by Steve Schutz, MD
For General Motors to return to the leadership position they used to occupy, they need to sell vehicles that people really want. But “wantability” is a lot easier to talk about than it is to achieve, as any automotive manufacturer knows, and whether or not the new Chevy Tahoe has that quality depends on people like my neighbor Shannon Brandt.
Shannon and her husband Hans have two young sons and live active suburban lives. Not coincidentally, they own a Suburban, and if GM’s large SUVs are going to succeed and produce much-needed profits, the automaker needs to hold on to customers like them. With that in mind, I asked Shannon to drive my 2007 Chevy Tahoe test vehicle and give me her thoughts. She was very impressed, a good sign for GM.
The first area I was curious about was the interior, one aspect of the last Tahoe that left me cold. “The driver’s seat is much more comfortable than mine,” Shannon observed. “And the buttons and dials are a lot nicer to look at.” While the trim utilizes artificial wood, it looks like the real thing, and the plastics are of significantly higher quality. It’s quite an amazing transformation, and much better than I expected from General Motors.
The exterior design is similarly inspired. The most obvious change is that the Tahoe now looks both smaller and lower. The grille, rear lights, and front- and rear-bumpers are all hung lower than they were previously, and they’re wider, too. For the record, the Tahoe is just about the same size as the last one, but it’s sleeker and more modern thanks to simpler lines, jeweled lights, and unadorned flanks.
Despite the major enhancements described above, it’s the big SUV’s road manners that stand out the most in my mind. To be fair, the previous Tahoe was not unpleasant to drive, particularly when compared with its competitors, but the new one is significantly better. Handling is much sharper and more predictable, and ride quality is smooth and composed. In fact, things are so much better that Shannon said, “It’s like driving a car instead of a big SUV.” That’s an overstatement, but coming from a current Suburban owner it’s an indication of how much progess GM engineers have made in this area.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the Tahoe’s utility. Eight adults can sit in-side comfortably, and there’s plenty of room left over for luggage and what-have-you. In addition, there are cup holders and storage nooks galore, making long family trips an easy proposition. It’s worth noting, though, that while the Tahoe has an electronically folding third seat, it does not fold flat like in some of its competitors. If you need to lug a lot of gear, you will miss a fold-flat floor. Not many families will require more space than the Tahoe provides, but if yours is one of them, there’s always the longer Suburban.
These days fuel economy is extremely important, and the Tahoe delivers im-provement in that department as well. It still uses a small-block V-8, but major changes including a higher compression ratio and a more sophisticated computer have resulted in more power – 320 HP versus 295 in the last version – and better fuel economy. GM claims a best-in-class EPA fuel economy of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg highway, good for the category but far from Prius fuel efficiency.
Not surprisingly, performance doesn’t suffer, thanks to all that power. Published reports list a zero-60 mph time of just 8.6 seconds, pretty amazing for a truck this big. The major advantage that the Tahoe has over some of its crossover com-petitors is towing capacity. Rated to haul 7,700 pounds, the Tahoe can pull more than double what a Honda Pilot can, something to think about if you like boating or RVing.
There are three trim levels available. Most buyers will be happy with the well-stocked LS, which includes electronic stability control, dual-zone climate control, an MP3-capable CD player, and trip computer. The LT actually comes in three sub-levels: LT-1, LT-2, and LT-3. LT-1 adds steering wheel-mounted audio controls, second row bucket seats with console, and fog lights. LT-2 includes leather seating, a six-disc CD changer, power adjustable pedals, remote vehicle starting, and rear parking assist. Move up to the LT-3 and you get all that plus full-length side curtain airbags, heated front seats (with 12-way driver adjustment), and a Bose audio system with XM satellite radio. The LTZ comes with attractive 20-inch alloy wheels, heated second-row seats, locking rear differential, power lift gate, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding second-row seats, and Autoride rear air sus-pension. Major stand-alone options for the Tahoe include navigation, a rearview camera, and rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
Overall, the Tahoe is a major improve-ment over the previous generation and an excellent choice for families who need extra space and towing capacity. If General Motors continues to produce vehicles this good – this “wantable” – they’ll be on more and more shopping lists in the years to come. The new Suburban’s al-ready on Shannon Brandt’s.
