I would rather go for the Tahoe since we live in the city right now (though we’re planning to move to the suburbs), so parking would be easier. But I know the Suburban’s trunk is bigger.
Price isn’t a big factor for me, so can anyone who’s been in a similar situation convince me the Tahoe would be totally fine?
I’m in a similar spot, but my oldest isn’t in a car seat anymore. Go for the Suburban. You won’t regret the extra space.
Caden said:
I’m in a similar spot, but my oldest isn’t in a car seat anymore. Go for the Suburban. You won’t regret the extra space.
Ha, looks like this whole thread is making me lean toward the Suburban. Thanks for the input!
@Dezi
I’ve got 2 car seats, 2 dogs, and 2 parents over here. We went with the Tahoe and don’t regret it. My wife finds it easier to drive and it fits better in the garage. I can even open the rear hatch while parked in there.
We use it for long road trips, camping, and all kinds of gear—no issues at all. That said, sometimes I miss having a truck bed like a Silverado. But we needed more interior space, so the Tahoe won.
It really depends on the year of the vehicle. If it’s the newer generation, they’re a bit longer, so you might be fine.
But if you’re talking about the older generation, well… I’ve got 2 car seats and a dog, and it’s pretty cramped—there’s not much room for anything else.
Also, think about the second-row seating. If you go with a bench, you’ll have to uninstall a car seat every time you fold it down for the dog to get to the third row. I’d probably go with captain chairs, one car seat in each and the dog in the back. It saves the hassle of constantly moving car seats around.
@Briley
Yeah, that’s definitely something I’ve been thinking about. I’m leaning toward the bench but thinking about loading the dog in from the trunk.
I got a Tahoe for the same reasons you’re mentioning. But honestly, I wish I’d gone with the Suburban. I use my Tahoe for hauling things more than people, and if I had a Suburban, I wouldn’t have to keep taking the third row out.
@Fraser
I get it! My brain says Tahoe, but my heart says Suburban. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I’ve got a Tahoe, and my uncle has a Suburban, both 5-seaters. The Tahoe is easier to drive since it’s shorter and turns better. The Suburban has more space, sure, but it’s so deep that it’s kind of annoying to use all that extra room. It’s a stretch to reach anything from the back.
@Reign
If you really need that third row, go for the Suburban, no question.
Reign said:
@Reign
If you really need that third row, go for the Suburban, no question.
Agreed. If you need the third row often, the Suburban is the way to go. But if you’re looking for a more convenient driving experience, stick with the Tahoe. It’s a balance between space and ease of driving, really.
I didn’t want to go bigger than something like a Pilot or a Grand Highlander, but my wife really wanted a bigger car. We got the Tahoe, and while I love it, after six months, I wouldn’t mind having the Suburban instead. If you can swing it, go for the Suburban.
With 3 car seats? Definitely go with the Suburban. If it were 2 car seats and a dog, you could probably make the Tahoe work, but the third car seat changes everything. I’d also recommend getting captain’s chairs in the second row so you don’t have to unhook everything every time you need to get to the third seat. Good luck!
I’m in the same boat right now with a 2016 Tahoe. We’ve got captain chairs, 2 car seats, and one booster. I really wish we’d gone with the Suburban.
We’ve got two kids, and sometimes even our Suburban feels small!
It’s great having the extra space when the nanny or in-laws come along (which is often). The extra room has really been a lifesaver for us.
@Tal
Good to know! I think Suburban it is.
Unless you’re going for a really old Tahoe, just get the Suburban. I’ve got plenty of room in mine, and it can fit all the gear I need for camping trips without an issue.
Ellis said:
Unless you’re going for a really old Tahoe, just get the Suburban. I’ve got plenty of room in mine, and it can fit all the gear I need for camping trips without an issue.
I’ve got 2 kids, 2 dogs, all our camping gear, and no space issues with a 2023 Tahoe. We take long trips, and it works for us.
Check out our last camping trip: Link
@Val
Same here, except we’ve only got one dog and a 2021 Tahoe. The towing options are awesome too 
@Val
Nice! I took two friends on our last Yosemite trip, and I swear, most of the trunk space was taken up by firewood. We had enough food for a small army on that 5-day trip. I wasn’t used to having that much weight in the back!