40 Split Bench With Power Release
- Third Row 60/40 Split Bench, Power Fold
- Rear Pedestrian Alert
- Lane Change Alert With Side Blind Zone Alert
- Front And Rear Park Assist
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Keep Assist With Lane Departure Warning
The vehicle is also supplied with the $2,490 Rear Media And Nav Package, which includes:
- Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium With Navigation
- 10.2-inch diagonal HD color touchscreen
- Voice recognition
- Wireless Apple Car Play and Wireless Android Auto capable Bluetooth Audio streaming
- In-vehicle apps and personalization capable
The vehicle also comes with second-row bucket seats with power release ($370) and a floor console with a power sliding center ($350). All of the option raise the vehicle’s price from the base MSRP of $60,495 (including $1,295 destination freight charge) to $69,400. A $500 discount is then applied as part of the Z71 package content discount, bringing the cost to $68,940.
If there’s anything you want to know about the Tahoe Z71 beyond the specs, ask us in the comments section below, and we’ll reply as soon as possible.
Ready… set… go.
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Comments
Does the new limited slip rear differential actually work?
Or is it just an open diff to save costs?
Can’t tell that much on the road. I’m planning to take her out to/around the Everglades area on Sunday to see how the diff performs in those kinds of scenarios. Will reply then.
Is the E-LSD from the AT4 available on the Tahoe Z-71?
Nope. The Tahoe Z71 only offers the mechanical limited-slip diff (G86). The same unit is standard on the Yukon AT4, but it can be upgraded to the eLSD (G96) on the Yukon AT4.
This might change for subsequent model years, but that’s where it’s at right now.
Follow-up: thanks to COVID, the off-road area I was looking forward to taking this thing was closed, so can’t comment on the performance of the limited-slip in those situations.
On the pavement, it behaves fine, and appears to transfer power as needed. I suspect that most consumers will seldom take this vehicle off-road, even in Z71 trim.
I test drove a base 2021 Tahoe, then tested a 2021 Z71 Suburban. My daughter asked why Tahoe had mechanical gauges and the Z71 had the 8″ digital display. The sales guy could not answer. Then to further the confusion, looking at more Z71 models it has either digital or mechanical gauges. Please shed some light on this, saw your tester has the 8″ digital display.
Good question. The 4.2-inch Driver Information Center (DIC) is standard on the 2021 Tahoe Z71. It’s also standard on the LS, LT, and RST models of the 2021 Tahoe.
Meanwhile, the 8-inch diagonal multi-color DIC (with analog speedometer and tach gauges) are standard on Premier and High Country. This unit is optional on the Z71, and is included with the Off-Road Capability Package.
The 8-inch unit is substantially more premium-looking, though both the 4.2- and 8-inch get the job done.
Any prognostications on the Yukons/Tahoes getting a full electronic gauge cluster right after the Sierra?
Highly likely for the 2022 or 2023 model years.
I have owned several Tahoe and Suburbans. I love the new styling of the entire line up including GMC. However, when they took out the locking rear diff, I was out.
GM PLEASE HEAR ME: Make the Z71 a true off road vehicle and put a locking diff back in this vehicle. Otherwise those pretty red tow hooks will get more uses than they should!! And while your at it, how about replacing the plastic skid plate for a metal one.
Alex will nail me if I’m wrong, but there is a front steel plate that is covered by a plastic fascia.
Correct. The Z71 does have a real front skid plate.
What’s the turning radius like. I might upgrade from a traverse.
Why cover a vehicle that you can’t order at the present time. I was set on ordering a Tahoe High Country with the Diesel engine but my dealer tells me that Chevrolet is not accepting orders! I am now very seriously looking at the new Jeep Wagoneer.
1. We don’t get the luxury of picking and choosing what vehicles are in GM’s press fleet.
2. Not sure it’s accurate that one can’t order the Tahoe Z71 at the present time.
3. What’s impacting High Country might not be impacting Z71. Either way, it will all get resolved.
4. Regarding Wagoneer: how are you “looking” at a vehicle that a) has yet to be be announced outside of a concept and b) is months away from entering production?
Do you have an actual question about the Tahoe Z71?
As of 3-5–21, GM stated that they were not taking orders for the Tahoe
I just put a preliminary order in for a 2021 TAHOE Z71 at my local dealership and was told there were restrictions for the luxury option on the Z71. He said he can not submit my order until those restrictions were lifted. I did not
want the rear media or the off road package which seemed to not have those restrictions. Have you heard of this and wondering how long this will be before the restrictions are lifted and my pre order goes in. BTW these are hard to come by SUVs. Been looking a hot minute they are all “in transit” and by the time they get here are gone.
What is your opinion on the long term durability of the air ride suspension?
Why can’t you get cooled seats on the Z71?
Great questions.
The long-term durability of the air suspension remains a question mark at this point. We’ll watch it closely over the next few years and report back. For what it’s worth, it works like like a charm.
Regarding lack of cooled seats: it’s essentially because the Z71 is a trim level based around the LT trim, which also does not offer vented seats. I agree whole-heartedly that it has to be an option.
I’m looking for maximum cargo capacity options. Mini vans figured out fold-flat descending-into the floor seats long ago.
Does the rear seating fold flat and collapse into the floor any better than previous models?
When you say rear seating are you referring to the second row or the third row?
Follow-up: both the third and second rows fold flat, but there is a slight incline at the junction of the cargo area floor and the third row. Photo to follow.
Love our High Country
We have had this Tahoe since august and my wife daily drives and it is very smooth and a great driver and good mpg for what it is.
Does the lower independent rear suspension setup affect ground clearance? It looks considerably lower than previous iterations.
Bought this same exact model back in November 2020. I always heard good things about Chevy Tahoes but now that I’ve officially purchased my 1st chevy I regret it.. I’ve had nothing but issues… I’ve had to service it 5 times already and I’m currently without a vehicle after spending 66k on a brand new truck its been in the shop for 2 weeks now..I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone looks great but not safe for family… My truck shut off on its own while driving… Thank God no kids were in the car with me could’ve been real ugly had that happen while I was on the highway
I bought a 2021 Chevy Tahoe premier the interior lights stay on after I shut the car off and then later on they go back on again and the car keeps making noise like it’s alive🧐
We are currently thinking about buying a Z71 (early this week?) with the luxury and Max Trailering packages. Really like the features offered and especially the new look of the Z71. Our main purpose in buying this vehicle is that we recently purchased a Winnebago Micro Minnie and decided it was just too close to maximum towing capacity to feel comfortable using our 2016 Toyota Highlander. Now we are under a bit of time pressure to buy a car (which we don’t especially like). Also under consideration were the 2020 Tahoe (used) or a 2021 Sequoia (had good luck with Toyota) – but in both cases we had a hard time buying the last year of a model (new and used) for still big $. At the same time we don’t really want to buy the first year of a model for all the reasons Karina mentioned (and Kenneth Logallo – or other on line reviewers) – kinks on a brand new car that have yet to be worked out with later models.
Questions –
1) The Z71 emphasizes off-roading. An occasional bumpy dirt road is all we will likely see. How will this vehicle handle towing travel trailers in comparison to other Tahoe trims with towing capabilities?
2) The vehicle we are buying had 17 miles on it. So can we expect it’s been manufactured in the last few months? And if so, has Chevy worked on the issues identified in early manufacturing so we could expect some of these to be worked out in later manufacturing?
3) Will Chevy be good about recalls if needed? We had one lemon car – a brand new 2002 Ford Explorer that Ford refused to correct. Transmission started with problems at 38000 miles (past warranty) and every 10000 miles I had it back in the shop until I finally had a local transmission shop rebuild it around 80000 miles (that lasted until we sold it at 150000 miles). Also had cracks in the rear tailgate on every one of that years models you saw on the road. Needless to say I will never buy another Ford car/SUV.
Appreciate any quick responses on this post since our concerns are time sensitive!
We owned a 2002 Mountaineer that had the same tranny problems. We ended up replacing the tranny – twice. The last one supposedly contained more metal parts to replace the weak plastic bits that Ford originally designed it with. On the other hand, I’m still driving my 2001 Yukon with the original engine and tranny at 345,000 miles and we have had good luck with our 2014 Fusion at 63K miles.
So no G80 rear locker anymore as an option?
Details:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/03/2021-gmc-yukon-offers-electronic-lsd-chevy-tahoe-suburban-dont/
Is there any hope that GM will be able to one day shoehorn the 3.0 Durmax into the Z71 or AT4?
I wouldn’t hold my breath for that, at least not for 2021 or 2022.
I have had an order in for almost a month for a Z71 Tahoe that still has not been accepted! Do you know what month that GM switches to the new model year? Almost not worth ordering the vehicle if it will be a year old before it is delivered.
As of this writing, GM is planning to begin production of the 2022 Tahoe and Suburban in October 2021.
Shopping for a Tahoe (new or used) I notice the gear shift controls have been moved in 2021 to push buttons on the dash. That seems okay for P, N, D, but how well does that reach work for active shifting and speed control, say for example when you are heading down the mountain grade with a full payload?
Does anyone have comments about the gear shift controls being moved to the dash, push buttons…specifically, how do you like reaching for the dashboard when you are trying to control speed in the mountains with a full payload?