It can sound like diesel engines are a dying breed as stricter mandates are put into place. However, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe still has a turbo diesel engine available. But does the diesel Chevrolet Tahoe actually have any advantages? 

Is the 2021 Chevy Tahoe Diesel a good SUV? 

The Chevrolet turbo diesel engine is available with the Tahoe and Suburban after taking a long hiatus. According to AutoBlog, the turbo-diesel engine is an excellent option because it dramatically increases the fuel efficiency. 

For example, if the Chevy Tahoe is equipped with the 5.8-liter V8 engine and two-wheel drive, it gets about 16 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. That’s not very efficient at all! But keep in mind that the Tahoe is a massive, body-on-frame beast. 

With the turbo-diesel engine, and while equipped with rear-wheel drive, the Tahoe manages to get 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. This is quite the difference, especially on the highway. 

Will the diesel engine save money? 

We know that diesel tends to be more expensive than gas, so you’re probably wondering if the better fuel economy will actually make a difference. And the answer is yes. The EPA estimates that the diesel engine will be $250 cheaper to run than the 5.3-liter V8 engine and $1,000 cheaper than the 6.2-liter V8. 

But how much cheaper is it to buy a Tahoe with a diesel engine? The 2021 Chevy Tahoe already has an MSRP of about $49,000, so it costs some pretty pennies. The 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel will be available in every trim option except for the Z71 off-roading trim too. 

However, despite the turbo-diesel being expected to come out in November, it’s not here yet. The turbo-diesel engine is still a late availability option, so we will have to wait a little longer to see how much it costs. 

2021 Chevy Tahoe turbo-diesel power 

Of course, the turbo-diesel will bring torque to the table. With the diesel engine, you’ll get 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The maximum towing capacity with the diesel engine is 7,900 lb too, so it can get the job done. 

With the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine, you get 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. It can also tow up to 7,900 lb. If you upgrade to the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine, you get 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped with the tow package, you can tow up to 8,600 lb. 

We hope the diesel engine is cheaper than the 6.2-liter V8 because it can’t tow as much. However, it should provide a better fuel economy. This could generate savings in the long run, unless the turbo-diesel is too expensive. 

Aside from providing a better fuel economy, people are drawn to diesel engines because they can last longer, are better for towing and off-roading. However, the turbo-diesel engine isn’t even available with the off-roading trim. Until we know how much it costs, we aren’t sold on it.