2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Review: A Very Good Full-Size SUV That’s Not Quite Worth the Money

The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe has a lot going for it, but it’s not as powerful as the similarly priced GMC Yukon, and it costs twice as much as the almost-as-good Ford Expedition, putting it in the awkward position of being neither the best full-size SUV of 2005, nor the best for the price.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe is one of the best used SUVs on the market today. It’s just not quite three-thousand-dollars-better-than-an-Expedition good.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – One of the most spacious and smooth-riding SUVs on the road. The third row may be a bit tight for three adults, though.
• Reliability 7/10 – You’ll probably reach 250,000 miles with no major mechanical repairs. But that first one is gonna be a doozy.
• Safety 8/10 – Most of the onboard tech may be outdated by now, but the Tahoe is built like a tank, and not every SUV came with StabiliTrak and anti-lock brakes as standard features in 2005.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – The base 4.8L engine gets 16/20 miles to the gallon, city/highway. Which isn’t great, but it’s not bad for a full-size SUV from 2005.
• Value 7/10 -It’s priced fairly, but there are better deals to be had. The Ford Expedition is almost as good for thousands of dollars less.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Consumer Reports found the 2005 Tahoe’s finish a bit cheap-feeling, they found the third-row seating pretty tight, and they found the handling awkward around tight corners. But, they liked the quiet cabin, responsive transmission, and the inclusion of electronic stability control as a standard feature, starting with this model year.

Kelley Blue Book give the 2005 Tahoe a near-perfect 98% recommendation. The responsive powertrain, quiet ride, and long life expectancy all earned special praise. A handful of negative reviews cite fuel economy, electrical malfunctions, and potential for premature corrosion as minuses.

Edmunds liked the strong engine lineup, the roomy and versatile interior, and many of the onboard convenience features. They found the build quality a bit poor, especially in the interior with its cheap plastic and tissue-thin cloth.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Have?

Electrical complaints make up more than one third of the 2005 Tahoe’s total reports on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Complaints range from windows not rolling down to flickering instrument panel lights. It mostly comes down to old wiring and fuses that need to be replaced.

There aren’t very many fuel system complaints on file, but the ones that have been registered are worrying, pointing to potential fuel leaks in relation to a 2006 recall for faulty fuel filter connectors. Chances are that any Tahoe on the road has had this recall addressed, but check the VIN before you buy.

Engine and powertrain complaints are scarce, but there have been a few reports of gears not shifting properly. This usually points to a problem with the control module, but could be a larger mechanical problem if you’ve already passed 225,000 miles or so.

The 2005 Tahoe has just 7 recalls on file with the NHTSA, and 290 complaints. Those numbers are both very low for a 2007 SUV.

How Long Will the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Last?

A 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe can last 300,000 miles or more with excellent maintenance. In a used model you should expect a minimum lifespan of 200,000, and a maximum of 250,000 before the really expensive repairs start to pile up.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $744 for a used Chevrolet Tahoe, with the most expensive common fix being a new water pump, starting at around $1,069.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology onboard the 2005 Tahoe is adequate for the model year. The entry-level LS starts you out with a CD and cassette player, and you can upgrade that to a touchscreen navigation radio with a six-disc CD changer.

Safety features are above average for 2005. Stabilitrak is offered on all models, and the same goes for anti-lock brakes. That might not sound like much, but neither of these features were necessarily standard back in 2005.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe a Good Value?

The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe is an okay deal. Pricing is fair, with the entry level LS typically listing at around $6,619, and the high-end LT at around $7,352. It’s not exactly a steal at this price, but the relatively low cost of ownership sweetens the pot a bit.

You probably won’t have to deal with any major repairs until you’ve already put another 60,000 to 100,000 miles on the odometer, at which point you’ll be ready to buy a new car anyway. Fuel economy might not compete with any compact crossovers, but it’s better than you expect for a 2005 full-size SUV.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Not counting the Commercial model, sold to businesses for use as fleet vehicles, the 2005 Tahoe is available in three trim levels being the base LS, high-end LT, and off-road Z71.

With the entry-level LS you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• Anti-lock brakes and traction control
• Dual zone air conditioning
• Remote keyless entry
• Heated mirrors
• Fog lights
• CD Player

The high-class LT adds:

• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Steering wheel mounted audio and driver information center controls
• Touch screen navigation radio
• Tri-zone automatic air conditioning

Off-road Z71 models get all that, plus:

• Leather seating
• 10-way power driver seat
• Off-road skid-plate package
• Off-road suspension package

What Engines Come In the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?

• The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe’s base engine is a 4.8L V8 delivering 285 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic and configured in rear/four wheel drive, and it averages 16/20 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
• LT and Z71 model 2005 Tahoes are equipped with a 5.3L Vortec V8 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 335 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic, configured in rear/four wheel drive, and averages 15/20 miles to the gallon.

What Colors Does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?

The 2005 Tahoe is pretty comfortable, with 61 inches of rear hip room, smooth-riding suspension, and a spacious, ergonomically-designed cabin. In nearly twenty years on the road the Tahoe has only generated 5 suspension complaints, so the shocks and struts have held up nicely over time.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Have?

With the seats up you’ve got 63.6 cubic feet of storage space in the 2005 Tahoe. With the seats down, you’ve got an incredible 104.6 cubic feet. There are minivans that don’t offer that much storage space.

For reference, a typical four-person hot tub only holds 25 cubic feet of water. In other words, you’ll have no trouble carrying awkward items like bicycles, coffee tables, and recliners.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2005 was the sixth model year for the Chevrolet Tahoe’s 2nd Generation, running from 2000 to 2006.

2002: The biggest change for 2002 was teh addition of heated mirrors, six-way power-adjust seats, and HomeLink transmitters.

2003: StabiliTrak was brand new for 2003. Chevy added tri-zone air conditioning, dual-stage airbags, and occupancy sensors to the LS and Z71 models.

2004: No big changes for 2004, but the Tahoe got some new color options like Dark Blue and Sport Red Metallic.

2005: A brand new all-electric cooling system was added for 2005 boosting the 4.8L V8 engine up to 285 horsepower.

2006: The biggest change for 2006 was the removal of the Chevy badge from the liftgate.

2007: Chevrolet launched an all-new Tahoe for 2007 with a brand new engine lineup, more nimble steering, and a sharper, modernized visual design.

How Does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Compare to the Competition?

If you’re looking for the most cost-effective full-size SUV of 2005, that’s the 2005 Ford Expedition, hands down. A mid-range XLT, which performs about par with an LT Tahoe, typically lists at around $4,421, a few thousand dollars cheaper than a comparable Tahoe.

A 2005 GMC Yukon prices in the same range as a comparable Tahoe. It’s less fuel-efficient than a Tahoe, and more powerful, with an 8.1L V8 Vortec model delivering 335 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.

There’s plenty to like about the 2005 Tahoe, but it’s not as affordable as an Expedition, and it’s not as powerful as a Yukon, putting it in an awkward position of being a pretty good SUV if you can get a great deal on one, but not worth putting at the top of your shopping list.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?