The venerable Chevy Tahoe used to be the go-to family hauler for middle-class folks. These days, though, prices of this body-on-frame, V-8-powered SUV have skyrocketed beyond what most families are willing to pay. And with the proliferation of crossovers like the Equinox and Traverse, it’s no wonder Chevy pushed the Tahoe up-market. Thankfully, Chevy is offering a solution: the Custom trim package.

Like on the Silverado pickup, the Custom trim takes a low-spec vehicle and adds exterior flash matched with the most important interior upgrades modern car buyers can’t seem to live without. For 2018, the Chevy Tahoe Custom starts at $44,995 – a full $3,515 less than the absolute base Tahoe LS. Chevy’s marketing director, Sandor Piszar, said, “The Tahoe Custom is a response to strong customer demand for Tahoe, as well as the full-size SUV segment moving upmarket. In the past five years, the average transaction price for the segment has climbed fueled by customer appetite for features like heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. This created an unmet need in the marketplace for customers who want the cargo and towing capability of a full-size SUV to go camping, boating or off-roading but don’t necessarily want all of the option content offered on a Tahoe Premier.”

So what’s the difference between the Tahoe LS and the new Tahoe Custom? Let’s explore that below.

Continue reading for more information.

What Makes the 2018 Chevy Tahoe Custom Different?

Note: Chevrolet Tahoe Custom pictured on the top, Chevrolet Tahoe Premier pictured on the bottom left, Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 pictured on the bottom right.

From the outside, the Tahoe Custom has a few slight differences compared to the standard LS trim. Up front, the chrome grille is borrowed from the top-trim Tahoe Premier and comes with horizontal chrome slats that replace the black mesh in the LS’ grille. This gives the Tahoe Custom a bit fancier look. The biggest difference is the addition of the 18-inch, five-spoke, gray wheels borrowed from the Tahoe Z71. They replace the 18-inch, chrome, 10-spoke wheels that come standard on the LS. The new wheels are also wrapped in Michelin all-terrain tires sized at P265/65R18 for a slightly more aggressive stance.

The interior is where Chevy has cut at least one corner. The Tahoe Custom does not come with third-row seats – a standard feature in other Tahoe trims. Still, for those not needing the extra three seats, the Tahoe Custom offers seating for five and 54 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row. With the second row folded flat, the Tahoe Custom can swallow 112 cubic feet of gear, which is more than the standard Tahoe’s 94.7 cubic-foot maximum.

Besides the new seating arrangement, the Tahoe Custom comes standard with a barrage of desirable features. The dash comes with an eight-inch touch screen with the well-loved MyLink infotainment system. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, and a rear-view camera. Remote start and Chevy’s Teen Driver Mode are also standard. Charging devices is easy thanks to five USB ports and five power outlets, including a 110-volt household plug with the three-prong connection.

One of the most family-friendly options is Chevy’s active safety suite known as the Enhanced Driver Alert Package. It includes Forward Collision Alert, the Safety Alert Driver Seat, IntelliBeam automatic high-beam headlights, Lane Keep Assist, and Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking. Chevy’s Rear Seat Reminder is standard, however.

As for the mechanicals, the 2018 Tahoe Custom comes standard with the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8, six-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive. Customers can get 4WD, at an additional price, of course. The Tahoe kicks out 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to tow up to 8,600 pounds with the Max Trailering Package. Without it, the Tahoe can still tow a 6,600-pound trailer.

Chevy Tahoe Custom Specifications

The Tahoe isn’t completely terrible on fuel, either. That’s because the engine used variable valve timing, direct fuel injection, and GM’s Active Fuel Management, which shuts down four of the eight cylinders when the extra power isn’t needed. The Tahoe also uses active grille shutters to streamline its aerodynamics when the engine doesn’t need the entire grille for cooling like during highway cruising. The rear differential also uses a tall 3.08:1 gear ratio for better highway fuel economy. The RWD Tahoe is EPA-estimated to get 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. The 4WD model’s fuel economy drops slightly to 16/22/18 mpg.

Money Talks

Chevy is listing the 2018 Tahoe Custom Edition at $44,995. Of course, that’s without any optional extras or customer discounts, so as they say, your price will vary. Still, that’s $3,515 off the starting price of a 2017 Tahoe LS. Now, Chevy has not released the prices for the 2018 options, so things could be slightly different. However, for 2017, here are the prices for popular add-ons with the Tahoe LS:

Added up, the Tahoe Custom’s price can crest above $49,520. Of course, that’s without diving into Chevy’s laundry list of dealer add-ons like floor mats, hitch mounts, roof rails, and other items. That represents a welcomed savings over the standard Tahoe LS and a huge savings over the $53,750 Tahoe LT and $63,435 Tahoe Premier. The 2018 Chevy Tahoe Custom Edition will arrive in showrooms in September 2017.

References

Chevrolet Tahoe

Read our full review on the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Chevrolet Tahoe Z71

Read our full review on the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71.