by
Denise McCluggage
Some of my colleagues found the changes to be too
abrupt. I liked the LT models set-up just fine and
too limited experience with the LTZ. Check them
both out to find your own preferences.
I
was surprised to find that in a market moving toward
more and more speeds in automatic transmissions
that GM chose to stay with four in the Tahoe, yet
in use I can’t say I noticed a short-coming.
Perhaps I was too busy being pleased with the vehicle’s
look and feel and good manners to notice.
Benchmarking
with Anticipation
A
common practice in the industry is for manufacturers
to dissect their competitors and then at least match
them in features and performance. The difficulty
with this approach to benchmarking is that the target
thus hit is one already being changed. The real
competition is moving on. Tahoe’s designers
this time played the benchmark game like a good
quarterback and factored in a lead. They studied
the competition, found the weak spots, assumed that
these shortcomings were equally obvious to the competition
and thus were apt to be changed in the new models.
The Tahoe was thus aimed at the anticipated new
target. We’ll see how well this worked as the
new models emerge. The Tahoe may not be revolutionary,
but it has evolved more than a few stages in one
attractive swoop.
Safety
and Stars
The
decision was made up front to meet certain goals,
the over 20 mpg was one and five star ratings (the
top) on all safety questions. Single vehicle rollovers
is a scourge of any large vehicle that carries it
center of gravity high. Clearly expecting drivers
to compensate for the obvious has not happened.
So the Tahoe has been lowered and widened to keep
it more firmly attached to the earth in spite of
poor helmsmanship. Without compromising its ground
clearance and ability to get fisher folk to their
headwaters or skiers to their snowy aeries the Tahoe
has earned the five stars it aimed for.
Getting
the Job Done
The
large SUV market took a quick shrink when gas prices
shot upward. Perhaps those who turned to the smaller
and more economical were those who were drawn to
the big ones in the first place by other than need.
Maybe they saw in the size protection and a sense
of strength they could borrow. But there are those
who really need big. To carry, to haul, to tow.
GM has given those who need BIG a big break with
its new SUVs like the Tahoe. Enhanced safety enhanced
spaciousness, enhanced usefulness, enhanced economy,
enhanced esthetics.
And somehow enhanced pleasure in driving it. No
wonder Gary White is smiling in the back seat.
| 2007
Chevy Tahoe |
|
Description:
|
Mid-Size Sedan |
|
Model
options:
|
LS, LT1, LT2, LT3
and LTZ
|
|
Wheelbase:
|
116.0
inches |
|
Overall
length:
|
202.0
inches |
|
Engine
size:
|
Vortec 5300 V8
|
|
Transmission:
|
Hydra-Matric four-speed automatic |
|
Steering:
|
Rack
and pinion |
|
Braking:
|
4-wheel
ventilated disc, ABS
|
|
Air
bags:
|
2
(front) 2 (side) 2 (side curtain) |
|
Fuel
mileage city/hwy:
|
2WD: 16/20 mpg
4x4: 15/21 mpg
|
|
MSRP:
|
325i: $ 30,995
330i: $ 36,995
|
(...BACK)
