2023 Chevy Tahoe RST Performance Edition Gets More Power, Police Parts

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

The 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe RST Performance Edition was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on Wednesday with an array of mechanical enhancements borrowed from the Tahoe PPV – or Police Pursuit Vehicle.


While American muscle cars originally evolved from moonshiners modifying vehicles to ensure a swift getaway from police enforcing an unpopular law, automakers would actually find themselves utilizing components that had been reserved for law enforcement to make production hot rods even quicker decades later. Police vehicles often came with upgraded engines, brakes, shock absorbers, and even entire handling packages that weren’t available to the general public – at least not until manufacturers realized they could spin that into a profit on the passenger market, too. 

The new Chevrolet Tahoe RST Performance Edition runs with this concept by lifting the suspension from the Pursuit package. That means upgraded springs, dampers, sway bars, and some unique tuning with a ride height that’s 0.4-inches lower up front and 0.8-inches lower at the rear. Stopping power has likewise been enhanced by larger Brembo brakes and backed by claims that Chevy also improved pedal responsiveness. This is alleged to give the top-tier RST the power to bring itself to a halt from 60 mph in 133 feet. 


“The 2023 Tahoe RST Performance Edition is designed for those who want the best of both worlds – the everyday comfort and capability of a full-size SUV along with the driving excitement of a true performance vehicle,” said Scott Bell, Chevrolet's vice president. “It leverages the proven capability of Chevy’s pursuit-rated police vehicle packages and motorsports success to offer a confident, engaging driving experience for our customers.”

Though something tells me that most Tahoe RST shoppers aren’t going to be overly concerned with handling upgrades and the possibility of engaging in some late braking. If slinging oneself around a corner at the highest speed possible were a primary concern, GM fans would be probably looking at the Camaro. Hi-po Tahoe customers aren’t seeking a pony car suited for track days, they want a cargo-friendly rhinoceros that can charge down rivals on the highway or tow 7,600 pounds without breaking a sweat. 


To that effect, Chevy has outfitted the model with a 6.2-liter V8 outputting 433 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque through its 10-speed automatic transmission. This represents an increase of 13 horsepower and 7 lb-ft over the standard RST and would likely be a tad more impressive on a much-lighter vehicle. Depending on whether you option all-wheel drive, the performance Tahoe can weigh anywhere between 5,356 and 5,553 pounds. 

While quick, this doesn’t make the model blisteringly fast. Chevy has the Performance Edition hitting 60 mph in 5.78 seconds. That’s roughly the same as the Mazda MX-5, though the freer-flowing exhaust system that’s helping the RST shave off those fractions of a second will probably help it sound more menacing. The top speed was said to be 124 mph, which also seems a little lackluster until you’ve been told that’s 12 miles an hour more than the standard RST can manage. 


How much does all of this cost? Chevy said the Performance Edition will be an $8,525 upgrade for the standard Tahoe RST – with the optional 6.2-liter V8 we’ve been comparing it to in this article. That’ll put you at over $80,000 once the destination is factored in. However, it does come with the Luxury Package that incorporates some of GM’s advanced safety tech and luxo-features like a heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats to make the price a little easier to cope with. 

If that sounds too steep for a fancier, better-handling Tahoe, shoppers will still be able to purchase the RST without the police parts and larger engine. Unless Chevrolet decides to nix them before the year is over, customers can likewise snag the base RST equipped with either the 5.3-liter V8 or 3.0-liter Duramax turbo diesel for 10 grand less. The higher-riding Tahoe Z71 will also remain on offer for just about every powertrain you might want (minus the diesel).


However, if nothing but the RST Premium Edition will do, the model is supposed to commence production before the new year.

[Images: General Motors; © 2022 Tim Healey/TTAC]

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Matt Posky
Matt Posky

Consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulations. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, he has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed about the automotive sector by national broadcasts, participated in a few amateur rallying events, and driven more rental cars than anyone ever should. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and learned to drive by twelve. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer and motorcycles.

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  • Kcflyer Kcflyer on Sep 14, 2022

    so about half the weight of the new hummer.

  • Gregtwelve Gregtwelve on Sep 14, 2022

    "so it'll run good on regular gas.'


    I filled up the wife's car with Regular which was $3.39 per gal. Premium was $4.49.

    In the past the difference was only 50 or so cents per gallon. Apparently the difference now is over a dollar. That would have to be considered in the purchase of any vehicle whose manufacturer requires ( or "recommends") premium.

  • Varezhka $35k, 184hp, and 25mpg EPA combined. With modern VW reliability and old school Hyundai level interior. I think I will take a CX-50, thank you very much.
  • Canam23 A good friend and his wife had one of these, and it ate them out of house and home. One major repair after another with no end in sight. I helped them unload it and put her in a Hyundai Vera Cruz, they put 200K miles on that with no problems.
  • Mister Unless you are a factory-trained Volkswagen technician, there is so much *nope* in this car that I don't even know where to begin.
  • Tassos VERY CLOSE FRIENDS OF MINE can tell you what a TRULY UTTER PIECE OF JUNK VWs, and IN PARTICULAR THE PITIFUL TIGUAN, are. Within the same couple, they have HEAVEN (a Lexus RX) and HELL (the ACCURSED TIGUAN, which spends more time in the shop than on the road. Its unlucky owner is my dear friend Anna P., who is a successful ORTHODONTIST, (grad studies at Tufts U) and could afford a MAYBACH if she wanted to.
  • Theflyersfan Having had some as loaners and rentals, and my sister and brother-in-law recently purchasing one, there was one thing left out. VW has to work on the quality of their plastics. Some of the materials feel as bad as 2002-era Nissan (an Altima 3.5SE on a test drive, with 7 miles on it, was already rattling and squeaking) especially on the doors and lower touch points. Some of the ongoing problems i had with my VW dealt with plastic quality - i had the overhead console buttons fall into the housing several times - and there were already squeaks at under 10,000 miles. They are so close with their cars and CUVs. They have designs people like. Just stop with the cheap plastics in so many obvious places. And if you touch the materials that make up the inside of the rear doors, you might be shocked how poor the quality is. Expect cargo to scratch the daylights out of the plastics.
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