Car Gazing
Chevy Tahoe sticks to truck roots
By Derek Price
As companies around the world scramble to create so-called crossover
vehicles, it's refreshing to see a truck that doesn't pretend to be
something else.
Chevrolet spits in the face of wimpy SUVs by flaunting the gruff truckness
of its full-size Tahoe, a vehicle that feels at home towing a boat, driving
on trails or simply picking up groceries. It's the real thing, baby.
While its interior has the refinement and comfort you'd expect in a high-end
sedan, everything else about the Tahoe looks like a truck, feels like a
truck, sounds like a truck, and if you have the guts to lick it, probably
tastes like a truck, too. That's because the Tahoe is rugged and
versatile, a format that made it the best-selling full-size SUV in the country by
beating the Ford Expedition and Dodge Durango in a battle of domestic
brutes.
More than anything else, versatility made the Tahoe a winner, as it can be
configured to suit nearly any need. It has over 104 cubic feet of cargo
space with the second-row seats folded forward, and an optional third-row
seat means it can accommodate up to nine passengers if you stick with
benches.
Two powerful V8 engines (4.8-liter or 5.3-liter Vortec varieties) provide
enough zip for the 5,050-pound vehicle to accelerate briskly on freeway
ramps, and with proper equipment they can tow up to 7,700 pounds. The big
V8s act like frat boys at a keg party, though, as they wildly chug gas.
Expect 18 miles per gallon on the highway and a pathetic 14 mpg in town
with the 5.3-liter motor.
While it's nice to have the capability to drive off the pavement and tow
big payloads, most buyers will keep their SUV on smooth roads without a
trailer. With this in mind, Chevy made the Tahoe comfortable and fairly easy to
drive around town, but its poor steering feedback, mushy suspension feel and
less-than-stellar side visibility emphasize the obvious – it's a truck.
Inside, though, is a completely different story. Nice materials, a great
sense of spaciousness and a surprisingly quiet cabin make it a terrific
place to spend long trips on the highway, and several key changes helped
refine the Tahoe for 2003.
Among them:
- StabiliTrak, a stability enhancement system, improves performance on
slick surfaces or for emergency maneuvers. When it detects a loss of
traction, it automatically adjusts engine torque and brake pressure to
keep the vehicle pointed where the driver wants it to go.
- Safety is enhanced with new dual-level air bags and sensors that
determine who, if anyone, is riding in the passenger seat. The passenger
side airbag will deploy less forcefully if it detects a child in the seat,
and both front air bags deploy more gently in low-speed wrecks.
- Electronic throttle control makes the bulky engine feel more lively,
improving response when you mash the accelerator.
- Tri-zone climate control means the driver's side, passenger side and
rear part of the vehicle get individual controls.
A couple of fun additions this year are optional XM Satellite Radio and a
rear-seat DVD player. The satellite radio is a great option for people who
frequently go on long trips, since it keeps a perfectly clear signal with
100 channels no matter where you drive. The DVD player is perfect for
families, as its roof-mounted screen flips down and wireless headphones
keep the kids content.
The Tahoe truly is a do-it-all vehicle whether hauling a family to the
Grand Canyon or carrying sweaty workers to a job site. It's ideal for people who
need real versatility in a rugged package, but only if they can live with
the compromises that come with driving an authentic truck.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
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