PHOENIX — Chevrolet’s 2007
Tahoe is a completely different vehicle, and you can feel that after a couple of
miles.
With a 5.3-liter V-8 and 320 horses on board, there’s plenty of power, but the
overall feel is one of sophistication and comfort. The V-8 shuts down four
cylinders in cruising situations, resulting in a segment-best city/highway
mileage of 21.3 miles per gallon for a two-wheel-drive model.
Goals for the redesign included a more precise driving feel, more power,
improved fuel economy and a refined interior, and Chevy’s engineers scored on
every point.
Since Chevrolet’s Tahoe is the best-selling full-size SUV, bringing out a new
model, even in a time of slowing SUV sales, is significant.
Chevrolet has sold 1.6 million Tahoes since 2001, and the industry forecast is
for 750,000 full-size SUVs to be sold in 2006. Chevy hopes the new Tahoe will
help maintain its share of that business.
The Tahoe is but one model of a family of SUVs. Each GM SUV is built on an
entirely new chassis with a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension,
rack-and-pinion steering and wider front and rear tracks. The wheelbase remains
at 116 inches for the Tahoe and 130 inches for the Suburban and corporate
siblings, the Cadillac Escalade ESV and
GMC Yukon.
The Tahoe can be equipped with three rows of seats, although the split-folding
rear seat takes up almost all of the cargo space. Shipments to dealers begin
this month. Other models will follow later in the year.
The climb out of Phoenix on the highway toward Payson, Ariz., showcased the
engine’s seamless ability to shut down four cylinders when they aren’t needed.
It was impossible to feel when the engine was running on four or eight
cylinders.
Making these new trucks quieter was a major goal. Sound-deadening components
are used in the headliner, door seals and firewall. The engine gets a special
cover and noise-reducing alternator.
A stiffer frame reduces vibrations and enables the suspension to be more
compliant. As we bumped down the Apache Trail gravel road, the new coil-over
front suspension and revised rear axle kept the truck steady and sure over
washboard surfaces. The tendency for the rear axle to step out in these
conditions has been nearly eliminated.
GM’s StabiliTrak vehicle stability control system is standard, and it is
designed to help mitigate rollovers. Side-curtain airbags with rollover
protection are optional.
Refinement shows up in various ways. First, the styling is clean and crisp.
Four-millimeter shut lines and body seams are on par with world-class luxury
cars. Chrome trim is used in small, tasteful doses. Reclining the windshield
reduces aerodynamic drag, lowers wind noise and improves fuel economy.
Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are optional. Anti-lock,
four-wheel disc brakes are standard as well.
General Motors’ new interiors have vastly improved styling. The instrument
panel has elegant gauges, few seams and surface textures like those of a
Cadillac. The dash has been moved down and forward for better visibility and a
feeling of spaciousness. A band of brushed aluminum trim separates the top and
bottom sections. Fancier models have woodgrain trim on the console and in place
of the brushed aluminum band. Though the woodgrain is an appliqué, it looks real
and gives a touch of warmth and luxury to the cabin.
Controls on the center stack are elegantly styled and easy to use. They have a
quality feel that was missing in previous models. Convenience items include
OnStar, a power fold-and-tumble second-row seat that eases access to the
third-row seat, a power-assisted rear lift gate, remote vehicle start, heated
front and rear seats, rear parking assist, a rearview camera, navigation system
and a rear-seat DVD system with an 8-inch LCD screen. Power adjustable pedals,
rain-sensing wipers, a tire-pressure monitoring system and heated
windshield-washer fluid are other handy options.
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not intended as a substitute for the advice of a professional who is
qualified to examine, diagnose and repair your vehicle.
Goals for the redesign included a more precise driving feel, more power,
improved fuel economy and a refined interior, and Chevy’s engineers scored on
every point.
The climb out of Phoenix on the highway toward Payson, Ariz., showcased the
engine’s seamless ability to shut down four cylinders when they aren’t needed.
It was impossible to feel when the engine was running on four or eight
cylinders.
Refinement shows up in various ways. First, the styling is clean and crisp.
Four-millimeter shut lines and body seams are on par with world-class luxury
cars. Chrome trim is used in small, tasteful doses. Reclining the windshield
reduces aerodynamic drag, lowers wind noise and improves fuel economy.
Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are optional. Anti-lock,
four-wheel disc brakes are standard as well.