2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe came in six different versions, each sporting a distinct look. The base Tahoe LS and the popular Tahoe LT featured different grille patterns, while the sporty Tahoe RST boasted a slotted grille with a blacked-out appearance and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Tahoe Z71, equipped for off-roading, combined the LS trim’s grille with a blacked-out look, a redesigned front end, red tow hooks, a skid plate, and unique 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The upscale Tahoe Premier used the RST’s slotted grille with chrome accents adding a touch of extravagance, while the luxurious Tahoe High Country had a chrome bar grille, large 22-inch wheels with a bright finish, and body-color mirror caps.

Standard LED headlights were positioned in the upper corners of the grille, flanked by LED running lights similar to those on the Silverado pickup truck. At the rear, the Tahoe sported more expressive taillights, available quad-outlet dual exhausts, and ample tailgate trim. The overall design was broad and slab-sided, but the larger wheel options enhanced its appearance.

The Tahoe’s interior was centered around a 10.2-inch infotainment screen with new electronic transmission controls on the dashboard. This change improved storage capacity but at the expense of control layout, making the physical controls for the infotainment, stereo, and climate systems harder to see and use. The vehicle no longer offered a front bench seat, capping its maximum seating capacity at eight people. The upper cabin featured exposed stitching and soft-touch surfaces, while the lower half used hard plastic.

By contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for 2020, retained its traditional Subaru feel. The analog gauges maintained familiar typefaces, colors, and spacing, while the steering wheel’s spokes and seats kept to the same forms. However, unlike the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, the Outback’s interior felt fresher, especially in trims above the base model. Subaru offered higher trims with an 11.6-inch portrait display, wrapped in polished black plastic and chrome trim, giving the SUV a modern look.

The Outback’s exterior design was smooth and plain, featuring high wheel arches with gray cladding for scratch protection. The SUV’s appearance hasn’t changed much over the years, offering a taller stance typical of a lifted wagon. For 2021, the addition of a new brown paint and standard adaptive LED headlights were notable updates.

For 2021, Chevrolet offered three engine options for the Tahoe. The base and most trims featured the familiar 5.3-liter V8, producing 355 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. Exclusive to the High Country trim, the 6.2-liter V8 cranked out 420 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline six-cylinder engine was also introduced, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

The 10-speed automatic transmission powered the Tahoe, typically driving the rear wheels, although a four-wheel-drive system was optional except on the Z71, where it was standard. This model also came with hill descent control, all-terrain tires, a front skid plate, and tow hooks. The Tahoe Z71's new independent rear suspension, combined with adaptive damping and air suspension upgrades, significantly enhanced its ride quality, making it exceptionally smooth over various terrains. The 5.3-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission provided ample power, proving optimal for city and highway driving. The fuel economy for a 4WD Tahoe was officially rated at 18 mpg in combined driving.

For the 2021 Subaru Outback, engine options included a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Outback in base trim, weighing a minimum of 3,635 pounds, struggled when loaded with passengers and cargo. However, the turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, available on Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition trims, produced a robust 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing a significant performance upgrade. The turbocharged engine enabled the Outback to keep up with traffic effortlessly and handled better than the older 3.6-liter flat-six it replaced.

The Outback was not intended for speed but focused on safety and capability. The turbocharged engine demonstrated a slight decrease in fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, compared to the base engine's 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Subaru’s legendary electronically-variable AWD system, coupled with X-Mode for optimizing difficult road conditions, contributed to the Outback's off-road proficiency.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from its new independent rear suspension, significantly improving passenger comfort and cargo space. The vehicle could carry adults comfortably in all three rows, offering heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel. The innovative power sliding storage console provided additional convenience, revealing a large tray and lockable drawer when slid back.

The second-row could be configured with a bench seat or individual captain's chairs, with inboard armrests and a wide pass-through to the third-row. The captain's chairs faced available 10.6-inch entertainment displays and provided easy access to rear climate controls and cupholders when the sliding console was moved back. The third-row seat, accessible by scooting between the captain's chairs, offered significantly improved room. The new Tahoe's cargo space was notable, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expandable to 72.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum capacity of 122.9 cubic feet, surpassing most competitors.

Conversely, the 2021 Subaru Outback offered an impressive 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free from intrusive cutouts, providing a practical and spacious load area. The Outback's ample headroom and legroom in all four outboard seating positions, coupled with its comfortable and supportive seats, contributed to a pleasant driving experience.

The vehicle excelled in storage solutions, with large door pockets, bottle holders, and additional pockets on either side of the front center console, providing quick access to essential items. While push-button start and rear climate vents were limited to higher trims, the Outback's standard features on Premium and above trims, like a power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and rear USB ports, enhanced convenience. The model's best feature was undoubtedly the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, brilliantly engineered for ease of use and cost savings.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, touted for its advanced computing power, over-the-air update capability, and enhanced cybersecurity protection. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice-recognition system, and Chevrolet Connected Services with various subscription plans offering remote engine start, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and stolen vehicle assistance. Navigation and two different Bose premium audio systems were available upgrades.

The infotainment system was intuitive, with tablet-like usability. However, the main-menu shortcut icons were slightly cumbersome due to their placement. The voice-recognition system performed commendably, responding accurately to natural speech. The inclusion of a wireless charging pad and a mid-grade 9-speaker Bose audio system further enhanced the technological offering. In the test vehicle, the Rear Seat Media system added versatility, although it was not fully tested. The absence of the available 15-inch head-up display in the test model was noted as a minor drawback.

Meanwhile, Subaru’s infotainment system in the 2021 Outback felt outdated, despite its modern capabilities. The system featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, with optional navigation offering a more current interface. The central instrument panel screen’s dated appearance detracted from the otherwise competent adaptive cruise control and other tech features.

Subaru EyeSight was standard, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking, providing semi-automated control on marked highways. However, the system relied solely on cameras and lacked radar augmentation, reducing effectiveness in certain conditions compared to systems using both camera and radar.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe came equipped with standard safety features like Teen Driver, rear-seat reminder, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. The vehicle supported OnStar Safety & Security subscription plans, encompassing automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, among other functions. Higher trims or optional features included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims had adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert Seat, and enhanced blind-spot warning with trailer coverage. A surround-view camera system was recommended for improving maneuverability.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis than its predecessors, with a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag as standard. Optional safety features on higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear emergency braking. The driver-attention monitor was limited to the top trims. The Outback earned "Top Safety Pick+" status from the IIHS in 2020, scoring top ratings in all crash tests and forward emergency braking. NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, albeit with four-star ratings for front passenger frontal crash and rollover tests.