Chevy SUVs offer a balance of capability and comfort. Even though many of them are built on a truck chassis and have enough power to tow most of your toys, don’t think of the SUVs as just work trucks. Chevy SUVs come with as many creature comforts and luxury amenities as family sedans do. However, there is no doubt that they can do more and go more places than a sedan. Chevy SUVs also come in a wide range of sizes and styles, so there is one for every lifestyle.
Price/Value
The prices for Chevy SUVs depend on what you’re looking for. Chevy SUVs come in two distinct styles. The large, heavy-duty SUVs are represented by the Chevy Suburban and the Chevy Tahoe. A 2019 Suburban starts at $50,600, and a 2019 Tahoe starts at $47,900. The crossover-style Chevy SUVs are mainly represented by the Equinox, which starts at $23,800, and the Traverse, which starts at $29,930.
Chevy SUV prices are competitive compared to other vehicles in the same segment. Full-size, truck-like SUVs tend to cost a lot more as they can do more and fit more people. If you only need a midsize SUV to travel around the city, you can find a lot of value in the smaller crossover segment.
Depreciation
Overall, SUVs tend to hold their resale value better than cars and minivans, and it is no different for Chevy SUVs. The average vehicle loses about half of its value over five years. How much value an individual vehicle loses depends on some additional factors, including mileage, condition and options. In terms of Chevy SUVs, the Traverse has some of the highest depreciation at just over 41% over three years.
Reliability
According to J.D. Power and Associates, the Chevy Suburban and Chevy Tahoe large SUVs are among the highest-rated in the segment for dependability. In the compact SUV segment, the Chevy Equinox was the top award winner for dependability for 2019. In the midsize SUV segment, the Chevy Traverse was among the highest rated vehicles. Finally, in the small SUV segment, the Chevy Trax was in the top 10.
Chevy vehicles make appearances as award winners throughout the J.D. Power list for 2019, which shows that Chevy is committed to making reliable vehicles across the board.
Chevy Models
Suburban
If you need a big, powerful SUV, then the Suburban is a great choice. It features a classic truck-like design with body-on-frame construction. The interior is spacious enough to comfortably seat nine adults, plus it has nearly 40 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. The standard engine on the Suburban is a 5.3-liter V-8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. You can get an even larger engine with the 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 420 horsepower.
The Suburban can be equipped with the trailer package, which allows it to tow as much as 8,300 pounds. Even without this package, the Suburban can tow up to 6,300 pounds. If you need to haul a big family and a trailer, it is clear that the Suburban is one of the best choices for the job.
Equinox
The Equinox is one of Chevy’s most popular SUV options thanks to its roomy cabin with a user-friendly design and affordable price. Even though it’s a leader in the compact SUV segment, the Equinox has plenty of room. You can get up to 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The Equinox seats five people comfortably otherwise.
If you need a sleek SUV to commute or navigate city streets, the Equinox is a good choice. Fuel economy clocks in at 39 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg in the city, so you can reduce your stops at the gas station.
Tahoe
The Tahoe is Chevy’s large luxury SUV with plenty of towing capacity at up to 6,600 pounds when properly equipped. It can seat seven to eight people and provide up to 94.7 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats folded. The cabin layout is spacious with ample legroom and features plenty of tech like an available eight-inch touch screen with Apple and Android connectivity. Adding to the luxury is the triple-sealed inlaid doors that help keep out most road noise.
Traverse
With three rows of seats, a competitive fuel economy at 26 mpg highway and a potential towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, the Traverse is a versatile family SUV. All trims include teen driver technology and class-leading first-row storage capacity. The 2018 model Traverse features a redesigned interior and includes tri-zone climate control.
Trax
The Trax is the subcompact crossover entry in Chevy’s SUV lineup. Its small size makes it nimble in city streets, but it can also go off-road when equipped with AWD. It offers good fuel economy of 28 mpg combined and 138 horsepower in the standard turbo four-cylinder engine. In terms of tech, the Trax includes smartphone integration and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi system as well as support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Blazer
As one of the more popular midsize SUVs on the market, the Blazer has a lot to offer with a smooth ride, precise handling and plenty of power for its size at 193 horsepower in the standard engine. Upgrading to the V-6 engine and AWD on the RS and Premier models will get you a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds.
Maintenance
The costs to maintain your Chevy SUV depend on various factors, including which SUV you buy and the mileage and condition. For example, it may cost you roughly $537 per year to maintain your Chevy Equinox. The reliability of Chevy vehicles, in general, is above average, and the most common problem on an Equinox is the AC compressor not blowing cold air.
Features
Chevy SUVs stand out for the standard tech features, which generally include a touch-screen infotainment system and smartphone connectivity. Most Chevy SUV models also include LED daytime running lights and heated outside mirrors.
Safety
A number of safety features are available on Chevy SUVs, but the specific features depend on the model and trim. For example, the Trax has a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA while the Traverse has a suite of teen driver safety technology that helps parents encourage better driving from their teens.
What’s Next?/Future Projects
For future Chevy SUVs, the all-new Trailblazer will be available as a 2021 model. The Trailblazer is a nameplate that Chevy originally began using in 1999 as a top trim for its Blazer SUV. In 2002, Chevy made the Trailblazer a unique model. The Blazer continued as a crossover, but the Trailblazer was discontinued in 2009. For 2021, the Trailblazer is all-new with a sporty and stylish design, plus two engine options and available two-tone color schemes.
