The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full sized SUV that is manufactured by General Motors. The Tahoe is very similar to the GMC Yukon, also made by GM. In the early 90’s Chevrolet and GMC brought to the market two different sized SUVs that are under the Blazer and Jimmy model names. But when the full-sized Jimmy was rebadged as the Yukon in 1992 the situation changed. Chevrolet waited until 1994, when they upgraded the mid-sized S-10 Blazer into a full-sized SUV and rebadged the new 4-door version of the Blazer as the Chevy Tahoe.
As of the present, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon serve as GM’s full-sized SUV model line. There are also lengthened wheelbase options available for both SUVs; the Suburban for the Tahoe, and the Yukon XL for the Yukon. In 1998, as the demand for more passenger-friendly SUVs rose, a luxury line for the Yukon model line emerged, the Yukon Denali, and as of 2002 the Denali version of the Yukon XL has been available for consumers.
In the 2010 model year, the Chevy Tahoe is considered to be one of the best performing SUV that is out in the market. It is also very competitive in terms of fuel efficiency, able to get 22 mpg with the introduction of the new Tahoe Hybrid. The Tahoe’s competition in the big sport utility market are the Ford Expedition, the Nissan Armada, and the Toyota Sequoia in the gas-powered division; among the hybrids it takes on the Mercedes GL-class with its clean burning BlueTEC diesel engine, the BMW X6 Hybrid, and also GM’s own Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid.
The Tahoe’s design styling takes the traditional design cues from traditional SUVs and smartly updates them for the modern market. In 2007, the designers in GM were very successful in giving the Tahoe a distinct appearance from their Cadillac Escalade model, though it does look very similar to the GMC Yukon. The two SUVs almost look identical until you look at them up front. The Tahoe’s grille and nose carries the latest design theme by Chevrolet, twin horizontal grilles split by the Chevrolet emblem and flanked at both sides by large, square headlamps. The glass and sheet metal work done in the Tahoe are done in good proportion; subtle flaring in the fenders, a simply shaped tailgate, and the bare minimum number of cut lines make for an overall clean look.
The interior of the Chevrolet Tahoe is also stunning. A wide band of trim is placed high on the dashboard that looks better in metallic paint than in glossy wood grain. Large, visible gauges are framed by the big steering wheel. A wide center console houses simple but clearly marked secondary controls. The rugged interior is a nice fit for the base model Tahoe, but in the LTZ version the interior looks like it was stripped from a German luxury sedan.
The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid has a few subtle modifications that improves the overall aerodynamics and also to reduce its weight. There are also different LCD displays on the console of the hybrid version.
