Even with industry pushes for efficiency, you just can’t seem to separate the V8 from the American SUV. That means, at least for now, you can still get a three-row SUV with a domestic badge and eight cylinders up front. Better yet, it also means some SUVs will outmuscle thoroughbred sports cars. Enter the Chevrolet Tahoe RST. Chevy’s sporty take on the Suburban’s smaller sibling is available with two gasoline-swilling, V8 engine options.
At a glance, the eight-cylinder Tahoe RST just seems like a flashier take on one of Chevrolet’s most successful SUVs. But there’s more than meets the eye with the RST. Most notably, the brawnier of the two V8s, a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter pushrod V8, out-torques the latest version of America’s favorite pony car, the S650 Ford Mustang GT.
The 6.2-Liter Chevrolet Tahoe RST, The Sporty SUV With Muscle Car Torque
Back in 2018, Chevrolet rolled out a “Rally Sport Truck” variant of the popular Tahoe SUV. Sure, the RST wasn’t a Tahoe SS like so many Chevy fans waited for and wanted so desperately. But it did represent the sportiest thing with a Tahoe badge, and it could be had with a big, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. The big V8 under the hood means one thing for the Chevrolet Tahoe RST: torque. With the 6.2-liter mill in place, the Tahoe RST produces 460 LB-FT of torque and 420 horsepower. That’s not just potent for a truck or SUV; those are straight-up muscle car numbers.
That means the Tahoe with the optional 6.2-liter heart has the power to pull, not just take off from the stoplights. Spec’ing the all-wheel-drive Chevrolet Tahoe RST with the larger of the two V8s allows for up to 7,600 LBS of towing capacity, according to the manufacturer. That’s 600 fewer than the rear-wheel drive 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six diesel mill will pull. It is, however, less inclined to haul than the smaller of the two eight-cylinder engine options. Chevrolet says a rear-wheel drive Tahoe with the L84 5.3-liter V8 will pull up to 8,400 LBS with the $590 Max Trailering Package. Adding all-wheel drive drops the Tahoe’s towing capacity by around 200 LBS.
Performance Specs
|
Engine |
L87 6.2-Liter naturally aspirated pushrod V8 |
|
Horsepower |
420 HP at 5,600 RPM |
|
Torque |
460 LB-FT at 4,100 RPM |
|
Towing Capacity |
7,600 LBS (AWD) |
|
0-60 mph |
5.95 seconds (manufacturer’s claim) |
|
¼ mile |
14.4 seconds at 97 mph (manufacturer’s claim) |
More Torque Than A Ford Mustang GT
The Chevrolet Tahoe RST’s 460 LB-FT of torque does more than help it to pull a trailer or make three rows of passengers smile; it nets the large SUV some bragging rights. Most notably, a Tahoe RST with the optional 6.2-liter V8 under the hood produces more twist than a new, seventh-generation S650 Ford Mustang GT. Specifically, the Blue Oval says a 2026 Ford Mustang GT produces 480 horsepower and 415 LB-FT. That power is courtesy of a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter DOHC Coyote V8, the latest version of the same mill to power the Ford pony car since 2011. Moreover, power-hungry Mustang fans can elect for the optional performance exhaust system, bumping output to 486 horsepower and 418 LB-FT of torque.
As such, the Chevrolet Tahoe RST produces less power than the Coyote-powered Mustang, but more torque. At 460 LB-FT, the Tahoe RST’s 6.2-liter V8 produces 42 LB-FT more than the performance exhaust-equipped Ford Mustang GT. It’s not just the Mustang GT, either. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the king of Ford’s naturally aspirated stable, also tops out at 418 LB-FT. As a result, the Chevrolet Tahoe RST with the 6.2-liter V8 produces more torque than anything in the naturally aspirated collection of modern Ford Mustangs.
It’s All In The RST’s 6.2-Liter V8
Of course, buyers who want the Mustang-beating torque will have to opt for the larger of the two Chevrolet Tahoe RST’s V8 options. The Tahoe RST’s 5.3-liter EcoTec3 L84 V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 LB-FT of torque. Needless to say, the smaller V8 isn’t quite up to Mustang standards.
Things get even spicier with the Tahoe RST’s Performance Upgrade Package. It’s an expensive, albeit power-swelling option available from the factory. For $4,350, the upgrade package adds a performance air intake system and a cat-back performance exhaust system in place of the Tahoe’s stock equipment. As a result of the upgraded performance package, the 6.2-liter V8’s output rises to 433 horsepower and 467 LB-FT of torque. It’s an increase of 13.0 ponies and 7.0 LB-FT of torque. That bump further stretches the RST’s torquey lead over America’s last remaining pony car (with its own performance exhaust setup) to 49 LB-FT.
A Thirsty Tahoe
Granted, the optional 6.2-liter V8 in the Chevrolet Tahoe RST snags bragging rights with its Mustang-beating torque. But the heft and might of the big V8 means frequent (and pricey) stops at the pumps. And hefty it is. Chevrolet says the all-wheel drive RST tips the scales at around 5,580 lbs. Paired with the beefier 6.2-liter V8, the Tahoe RST with power going to all four tires is good for around 14 mpg city. Highway mileage is a little better at 18 mpg, if also short of a rear-wheel-drive Tahoe’s 20 mpg highway. However, in a real-world fuel economy test, evaluators at Car and Driver managed to get 20 mpg out of an all-wheel drive Tahoe with the larger V8.
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Surprisingly Drivable For A Large SUV
Even with a burly curb weight, the Chevrolet Tahoe RST is deceptively nimble. Unlike the base model, Chevrolet says the 6.2-liter RST Performance Edition adds Brembo brakes, Firestone Firehawk Pursuit 275/55R20 tires, and retuned dampers. Moreover, the Bow Tie tested the Tahoe RST Performance Edition with the 6.2-liter V8 in 2023, revealing quicker acceleration times across the board. If that wasn’t enough, the larger, tighter Tahoe scrubbed 6.4 feet off the base model’s stopping distance from 60 mph to zero, coming to a halt in just 133 feet.
Space For The Whole Family
Chevy is quick to tout that the addition of a big V8 and performance kit doesn’t compromise its usability as an SUV. For starters, the RST Performance Edition has the same 7,600-LB trailering capacity as the base RST. On the inside, the Tahoe remains a three-row application at the RST trim with space for up to nine passengers with the bench seat. Of course, the large Chevrolet SUV will be more comfortable with seven or eight passengers on board. You know, instead of trying to stuff an entire baseball team into the Tahoe.
Adding The 6.2-Liter V8 Pumps Up The Price
The base-model 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe LS starts at around $60,995. But opting for the RST trim raises the price significantly. For 2026, the all-wheel drive RST with the 5.3-liter V8 has an MSRP of $71,995. The rear-wheel drive variant scrubs off $3,000, starting at $68,995. Of course, adding the big V8 to the formula takes the price of the RST even higher. For the Chevrolet Tahoe RSTs with power heading to just two wheels, choosing the 6.2-liter V8 means a starting price of $77,365. That’s a weighty $8,370 difference between the engine options in the rear-wheel drive models. As for the all-wheel drive model, the starting price crosses the $80,000 threshold. All in all, the all-wheel-drive Tahoe RST with the 6.2-liter V8 demands around $81,760 before fees.