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2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Review
Competitive in many ways, but lacking in key areas. What's new for the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe: Redesigned; new model. What's new for the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe: The interior gets minor revisions, along with standard side curtain airbags. The $50,000+ Tahoe Hybrid debuts, combining a 6.0-liter V8 and electric motor to get about 20 MPG. Big SUVs may never again be the hot segment they once were, but consumers who still find them appealing will find much to like in the Chevrolet Tahoe. Its redesign for model year 2007 resulted in a vastly more refined truck that, in many ways, made it the equal of anything in its class. The revolution began with a host of changes to the steering and suspension that reformed the Tahoe's sloppy, wandering nature. As trucks go, the Tahoe now has stable handling, a smooth ride, and acceptable braking. The 4-speed automatic transmission is a bit behind the times, and gas mileage around 14 MPG gets more painful by the day, but the V8 engines make good power (295 horsepower for the 4.8-liter, 320 for the 5.3-liter) and sound happy as they go about their work. The interior, likewise, became a much better place. Though a few cheap touches remain, owners of any previous Tahoe would be amazed at the organized, elegant nature of the controls and the seats and seatbelts. The back seats are generous, and anyone who needs nine-passenger capacity should be interested to know that the Tahoe is the only entrant in its class with the option of bench seating in all three rows. Unfortunately, this is one case where practice doesn't live up to theory. The Tahoe's third-row seat is the most cramped and least comfortable in its segment, making it the only vehicle of this size to fail at seating even six adults. Another issue is the Tahoe's towing capacity, which ranges from 4,500 to 8,200 pounds -- pretty paltry for such capable company. Considering that mass human transport and heavy-duty towing are two of the central promises of any full-size SUV, these are pretty serious shortcomings. Come to think of it, wouldn't that make the Chevy Tahoe a good full-size SUV for everyone -- except people who actually need one? Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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