Compare the2025 Chevrolet TahoeVS 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tahoe has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Tahoe and the Grand Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 587 to 1582 pounds more than the Toyota Grand Highlander. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Grand Highlander:

The Tahoe’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Highlander’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tahoe’s warranty.

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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

The Tahoe has more powerful engines than the Grand Highlander:

The Tahoe’s optional 3.0 turbo diesel produces 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 400) than the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3 V8 is faster than the Toyota Grand Highlander turbo 4 cyl.:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Tahoe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 Grand Highlander Hybrid Max requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Tahoe has 6.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tahoe has 6.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 17.8 gallons).

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 Grand Highlander.

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

The Tahoe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Grand Highlander are solid, not vented.

The Tahoe stops shorter than the Grand Highlander:

For better traction, the Tahoe has larger standard tires than the Grand Highlander (265/65R18 vs. 255/65R18). The Tahoe RST/High Country’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Highlander (285/40R24 vs. 255/65R18).

The Tahoe RST/High Country’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tahoe RST/High Country offers optional 24-inch wheels. The Grand Highlander’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Chevrolet Tahoe’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Tahoe offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Grand Highlander’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tahoe’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Grand Highlander (120.9 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tahoe is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Highlander.

For greater off-road capability the Tahoe Z71 Air Ride has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Highlander (10 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Tahoe to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Tahoe Z71 4x4 is quieter than the Grand Highlander Platinum AWD (66 vs. 67 dB).

The Tahoe offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Grand Highlander can only carry up to 8.

The Tahoe has 15 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Highlander (168.3 vs. 153.3).

The Tahoe has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 5 inches more front hip room, 5.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 4.3 inches more rear hip room, 5.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, 3.7 inches more third row hip room and 5.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Highlander.

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Tahoe’s (not available on LS) optional second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tahoe’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Highlander’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Grand Highlander is only 5000 pounds. The Tahoe offers up to a 8400 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Grand Highlander Hybrid can only tow 3500, any Tahoe can tow a minimum of 7700 pounds.

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 Grand Highlander can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Tahoe has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Highlander (1746 vs. 1575 lbs.).

The Tahoe has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Highlander (1834 vs. 1710 lbs.).

The Tahoe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Grand Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Tahoe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Grand Highlander. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Tahoe LT/RST/Z71/Premier/High Country’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Tahoe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Highlander’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Tahoe’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Grand Highlander has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Tahoe’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Chevrolet Tahoe outsold the Toyota Grand Highlander by over two to one during 2023.