2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Midnight Edition Road Test and Review

2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Midnight Edition hero ・ Photo by Omar Rana

A couple of years ago, rising gas prices significantly hurt the sales of our beloved sports cars and large SUVs. Americans quickly shifted their attention from large SUVs to more fuel-efficient options and automakers jumped in on the action to cater to their needs. Well, gas prices are now more affordable, and Americans have proved that we love our extra-large SUVs. Sales of these big family haulers have been on a continuous upward trend, and while they are still relatively expensive to fill up at the gas station, they have become a staple in the American culture.

One of the best-selling large SUVs on the market comes from General Motors - the Chevrolet Tahoe. Close to being the most affordable large SUV on the market, the Chevrolet Tahoe offers comfort, outstanding technical features, and a beautiful bold exterior. Let’s take a closer look at the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe.

1) It demands your attention.

The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe is designed to make an impression. Its large stance and sharp exterior design makes this one of our favorite large suvs. The fourth-generation of the Chevrolet Tahoe debuted in 2015 and since then Chevy has started offering a selection of special edition models and packages. Our test model (pictured here), the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe LT Midnight Edition, sets itself apart with a more stealth and rugged look. The model features a black mesh grille, black Chevy bowties, black roof rack, and all season tires that are wrapped in 20-inch black painted wheels.

Competing with the likes of the Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, and others, the Chevrolet Tahoe definitely demands your attention over the competition.

Photo by Omar Rana

2) It’s very spacious and comfortable.

Being a large SUV, the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe offers a lot of space inside the cabin. The Tahoe offers spacious and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers which makes it the perfect road-trip vehicle. It also focuses on versatility and allows you to be ready for any situation. We were very impressed with the power-release second row and power fold-flat third-row that give you access to pack the Tahoe with all the passengers, groceries, or luggage that you need.

Comfort is further enhanced by the optional Magnetic Ride Control technology that helps reduce excessive body motions and decreases the need for passengers to take Dramamine for motion sickness.

Photo by Omar Rana

3) Peace and quiet are a priority.

One thing we clearly noticed was how quiet the interior of the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe is. Whether you're driving around the city or the highway, the Chevrolet Tahoe is extremely peaceful to drive. Outside noise is blocked thanks to an acoustic-laminated windshield and inlaid doors with triple seals. I for one was very impressed that the passengers in the third row could clearly hear me without me shouting at them while I drive.

Photo by Omar Rana

4) Gadgets and gizmos are everywhere.

Get ready to impress your tech-savvy friends. The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe comes packed with a strong list of standard and optional technology features. Each trim-level of the Chevrolet Tahoe comes standard with the Chevrolet MyLink system that consists of an 8-inch color touchscreen. The system comes with five USB ports, voice-activated technology for the radio and phone, Bluetooth audio streaming, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The navigation features with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto may help you save some money since you won’t have to pay extra for navigation.

Depending on the package you pick, you’ll also get to enjoy a wireless cell phone charging station, OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection, heads-up display, a Bose sound system, keyless entry with remote start, heated and cooled seats, an 110-volt outlet, and an impressive rear-seat entertainment system.

A new feature for 2017 that we found extremely useful is the Rear Seat Reminder. The Tahoe’s second-row seats have sensors that sense if something (or someone) is there. Once you reach your destination and turn off the Tahoe, the rear seat reminder will give you an audible and visual notification that you may be forgetting something in the backseat.

Photo by Omar Rana

5) It entertains your passengers.

Going on a long road trip and hoping to keep the kids quiet and entertained in the second and third row? Throw on a movie! The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe offers an optional rear-seat entertainment package that consists of a Blu-Ray/DVD player. The system also comes with two wireless headphones, two USB ports, and a crystal clear 9-inch LCD flip-down overhead display.

So don’t be afraid of those long trips with the kids screaming “are we there yet” in the backseat.

Photo by Omar Rana

6) It is powerful and capable.

Let’s get the basics out of the way. The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe is powered by a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and the driveline options include 2WD or 4WD. Fuel economy figures come in at a pretty impressive 16/23 mpg (city/highway) for the 2WD model. Our weeklong affair with the Chevrolet Tahoe allowed us to average a combined fuel-economy of 13 mpg.

Now, that 355 hp provides you with more than enough power to make some swift lane changes when driving on the highway, however, if you don’t need all that power at all times, the Tahoe will use its cylinder deactivation to save you some money at the pump. If you add on the Max Trailering Package, you’ll get the benefits of a 3.42-rear-axle ratio, trailer-brake control, and more. That will allow you to tow up to 8,600 lbs. with the 2WD model.

If you need more power, you may want to hold on until late 2017 when the Chevrolet Tahoe will be offered with the 6.2L Performance Package. The package will add a 6.2-liter V8 engine that will produce 420 hp and will be coupled with a ten-speed automatic transmission. To make things even sportier, it will also be available with Brembo brakes and a Borla exhaust system.

Overall, when its comes to power and capability, there isn’t any situation that the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe can’t help you tackle.

Photo by Omar Rana

7) Advanced safety will help you feel secure.

Besides the long list of standard safety features that include a rear-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert, the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe goes above and beyond when its comes safety depending on the model you pick. Our test model came with an extensive list of advanced driver assist features including blind-spot alert, lane change alert, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

During our short road-trip, these advanced safety features not only helped us feel safe but provided the convenience of not allows keeping our foot on the accelerator and always adjusting our cruise control speed.

Photo by Omar Rana

8) Customer satisfaction continues beyond the purchase.

Rest assured that Chevrolet will take care of you beyond the purchase of the new Tahoe. The Chevrolet Complete Care program offers you two maintenance visits that include two oil changes, tire rotations, and more. It also includes five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance, five years of OnStar Basic Plan, and three years of OnStar Guidance Plan. With that in mind, the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe is a pretty educated purchase.

Photo by Omar Rana

9) Its pricing structure is broad.

Pricing for the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe starts at $48,510 for the base Chevrolet Tahoe LS 2WD model and $51,510 for the Tahoe LS 4WD model. That will get you started with the Chevrolet MyLink system, a rearview camera, tri-zone climate control, remote start, and more. The well-packaged LT model, which starts at $53,570, will add on few extra options including heated front seats, power liftgate, lane-keep assist, forward collision alert, and an excellent Bose sound system. A loaded 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier model can easily get you over the $70,000 mark, so we firmly recommend figuring out what’s most important to you and your family before rushing into a purchase.

Photo by Omar Rana

10) Long live the King.

The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe (and its corporate sibling, GMC Yukon) remains the King of large suvs. It is a huge improvement over the last generation model in terms of technology, design, comfort, and capability. The outdated Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia are still stuck in the past, while the Tahoe has easily passed them in every sense of the way.

I will add that, in the full-size SUV game of thrones, many competitive redesigned vehicles are about to enter the market, such as the 2018 Ford Explorer. Therefore, GM will need to stay on top of its game to help the Tahoe (and Yukon) keep its current leadership advantage. 

Photo by Omar Rana