The Chevy Tahoe offers excellent towing capabilities and is configurable for two to nine passengers and a mountain of cargo.
Inside, the first two rows offer legroom and head room comparable to most sedans but more shoulder and hip room because of Tahoe's six-and-a-half foot width. Fold the second row of seats and remove the third row and the Tahoe offers nearly 109 cubic feet of cargo space.
Towing capacity is up to 8,200 pounds. Based on a platform similar to half-ton Suburban and Silverado, the Tahoe makes a stable rig for pulling trailers.
With its rigid chassis, the Tahoe feels taut for its size, steering is precise and responsive, and the brakes are responsive and smooth. The ride quality is generally smooth, even with the available 20-inch wheels. At highway speeds, we found the Tahoe quiet and comfortable.
The 5.3-liter V8 engine features GM's Active Fuel Management to save gas; you can't even feel it switching between four and eight cylinders, which generally occurs with your foot off the gas or steady-state cruising. The 5.3-liter V8 provides all the power most customers will need, there's a less-expensive 4.8-liter V8 available on base-model 2WD, and the top-line LTZ offers a romping 6.2-liter V8.
The Hybrid model works seamlessly. It offers more slightly more power and drastically improved urban fuel economy compared to other models, but tows about a ton less, weighs more and costs more. The Hybrid model provides an answer for those who spend the week in city traffic but want to tow 5000 pounds and bring the family on the weekend.
Autotrac four-wheel drive is available, a system that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. It comes in handy for rugged terrain and serious snow and ice, but it's also handy for yanking a boat up a slippery boat ramp or pulling a trailer out of a silty, sandy parking area, those momentary needs that can be so crucial.
Tahoe competes primarily against the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, and Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen. Those in need of a Hybrid might consider the Lexus RX, Aspen/Durango, BMW X6, plus the diesel versions of the BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Mercedes ML and GL that provide hybrid-like city economy and superior highway economy.
The current generation Chevy Tahoe was rolled out for the 2007 model year and added Hybrid and XFE versions during 2008. New conveniences and cosmetics, and integrated trailer brake controller, and six-speed automatic for most iterations highlight the 2009 lineup.
The standard engine is a 5.3-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management technology that shuts down four cylinders under light engine loads. The base engine in the 2WD LS model is a 295-hp 4.8-liter V8; except for absolute minimum purchase cost it is better to step up to the 5.3-liter which offers better mileage and better power. Both 5.3- and 6.2-liter are available as flexible-fuel engines that run on regular gasoline or E85 ethanol-blended fuel. EPA ratings on gasoline run 14/19 mpg (or 14/20) except for Hybrid 20-21/20-22 and the 6.2 at 12/19; expect about 75 percent of that on E85.
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