Motor Trend has released a new comparison article between the Wagoneer Series III and the Tahoe High Country.
In the end they gave the edge to the Wagoneer because "it tows more, gets better fuel economy, provides more passenger space, and features standard equipment like an air suspension and other modern upgrades the Tahoe misses."
www.motortrend.com
Tale Of The Tape
Both the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III accommodate seven passengers, but each also has options with seating for eight. The base Tahoe LS even has an option for nine. Dimensionally the Wagoneer is slightly larger, and that size affords it greater headroom, a more second-row and especially third-row legroom, and more cargo space behind the third row.
People 6-feet tall or less will feel comfortable in the Wagoneer's third row; it even sits a little higher than the Tahoe's rearmost seats, like theater seating. But the Tahoe provides more cargo space behind the first and second rows. Overall, the Wagoneer's third row is hugely impressive, as the shallow interior body side not only creates more room but also doesn't make you feel like you're looking out of a porthole. This is the best-in-class third row.
On The Road
Under the hood of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III is a 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 mild hybrid engine that sends power through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country counters with a 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 and 10-speed automatic. Both grades are four-wheel drive (4WD) here, but RWD is also available as standard for each.
Our testing team characterized both powertrains as sufficiently strong and paired well with their respective transmissions. The smaller, hybridized Jeep V-8 ekes out slightly better fuel economy despite weighing 451 pounds more, having fewer transmission ratios, and running shorter gearing than the Tahoe. It can also tow more than the Chevy.
The Wagoneer Series III is equipped with a standard air spring suspension while the Tahoe High Country normally gets a standard magnetic ride-control setup. Ours was furnished with an air ride thanks to the available High Country Deluxe package. Both top trims come with standard rear load leveling, and lower trims of each feature traditional coil springs.
It's worth noting the Jeep Wagoneer Series III we drove featured the available all-terrain 20-inch wheel-and-tire combo that comes in the Wagoneer's Advanced All Terrain equipment group. Normally the range-topping Jeep would come with an all-season tire. The off-road tires and the Jeep's less powerful engine and heavier weight are reasons why it took the Wagoneer 1.5 seconds longer to reach 60 mph than the Tahoe. The Wagoneer closed the gap slightly in the quarter mile, but the Chevy still had a 1.3-second and 8.4-mph advantage.
While both SUVs offer plenty of grunt, smooth drivetrains, and pillowy soft handling, they ride more like trucks at the ragged edge and tend to resist going too fast in any direction but a straight line forward (mostly through each vehicle's stability-control system). Steering felt direct for both, and at measured speeds both titans glide along the roadway and are easy to pilot given their relative weight and length.
The Wagoneer's air suspension kept its body settled and it efficiently absorbed bumps. We felt bumps in the air-sprung Magneride-equipped Tahoe we didn't notice in the Wagoneer, as the latter feels more luxurious from a ride perspective.
Under heavy braking, the Wagoneer exhibited more dive than the Tahoe, but both brake systems worked adequately. The Jeep did need another 25 feet to come to a complete stop, but again we point to the Wagoneer's greater mass and all terrain tires. We were less enthused by the Chevy's skinny steering wheel and flex-prone brake pedal.
Driver Assist And Active Safety Tech
Modern driver-assist systems make piloting a three-ton brick less stressful, and these rivals have a similar set of features. Both are outfitted with standard blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III also gets standard adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors and traffic-sign recognition are aboard thanks to the available Convenience Group 1. The Tahoe High Country boasts standard parking sensors, while adaptive cruise control was added via the High Country Deluxe package.
In general, we're glad both automakers saw fit to include these features, but they could each use refinement, especially lane keeping. Regarding the Wagoneer's system, we were surprised to find the lane-keep assist doesn't work well in a $90,000 vehicle. Instead of helping us drive more accurately, it made our drivers look like they were drunk.
Equipment Breakdown
These two big SUVs come equipped with a standard power liftgate, a full complement of exterior LED lights, and rain-sensing wipers. The Tahoe's liftgate is hands-free, though, and it also receives standard power-folding side mirrors, which are both unavailable for the Wagoneer. The Jeep does get LED fog lights, which Chevy doesn't offer.
Remote start, head-up displays, and power tilting and telescoping steering columns with heated steering wheels are standard for both. So are three-zone automatic climate control systems with air filtration.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer's distinctiveness emerges in a detail like the modern 10.3-inch gauge cluster display it gets. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe's is just 8.0 inches and flanked by two big analog gauges that date the instrument display.
Both receive panoramic sunroofs through available equipment packages, but the Jeep's is a three-pane setup that makes the cabin feel airier than its rival's. It was a hit among our staff, which pointed out the Wagoneer's roof window has more wow factor than the Tahoe's. The Tahoe's sunroof does allow it to employ ceiling HVAC vents in the rear of the SUV that the Wagoneer doesn't get; the Jeep's rear vents are lower to the floor.
The Wagoneer's Nappa-leather-trim looks more premium than the Tahoe's leather surfaces. The Jeep's front row also receives 12-way power adjustable heated and ventilated seats while the Chevy's were only eight-way. Each model is equipped with heated second-row captain's chairs, too. Seat comfort overall is better in the Tahoe, however. Padding seemed better, especially in the rear seats.
The Chevy Tahoe High Country boasts a slightly larger 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and more standard speakers than the Jeep Wagoneer Series III, nine versus 10, but our Jeep tester was equipped with the 19-speaker McIntosh system that's part of the $5,495 Premium Group 1 bundle. Navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and eight USB ports are standard for both, but via the Rear Seat Video Group our Wagoneer scored an additional three ports for a total of 11.
If you couldn't tell, both these brutes were pretty loaded for this comparison. The Wagoneer picked up its 360-degree view camera from the Convenience Group 1, power deployable running boards from the $2,195 Premium Group 1, and dual 10.1-inch rear touchscreens from the $1,995 Rear Seat Entertainment group. The $1,495 Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package alone adds a 3.92:1 final drive ratio, front and rear removable tow hooks, electric limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, locking in-vehicle safe, integrated trailer brake control, and trailer hitch line-up assist.
The Tahoe's $5,605 High Country Deluxe package adds, among other features, power-deployable running boards, perimeter lighting, and everything in the Max Trailering package, which includes an extra-capacity cooling system. The Chevy also adds a $1,995 rear-seat media system with dual rear seat-mounted 12.6-inch touchscreens, larger than the Jeep's screens.
Red Pill, Blue Pill
As top trims for both lines, these competitors aim for posh. The interior of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III does it through nicer, consistent design. You can see it in the Jeep's sleek, elegant door panels, big digital gauge cluster display, and horizontal brushed aluminum accents that run along the doors, through the front vents, and across the dash (almost like pinstripes). The SUV's center stack is also more modern looking than its rival's, though the faux wood trim split our panel into those who liked it, those who didn't, and those who were indifferent.
In comparison, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country's cabin looks like it's from a past era. The center stack is rental-car conventional, if a little easier to adapt to initially. We already mentioned how old the gauge cluster looks, and we're not quite sure we understand the logic behind the button placement in the Chevy: Several buttons are completely out of sight on the lower left of the dash behind the steering wheel. Hard plastics were also much more noticeable in the Tahoe, especially in the back seats.
We also preferred the Wagoneer's exterior design to the Tahoe's. The Chevy's wide grille is a bit much, and everywhere else it lacks the character of its challenger. The Wagoneer looks like a Jeep and Hummer H2/H3 lovechild, and the styling mostly works. Jeep was judicious with the Wagoneer's chrome, and details like the brushed aluminum raised lettering on the grille and liftgate were appreciated.
We're less enthused about the fact the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III 4WD is offered in only one standard exterior color, called Bright White. Choose any of the other six available colors, like we did with our Silver-Zynith Jeep, and you shell out another $595. In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD High Country comes in one of seven standard colors, with two premium colors available.
Pricing
Not counting the four Grand Wagoneer trim levels, there currently are only two grades of Wagoneer, the Series II and Series III. Buyers choosing rear-wheel drive can get into a Wagoneer Series II for $70.845.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III RWD stickers for a hair less than $75,000, and with 4WD that price climbs to $78,545. Our evaluation Wagoneer Series III was also equipped with almost $12,000 in options. Those add-ons raised the grand total for our Jeep to a whopping $90,620.
There's more choice on the Chevy Tahoe side. In between the base LS and High Country are another four trim levels for a total of six. On the low end, the much-less equipped base model Tahoe LS RWD with the line's less powerful 5.3-liter V-8 powertrain retails for a little more than $51,000. Starting price for the range-topping High Country 4WD is just more than $74,000, and since our Tahoe came with nearly $8,000 in options, the final total was $81,670.
The Envelope, Please …
Plunking down $80,000 to $90,000 for an SUV is a big chunk of change for most. The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country tries to earn it with a bit more cargo space, engine power, and off-road ability. The Chevy also gets a few niceties the Jeep doesn't, and there are more ways to build the Tahoe.
Still, we choose the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III in this family-hauler face off. It tows more, gets better fuel economy, provides more passenger space, and features standard equipment like an air suspension and other modern upgrades the Tahoe misses. It may not like being driven aggressively, but we think most owners will be happy with its dynamic capabilities and comfort for everyday commuting. We also think it's more attractive and nicer to sit in: There's a modernness and sophistication in the cabin from the digital real estate, clean layout, and controls like the polished dial gear selector that you don't get in the Tahoe.
The difference in as-tested prices is a significant $8,950. Once you sit in the Jeep, though, you can see where the money goes. And if you lop off the optional equipment from these SUVs, you're left with competitors much closer in price.
Both vehicles had many more available features than what we think the typical buyer looks for. If things like the panoramic sunroof and power-retractable running boards are something you must have, they're cheaper to get with the Wagoneer. Its Premium Group 1 adds those things for less than the Tahoe High Country's Deluxe package, and the Jeep suite also adds a 19-speaker sound system.
Indeed, the Wagoneer feels closer to a Cadillac Escalade than the Tahoe does, and its additional available equipment pushes the Wagoneer further into upscale territory. But even without it, we think the Jeep is the more compelling of these two tanks. It gets the basics right, it's capable, it feels nice, and if you want to be a baller, the Wagoneer lets you do that, too.
2nd Place: 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country
Pros
Excellent utility and usability but it lacks some equipment and is not the best value for your dollar in terms of standard equipment.
1st Place: 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III
Pros
Not only does it get the basics right, it also can cross into satisfyingly upscale territory while doing so.
In the end they gave the edge to the Wagoneer because "it tows more, gets better fuel economy, provides more passenger space, and features standard equipment like an air suspension and other modern upgrades the Tahoe misses."
2022 Jeep Wagoneer vs. 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe: Large and in Charge
Can the new Jeep Wagoneer out-Tahoe the Chevy Tahoe?
Tale Of The Tape
Both the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country and the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III accommodate seven passengers, but each also has options with seating for eight. The base Tahoe LS even has an option for nine. Dimensionally the Wagoneer is slightly larger, and that size affords it greater headroom, a more second-row and especially third-row legroom, and more cargo space behind the third row.
People 6-feet tall or less will feel comfortable in the Wagoneer's third row; it even sits a little higher than the Tahoe's rearmost seats, like theater seating. But the Tahoe provides more cargo space behind the first and second rows. Overall, the Wagoneer's third row is hugely impressive, as the shallow interior body side not only creates more room but also doesn't make you feel like you're looking out of a porthole. This is the best-in-class third row.
On The Road
Under the hood of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III is a 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 mild hybrid engine that sends power through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country counters with a 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 and 10-speed automatic. Both grades are four-wheel drive (4WD) here, but RWD is also available as standard for each.
Our testing team characterized both powertrains as sufficiently strong and paired well with their respective transmissions. The smaller, hybridized Jeep V-8 ekes out slightly better fuel economy despite weighing 451 pounds more, having fewer transmission ratios, and running shorter gearing than the Tahoe. It can also tow more than the Chevy.
The Wagoneer Series III is equipped with a standard air spring suspension while the Tahoe High Country normally gets a standard magnetic ride-control setup. Ours was furnished with an air ride thanks to the available High Country Deluxe package. Both top trims come with standard rear load leveling, and lower trims of each feature traditional coil springs.
It's worth noting the Jeep Wagoneer Series III we drove featured the available all-terrain 20-inch wheel-and-tire combo that comes in the Wagoneer's Advanced All Terrain equipment group. Normally the range-topping Jeep would come with an all-season tire. The off-road tires and the Jeep's less powerful engine and heavier weight are reasons why it took the Wagoneer 1.5 seconds longer to reach 60 mph than the Tahoe. The Wagoneer closed the gap slightly in the quarter mile, but the Chevy still had a 1.3-second and 8.4-mph advantage.
While both SUVs offer plenty of grunt, smooth drivetrains, and pillowy soft handling, they ride more like trucks at the ragged edge and tend to resist going too fast in any direction but a straight line forward (mostly through each vehicle's stability-control system). Steering felt direct for both, and at measured speeds both titans glide along the roadway and are easy to pilot given their relative weight and length.
The Wagoneer's air suspension kept its body settled and it efficiently absorbed bumps. We felt bumps in the air-sprung Magneride-equipped Tahoe we didn't notice in the Wagoneer, as the latter feels more luxurious from a ride perspective.
Under heavy braking, the Wagoneer exhibited more dive than the Tahoe, but both brake systems worked adequately. The Jeep did need another 25 feet to come to a complete stop, but again we point to the Wagoneer's greater mass and all terrain tires. We were less enthused by the Chevy's skinny steering wheel and flex-prone brake pedal.
Driver Assist And Active Safety Tech
Modern driver-assist systems make piloting a three-ton brick less stressful, and these rivals have a similar set of features. Both are outfitted with standard blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III also gets standard adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors and traffic-sign recognition are aboard thanks to the available Convenience Group 1. The Tahoe High Country boasts standard parking sensors, while adaptive cruise control was added via the High Country Deluxe package.
In general, we're glad both automakers saw fit to include these features, but they could each use refinement, especially lane keeping. Regarding the Wagoneer's system, we were surprised to find the lane-keep assist doesn't work well in a $90,000 vehicle. Instead of helping us drive more accurately, it made our drivers look like they were drunk.
Equipment Breakdown
These two big SUVs come equipped with a standard power liftgate, a full complement of exterior LED lights, and rain-sensing wipers. The Tahoe's liftgate is hands-free, though, and it also receives standard power-folding side mirrors, which are both unavailable for the Wagoneer. The Jeep does get LED fog lights, which Chevy doesn't offer.
Remote start, head-up displays, and power tilting and telescoping steering columns with heated steering wheels are standard for both. So are three-zone automatic climate control systems with air filtration.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer's distinctiveness emerges in a detail like the modern 10.3-inch gauge cluster display it gets. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe's is just 8.0 inches and flanked by two big analog gauges that date the instrument display.
Both receive panoramic sunroofs through available equipment packages, but the Jeep's is a three-pane setup that makes the cabin feel airier than its rival's. It was a hit among our staff, which pointed out the Wagoneer's roof window has more wow factor than the Tahoe's. The Tahoe's sunroof does allow it to employ ceiling HVAC vents in the rear of the SUV that the Wagoneer doesn't get; the Jeep's rear vents are lower to the floor.
The Wagoneer's Nappa-leather-trim looks more premium than the Tahoe's leather surfaces. The Jeep's front row also receives 12-way power adjustable heated and ventilated seats while the Chevy's were only eight-way. Each model is equipped with heated second-row captain's chairs, too. Seat comfort overall is better in the Tahoe, however. Padding seemed better, especially in the rear seats.
The Chevy Tahoe High Country boasts a slightly larger 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and more standard speakers than the Jeep Wagoneer Series III, nine versus 10, but our Jeep tester was equipped with the 19-speaker McIntosh system that's part of the $5,495 Premium Group 1 bundle. Navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and eight USB ports are standard for both, but via the Rear Seat Video Group our Wagoneer scored an additional three ports for a total of 11.
If you couldn't tell, both these brutes were pretty loaded for this comparison. The Wagoneer picked up its 360-degree view camera from the Convenience Group 1, power deployable running boards from the $2,195 Premium Group 1, and dual 10.1-inch rear touchscreens from the $1,995 Rear Seat Entertainment group. The $1,495 Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package alone adds a 3.92:1 final drive ratio, front and rear removable tow hooks, electric limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, locking in-vehicle safe, integrated trailer brake control, and trailer hitch line-up assist.
The Tahoe's $5,605 High Country Deluxe package adds, among other features, power-deployable running boards, perimeter lighting, and everything in the Max Trailering package, which includes an extra-capacity cooling system. The Chevy also adds a $1,995 rear-seat media system with dual rear seat-mounted 12.6-inch touchscreens, larger than the Jeep's screens.
Red Pill, Blue Pill
As top trims for both lines, these competitors aim for posh. The interior of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III does it through nicer, consistent design. You can see it in the Jeep's sleek, elegant door panels, big digital gauge cluster display, and horizontal brushed aluminum accents that run along the doors, through the front vents, and across the dash (almost like pinstripes). The SUV's center stack is also more modern looking than its rival's, though the faux wood trim split our panel into those who liked it, those who didn't, and those who were indifferent.
In comparison, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country's cabin looks like it's from a past era. The center stack is rental-car conventional, if a little easier to adapt to initially. We already mentioned how old the gauge cluster looks, and we're not quite sure we understand the logic behind the button placement in the Chevy: Several buttons are completely out of sight on the lower left of the dash behind the steering wheel. Hard plastics were also much more noticeable in the Tahoe, especially in the back seats.
We also preferred the Wagoneer's exterior design to the Tahoe's. The Chevy's wide grille is a bit much, and everywhere else it lacks the character of its challenger. The Wagoneer looks like a Jeep and Hummer H2/H3 lovechild, and the styling mostly works. Jeep was judicious with the Wagoneer's chrome, and details like the brushed aluminum raised lettering on the grille and liftgate were appreciated.
We're less enthused about the fact the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III 4WD is offered in only one standard exterior color, called Bright White. Choose any of the other six available colors, like we did with our Silver-Zynith Jeep, and you shell out another $595. In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD High Country comes in one of seven standard colors, with two premium colors available.
Pricing
Not counting the four Grand Wagoneer trim levels, there currently are only two grades of Wagoneer, the Series II and Series III. Buyers choosing rear-wheel drive can get into a Wagoneer Series II for $70.845.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III RWD stickers for a hair less than $75,000, and with 4WD that price climbs to $78,545. Our evaluation Wagoneer Series III was also equipped with almost $12,000 in options. Those add-ons raised the grand total for our Jeep to a whopping $90,620.
There's more choice on the Chevy Tahoe side. In between the base LS and High Country are another four trim levels for a total of six. On the low end, the much-less equipped base model Tahoe LS RWD with the line's less powerful 5.3-liter V-8 powertrain retails for a little more than $51,000. Starting price for the range-topping High Country 4WD is just more than $74,000, and since our Tahoe came with nearly $8,000 in options, the final total was $81,670.
The Envelope, Please …
Plunking down $80,000 to $90,000 for an SUV is a big chunk of change for most. The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country tries to earn it with a bit more cargo space, engine power, and off-road ability. The Chevy also gets a few niceties the Jeep doesn't, and there are more ways to build the Tahoe.
Still, we choose the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III in this family-hauler face off. It tows more, gets better fuel economy, provides more passenger space, and features standard equipment like an air suspension and other modern upgrades the Tahoe misses. It may not like being driven aggressively, but we think most owners will be happy with its dynamic capabilities and comfort for everyday commuting. We also think it's more attractive and nicer to sit in: There's a modernness and sophistication in the cabin from the digital real estate, clean layout, and controls like the polished dial gear selector that you don't get in the Tahoe.
The difference in as-tested prices is a significant $8,950. Once you sit in the Jeep, though, you can see where the money goes. And if you lop off the optional equipment from these SUVs, you're left with competitors much closer in price.
Both vehicles had many more available features than what we think the typical buyer looks for. If things like the panoramic sunroof and power-retractable running boards are something you must have, they're cheaper to get with the Wagoneer. Its Premium Group 1 adds those things for less than the Tahoe High Country's Deluxe package, and the Jeep suite also adds a 19-speaker sound system.
Indeed, the Wagoneer feels closer to a Cadillac Escalade than the Tahoe does, and its additional available equipment pushes the Wagoneer further into upscale territory. But even without it, we think the Jeep is the more compelling of these two tanks. It gets the basics right, it's capable, it feels nice, and if you want to be a baller, the Wagoneer lets you do that, too.
2nd Place: 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country
Pros
- More affordable
- More cargo space
- More engine power
- Outdated interior styling
- More noticeable interior hard plastics
- Some flimsy-feeling primary controls
Excellent utility and usability but it lacks some equipment and is not the best value for your dollar in terms of standard equipment.
1st Place: 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series III
Pros
- Distinctive styling
- Tows more
- Better fuel economy
- Pricey
- Limited trim level and exterior color availability
- Less robust standard infotainment system
Not only does it get the basics right, it also can cross into satisfyingly upscale territory while doing so.
