2007 Chevrolet Tahoe First Drive

LANSDOWNE, MD. – Driving the 2007 Chevy Tahoe along Virginia’s winding two-lanes hooked us. After leaving behind the traffic and congestion of the Washington Beltway, the rural countryside revealed the superior driving dynamics of a conveyance mired in the social consciousness of size, fuel economy and crash compatibility. Thanks to a complete redesign, the 2007 Tahoe is space efficient, gets better fuel economy, and is engineered to be more crash-compatible with traditional passengers cars. Suddenly, out there cruising the Virginia back country, the completely redesigned 2007 Tahoe made all the sense in the world.

General Motors would tell you that 40 percent of its current Tahoe owners use their vehicle to transport children; 50 percent to haul tools, appliances and other large goods; 24 percent to carry sporting gear, such as bikes, canoes and equipment that requires a trailer; and that nearly 80 percent say they “sometimes or frequently” encounter harsh weather. But, we would tell you that the all-new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe has improved performance, better looks, greater ease of operation, more upscale amenities, and a ride/handling mix that approaches near-luxury levels of competence. All automakers tout the advantages of their new models, and it’s easy to get swept up in what ‘they’ say. The folks who have reengineered and redesigned the new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe are rightfully proud of their new big cheese, but even if this rig wasn’t an impressive machine, Chevrolet spokespeople would tout it as the best model in its class just because the Tahoe is so darned important to GM. Designed to ferry up to nine riders and haul up to 7,700 lbs., the new Tahoe is charged with grabbing a sizeable portion of the 6.5 million full-size SUV owners scrambling along the roads of America today. To date, the Chevy Tahoe has been the best-selling big sport-ute since 2001, claiming some 26 percent of the market. Add the longer-wheelbased Suburban model’s catch, and the total represents 41 percent of all full-sized SUV registrations in the United States. A truer test of any new mousetrap is to listen to what the experts say – those who drive dozens of new models back-to-back each year. Now that we’ve gotten a chance to sit behind the wheel, work the power adjustable pedals, and spend some time in the driver’s seat motoring through city traffic and along country roads, we can agree with GM’s in-house superlatives. The new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is a delightful blend of “living larger” and “driving smaller.”

Model Mix

Model Mix Choose a 2WD or 4WD model in LS, LT or LTZ trim. Prices had not been set when this story was published, but with GM’s new value pricing scheme, expect stickers to start around $35,000 and rise to $50,000 for a loaded LTZ model. The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is available with either two- or four-wheel drive, and is offered in three different trim levels. At introduction, base Tahoe LS models come with a 5.3-liter V8 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, but mid-year a less powerful 4.8-liter V8 becomes the standard engine. Other LS trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, dual-zone air conditioning, heated and power exterior mirrors, a six-way power driver’s seat, a tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control, dark tinted glass, and GM’s Stabilitrak stability and traction control system. The popular, high-volume Tahoe LT line arrives with the same 5.3-liter V8 engine and standard equipment as the base LS model, and comes in three versions. LT-1 equipment includes steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; rear seat audio controls with headphone jacks; halogen fog lights; and body-colored mirrors, moldings, and door handles. The LT-2 treatment adds dual-zone automatic climate control, power adjustable pedals, remote engine starting, leather seating surfaces, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, rear park assist, and a garage door opener. Premium LT-3 packaging yields a 12-way power driver’s seat, driver’s seat memory and heating, a power front passenger’s seat, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system with XM satellite radio. At the top end, Tahoe LTZ luxury models get the same powertrain as other editions, along with 20-inch polished wheels, heated windshield washer fluid, rain-sensing wipers, heated second-row seats, standard third-row seating, a power liftgate, a locking rear differential, and a load-leveling rear suspension. Numerous options are available on the 2007 Chevy Tahoe, including a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a navigation system, a power sunroof, power running boards, a rearview camera and second-row leather bucket seats. Base LS and mid-level LT models may also be optioned with features found standard on the better-equipped Tahoe LTZ, including 20-inch wheels. Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and a Stabilitrak stability and traction control system with Rollover Mitigation technology go a long way toward keeping the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe out of trouble, and if a crash does occur, there are dual-stage front airbags on board to help keep occupants from getting injured. Unfortunately, side-curtain airbags for all three rows come standard only on the LT-3 and LTZ models. On other versions of the Tahoe, you’ve gotta pay extra for this safety system, which is frustrating in a day and age when even a $12,000 Hyundai gets these important safety devices as part of the price of entry. The Tahoe does, however, receive front pre-tensioning seat belts that activate in the event of a rear impact. Additionally, OnStar telematics, which can notify emergency personnel when the Tahoe is involved in an accident, is included on every model but the subscription to the service is good for just one year. GM says it expects a five-star crash safety rating for all occupants that ride in the new Tahoe.

Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and Bolts The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe comes with a 320-horsepower V8 engine equipped with Active Fuel Management, which shuts down half the motor’s cylinders to improve highway fuel economy, which can reach 22 mpg according to GM. The new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe will be available beginning in January with two V8 engines, both displacing 5.3 liters and outputting 320 horsepower and 340 lb.-ft. of torque. Tahoes turning only the rear wheels get the conventional gas-burning version, while 4WD models employ GM’s Flex-Fuel E85 engine that is capable of burning fuel composed of as much as 85-percent ethanol. You don’t have to buy E-85 for the Tahoe 4WD; it runs on pure gasoline or a fuel mixture of up to 85-percent ethanol. Both engines benefit from Active Fuel Management, a fuel-saving technology that deactivates half of the cylinders under low-load conditions. GM reports that the Tahoe 2WD gets 16-mpg city and 22-mpg highway, with numbers that decrease by one mpg each for 4WD versions. According to Chevy, Active Fuel Management yields up to seven percent improved fuel economy. Jeep uses similar technology called the Multi-Displacement System (MDS) in the all-new, seven-passenger 2006 Commander’s 5.7-liter V8, although Jeep claims its MDS betters fuel economy by up to 20 percent. However, the Commander’s engine is less efficient to start, with mileage estimated at 14-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. Chevy claims best-in-class fuel economy for the Tahoe, when compared to the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia. Later in the production year, a 4.8-liter V8 will become the standard engine in the 2007 Chevy Tahoe with 2WD. When the engine arrives towards the third quarter of 2006, power is expected to rate at 290 horses and 290 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is yet to be determined. All 2007 Chevrolet Tahoes shift gears through a four-speed automatic transmission, a pity since its siblings, the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon Denali, get a six-speed automatic as standard equipment. By not offering at least five forward gears, as Jeep does in the Commander and Toyota does in the Sequoia, Chevrolet has limited the Tahoe’s flexibility, economy and performance. At least Chevy matches the Ford Expedition’s four-speed unit, and offers a range of axle ratios to make up for the missing cogs. The Tahoe LS 2WD starts with a 3.42:1 rear axle ratio as standard, with an optional 3.73:1 ratio optional. All Tahoe 4WD models may be optioned with 4.10:1 gearing. When it comes to structural improvements, Chevrolet has made considerable gains in the new Tahoe’s chassis. GM calls this new platform GMT 900, and it will form the basis for its entire range of full-sized SUVs and pickup trucks. For the Tahoe, GM claims a 49-percent increase in torsional stiffness and a five-percent increase in load capacity. Tangible improvement is also seen in the front suspension and steering. A coil-over-shock configuration replaces the old torsion bar setup in front and a power rack-and-pinion steering system trumps the previous recirculating ball mechanism. Car-like handling requires car-like hardware and this arrangement, along with the Tahoe’s wider track and new frame, bring dramatic improvements in terms of ride and handling. Also new are next-generation Bosch antilock brakes with 50-percent stiffer twin calipers. Out back, a five-link rear suspension arrangement mirrors that of the previous model, although the components have been engineered to be stiffer and more robust. Three distinct suspension systems will be available on the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe. Most 2WD and 4WD LS and LT models will get GM’s ZW7 Premium-tuned system for general performance. Tahoe LTZ models use the Z55 setup that includes Autoride automatic load-leveling. Finally, an off-road Z71 package, designed for the backcountry and heavy-duty needs, will become optional on 4WD models later this year.

Design

Design Inside and out, the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe looks much better than the SUV it replaces. In fact, it’s so appealing that spending more for a GMC Yukon or Cadillac Escalade might not be worthwhile. If you thought the styling of the last-generation Tahoe was beginning to look old, you’ll find that the new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe’s sheetmetal emboldens the full-size SUV’s stance and freshens its looks in a way that brings dramatic change. Angular upright headlights, pronounced fender swells, a bulging hood, an aggressive lower front fascia, and wheels up to 20 inches in diameter combine with the rakish windshield and monochromatic paint scheme to create a handsome vehicle that appears to be in motion even while standing still. This is a big truck in a purely physical sense, but it still looks agile, a characteristic validated by the modernized suspension and steering. Ponderous and clumsy no longer fit the Tahoe’s styling lexicon. Its wider track, tighter wheel-to-body-relationships, and exterior refinements such as the full-wrap fascias, new fuel filler door, in-glass radio antenna, and tighter body panel gaps all lend the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe a more contemporary and upscale look. Inside, Chevy has gone truly upscale, improving the appearance and refinement of all materials and the gap-tolerances of all panels. This a better mousetrap – gone is the “mouse fur” material previously used for the headliner of previous-generation models, replaced in the new truck by an attractive woven cloth cover. Cheap-looking plastic, low-rent controls, and exposed seat hardware are also gone thanks to designers who have concentrated on fit and finish, a reduction in gaps, low gloss levels, and premium construction throughout. Metallic accents and attractive instrumentation also help upgrade the low-budget ambience that sometimes afflicts the interior of a full-size SUV. Check out the aluminum doorsill plates, and the redesigned seats with sculpted seat backs that are not only inviting to the eye but also appealing to the backside. Buckets or benches are available for all three rows, creating seating charts for six to nine passengers. The second- and third-row seats fold flat for increased stowage, and the front seats recline nearly flat for comfort (naps!) or extra cargo-carrying options.

Driving Impressions

Driving Impressions The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is easier to drive, much quieter inside, and simple to get into and out of. The new brakes, steering, and suspension make the Tahoe feel like a luxury model, and this SUV is far more responsive than ever. What you’ll notice first when getting into the new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is how easy it is to get behind the wheel or into the many passenger seats, including the easy-access, third-row seating. And if you’ve popped for the optional power fold-and-tumble second-row seats, getting into the way-back is a cinch. Next, you’ll find improved room in a bright and airy cabin with sculpted trim panels to provide more elbow and knee space, longer travel for the front seats, a huge center storage bin, a 25-percent larger glove box, and increased cargo-carrying room in the rear. Once underway, the fun begins. The 2007 Tahoe’s throttle tip-in is gradual and stiffened over previous versions, giving you a sense of more precise control over acceleration and contributing to less fatigue for your right foot. While the engine and exhaust notes barely intrude upon the cockpit during normal driving, putting the hammer down produces a pleasant rush of sound, serving as aural entertainment and as an important reminder of your speed. Likewise, the Tahoe’s improved brake pedal feel is the best to date in a GM truck. Gone is the old Tahoe’s squishy brick of a pedal, with stopping power coming on nearly halfway through its range of travel. The Tahoe’s new brakes are linear and effective, slowing this hefty SUV with manners and ease. Top awards go to the 2007 Chevy Tahoe’s rack-and-pinion steering. This new system carves turns in a manner more befitting true luxury models, with weighting that has greatly improved the on-center feel. For a full-size SUV, Tahoe’s suspension maintains an impressive balance between stiffness and compliance and reassuringly responds to steering input and road surfaces with uncanny ability. Adding to the new Tahoe’s sense of upscale character, the interior is amazingly quiet thanks to a low coefficient of drag, which cuts wind noise. This helps make everyday conversation easy, and makes the Tahoe a terrific sanctuary after a brutal day at the office.

FAQ and Specs

FAQ and Specs Our pick is the 2007 Chevy Tahoe Z71 because we like to go off-road, but most people will like whichever Tahoe LT package suits their lifestyle best. What are the best things about the new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe? Updated styling, upscale materials, and a responsive and luxurious ride quality are among the best things about the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe. The new Tahoe can also tow 7,700 pounds, can seat between six and nine passengers, and features best-in-class fuel economy. Chevy is making a big deal about the 2007 Tahoe’s improved fuel economy, but what can I expect where I live, in the real world? The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe’s fuel economy will vary depending on whether you select a 2WD or 4WD version, and whether you carry goods and gear or ferry items on a trailer. And, as with any vehicle, how much you dip into the throttle has big effect on how much gas your car uses. But, more than that, the V8’s Active Fuel Management system saves fuel only during highway driving, so if you’re a city dweller that 22-mpg estimated highway number is useless.

Which 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe provides the best bang for the buck? While our choice of models would be the Tahoe Z71 with the off-road package, but buyers who don’t go four-wheeling should consider the Tahoe LT-3 edition with the Z55 Autoride load leveling suspension option. The choice between a 2WD or 4WD version will depend on your specific driving requirements. SPECIFICATIONS Test Vehicle: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Base Price: $35,000 (estimated) Engine Size and Type: 5.3-liter V8 Engine Horsepower: 320 at 5,300 rpm Engine Torque: 340 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm Transmission: Four-speed automatic Curb weight, lbs.: 5,233 (2WD); 5,537 (4WD) EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 16/22 (2WD); 15/21 (4WD) Wheelbase: 116 inches Length: 202 inches Width: 79 inches Height: 76.9 inches (2WD); 77 inches (4WD) Head room: 40.3 inches (front); 38.5 inches (second row); 38.2 inches (third row) Leg room: 41.3 inches (front); 39 inches (second row); 25.4 inches (third row) Cargo volume: 108.9 cubic feet (with second row folded, no third row); 60.3 cubic feet (with second row up, no third row); 16.9 cubic feet (behind third row) Max. Seating Capacity: Nine Max. Payload: 1,867 lbs. (2WD); 1,763 lbs. (4WD) Max. Towing Capacity: 7,200 lbs. (2WD); 7,700 lbs. (4WD) Min. Ground Clearance: 9 inches Competitors: Dodge Durango, Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia

Photos courtesy of General Motors