Compare the2025 Chevrolet TahoeVS 2024 Audi Q7

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Tahoe are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q7 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Tahoe (except LS with front bench seat) has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Q7 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Tahoe and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The Chevrolet Tahoe weighs 527 to 1065 pounds more than the Audi Q7. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Tahoe is safer than the Audi Q7:

	Tahoe	Q7
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	25%
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Tahoe is safer than the Q7:

	Tahoe	Q7
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	181	225
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	27 cm	30 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	4%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	MARGINAL	GOOD

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Tahoe is safer than the Audi Q7:

	Tahoe	Q7
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	187
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	350 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	337
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	888 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	290
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	40 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Tahoe 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tahoe’s warranty.

Reliability

The Tahoe has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Q7 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tahoe first among large suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Q7 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 101 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

Engine

The Tahoe’s standard 5.3 V8 produces 94 more horsepower (355 vs. 261) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 273) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Tahoe’s 5.3 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (355 vs. 335) and 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 369) than the Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Tahoe’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 85 more horsepower (420 vs. 335) and 91 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 369) than the Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

The Tahoe’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 44 more horsepower (305 vs. 261) and 222 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 273) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Tahoe’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 126 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 369) than the Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Tahoe V8’s fuel efficiency. The Q7 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Tahoe uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 6.2 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Q7 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Tahoe has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q7 (24 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Tahoe has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Q7 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Tahoe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Q7.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tahoe’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q7:

	Tahoe	Q7
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	14.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tahoe has larger standard tires than the Q7 (265/65R18 vs. 255/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tahoe RST/High Country offers optional 24-inch wheels. The Q7’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

The Chevrolet Tahoe’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi Q7 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Tahoe has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Q7 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Tahoe has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

The Tahoe RST/Z71/High Country has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Tahoe’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Q7 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tahoe’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Q7 (120.9 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tahoe is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Q7.

For better maneuverability, the Tahoe’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Q7’s (37.8 feet vs. 41 feet). The Tahoe w/24 inch wheels’ turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Q7’s (40.8 feet vs. 41 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Tahoe Z71 Air Ride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q7 w/Air Suspension (10 vs. 9.7 inches), allowing the Tahoe to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Tahoe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q7 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Tahoe offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Q7 can only carry 7.

The Tahoe has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, 6.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.3 inches more third row headroom, 5.7 inches more third row legroom and 13.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

Cargo Capacity

The Tahoe’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

	Tahoe	Q7
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	14.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.5 cubic feet	35.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	122.7 cubic feet	69.6 cubic feet

The Tahoe’s cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in almost every dimension:

	Tahoe	Q7
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/54”/89.5”	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”
Max Width	49.5”	52.5”
Min Width	49.5”	42.6”
Height	36.5”	30”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Tahoe’s (except LS) optional second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q7 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The Tahoe’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q7’s (7700 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q7 is only 7700 pounds. The Tahoe offers up to a 8400 lbs. towing capacity.

The Tahoe 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Tahoe can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Q7 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Tahoe’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q7 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Tahoe’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Q7 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Tahoe has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Tahoe’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q7’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Tahoe has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Tahoe is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Tahoe owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Tahoe will cost $2935 to $4615 less than the Q7 over a five-year period.

The Tahoe will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Tahoe will retain 55.19% to 57.88% of its original price after five years, while the Q7 only retains 48.76% to 50.57%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tahoe is less expensive to operate than the Q7 because typical repairs cost much less on the Tahoe than the Q7, including $74 less for front brake pads, $732 less for a starter, $405 less for fuel injection, $528 less for front struts, $196 less for a timing belt/chain and $125 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Chevrolet Tahoe outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by almost four to one during 2023.

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