The world has fewer full-size sport-utility vehicles these days--maybe a good thing--but one of the diehard survivors will be the Chevrolet Tahoe. Spun from the same running gear as GM's full-size pickup trucks and other big utes like the Cadillac Escalade, the Tahoe is the less lengthy companion to the likes of the Chevy Suburban.
It's pitched as the traditionally strong performer in a crowd including the gas-powered utes like the Ford Expedition , Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada. The Tahoe nameplate arrived in the model year, replacing the Blazer badge and was teamed with a four-door model.
Based on the big GM trucks, the Tahoe was powered in most cases by a big 5. A turbodiesel version found few applications and few buyers. In this generation, sold until the model year, GM added a driver-side airbag and a luxury-trim Limited package, which was sold in the model year. This version overlapped with the entirely new "GMT" Chevy Tahoe, which was new for the model year.
The Chevrolet Tahoe again offered a choice of V-8 engines, either a 4. A four-speed automatic took care of shifting in all versions, and the Tahoe came in rear- or four-wheel-drive versions. A more genteel look wasn't quite matched by a lackluster interior, but with good towing capacity and additions like stability control and more airbags, the Tahoe rode the SUV wave of popularity to become a best seller in the Chevy truck lineup. The new Tahoe 's crisp lines, and improved body rigidity lent it a mature, even sophisticated look--one matched by a handsome interior.
All the towing and hauling capability carried over, with a more comfortable five- or six-seat interior package--but the powertrains got a fuel-economy boost that was offset on the marketing side by the addition of a horsepower, 6. The Tahoe Hybrid was introduced for With a big hp, 6. The Hybrid's packaging is essentially the same battery pack situated under the second-row seats, and it can tow up to 5, pounds. In recent years, changes have been minimal to the Tahoe lineup.
