Ready for law enforcement duty, Chevy officially announced the 2021 Tahoe aimed toward law enforcement and government agencies with Police Pursuit (PPV) and Special Service (SSV) packages. Like its predecessor, the PPV is designed as a general-purpose patrol car with more interceptor capability, while the SSV is designed more as a workhorse for off-road and towing use.
Under the hood, both are still powered by the same 5.3-liter V-8 engine. It still comes mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and GM’s Dynamic Fuel Management can run the truck on as few as two cylinders to save fuel. Law enforcement agencies can order the PPV in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants (“4WD” does not come with a two-speed transfer case, but it does have a Terrain Mode), while the SSV is only available with four-wheel drive.
The 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV and SSV have dedicated heavy-duty engine oil and transmission cooling systems, while they also borrow the high-performance rocker covers from the Camaro ZL1’s LT4 V-8 for better crankcase ventilation. Together, that means the trucks should be able to handle harder abuse, including high-speed cornering which may restrict oil flow.
Other dynamic changes to the 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV and SSV include bespoke Firestone Firehawk Pursuit tires mounted on 20-inch steel wheels, which improve the truck’s stopping distance by 11 feet over the outgoing model. Updated suspension tuning with unique monotube dampers, coil springs and stabilizer bars help improve body roll and control during pursuits, and the PPV also has a lower ride height than the standard Tahoe for better aerodynamics and stability. The Tahoe PPV has six-piston Brembo front brakes, 16-inch brake rotors and a heavy-duty, clutch-type limited-slip differential to handle its mass in high-speed conditions.
Speaking of speed, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV is speedometer certified to hit 140 mph.
Electrical upgrades for easier upfitting
Specifically on the law enforcement front, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV also gets an updated electrical architecture to make for simpler upfitting. A blunt-cut wiring harness runs 31 wire circuits to the cockpit, 56 to the cargo area and 25 shared circuits for aftermarket equipment — all without removing interior panels to get to them. Upfitters can repurpose those circuits as needed, like rewiring the steering wheel controls to handle the lights and sirens.
While there is no hybrid variant like with the Explorer Police Utility, there are a few measures to help law enforcement agencies save fuel. The 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV has a dual battery system with a 760-amp auxiliary battery to power crucial electronics. The system can handle video systems, radio equipment, mobile data terminals and emergency lighting to operate without running the engine.
On the convenience front, the 2021 Chevy Tahoe PPV has a 4G LTE hotspot, as well as a rear camera mirror to help the driver see what’s behind the truck without being obstructed by what’s in the back. Like the standard truck, the PPV and SSV also come with driver assistance tech like forward collision braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist and a following distance indicator.
