Given our roads, the thought of getting a full-sized SUV is illogical and impractical. They take up too much space, drink loads of fuel, barely fit in parking slots, and totally underutilized here.
And yet, if you ask someone what their dream SUV is, chances are it’s one of these giants. More likely, you’ll get the Toyota Land Cruiser as a common answer. So, why do people like them despite bulk?
Perhaps one can say it’s the American influence in the country. For younger readers, there was a time when land yachts were sold and built in the country, and large cars meant luxury and power.
That brings us neatly to our subject of this review, the Chevrolet Tahoe. More specifically, it’s the Z71 we have here. Big, bold, and brash, it could be said that it’s the embodiment of the American motoring psyche on wheels. It also helps that it’s made in Arlington, Texas. How much more ‘Murica can you get?
It’s an interesting curiosity, the Tahoe, but that won’t tell us if it’s any good. A test drive is in order, then.
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Styling
This being the Z71 model, it’s the one with the off-road bits attached to it. It comes with a unique bumper, skid plates, two-tone wheels, and a generally more in-your-face appearance. Those bumpers aren’t just for show, either, as it’s been done in a way that gives this SUV a better approach angle, vital for off-roading.
As for the Tahoe itself, it’s an SUV that has always had an evolutionary design. The general shape has been the same, and you can trace its roots back to the first-generation model that premiered way back in 1995. The split grille has been a signature of Chevrolet trucks and SUVs since the ‘60s, and the large bowtie badge on the grille reminds everyone who makes this giant.
It’s a handsome and purposeful shape, and one that stands out from the sea of Land Cruisers in the country.
Interior
We’ll start with the obvious here: There’s stacks of space in here. Of course, that’s no surprise given the sheer size of the Tahoe. It’s wide enough to have a center console box that doubles as storage bin, and any attempt to reach for anything in the passenger side will see you in the next zip code. And that’s just at the front.
The second row bench has more than enough wiggle room for everyone, and there’s no doubt about its accommodations. It’s almost impossible to brush shoulders with other passengers back there, and the flat floor means fantastic legroom for all. Even the third-row is spacious with about as much space as a subcompact hatchback. It’s a true eight-seater with room to spare.
There’s zero problems when it comes to cargo capacity, either. There’s 722 liters behind the third row, 2,056 liters behind the second row, and a whopping 3,480 liters with all back seats folded. If you need any more space, there’s the Suburban for that.
When it comes to cabin feel, we wouldn’t call it totally luxurious. It’s more a premium experience here than all-out luxury, to be honest. Most of the interior panels feel good to touch with no shortage of soft-touch materials. However, there are some inconsistencies with fit and finish. At the back, some plastic panels didn’t line up, and a couple of buttonsmove around when pressed.
We often complain about car companies sticking all basic functions in the touchscreen. In the case of the Tahoe, it’s the exact opposite. If anything, there’s way too many of them in there. It’s a bit overwhelming at first, and it’s not helped by the push button gear selector. A column shifter would’ve sufficed. Still, we chose physical buttons over screen controls any day of the week.
That aside, the Tahoe is a comfortable and cozy please to be in. The seats are firm in the right places, and you wouldn’t mind spending hours in traffic with it, whether you’re the driver or a passenger.
Engine Performance
It’s large and American, of course it has a V8. It has a 5.3-liter mill that puts out 355hp and 518Nm of torque, more than enough to pull over 2.5 tons of steel. It comes with something called Dynamic Fuel Management that shuts off half the cylinders in an attempt to make it more efficient.
But we’ll make one thing clear first. If you’re in the market for a full-sized SUV and hope for somewhat reasonable fuel economy, you’re looking at the wrong class. You can forget out getting one of these because you’ll be glad to hit 5km/L on a good day.
That said, the Tahoe isn’t too bad on that front. Yes, standstill traffic yields 2.5km/L, but moderate to heavy traffic can return 4km/L. It’s not too bad for something with a 5.3-liter V8. In slightly better traffic conditions, you’re looking at 5-7km/L, again, not bad for its class. If you avoid the temptation of squeezing the throttle on the highway, it can get up to 11km/L.
The thing is, the temptation to unleash that V8 is too strong. Should you bury the throttle, getting to highway speeds is as effortless as it comes. Effortless also describes its cruising behavior. It’s whisper quiet and serene, what you’d expect from a big V8 SUV. 100kph is dispatched in the region of 7 seconds, so there’s no worrying about overtaking. The ten-speed automatic felt smooth and seamless in this tester.
Ride and handling
As an SUV made for long, cross-country travels along American interstates, the Tahoe is built for maximum comfort. That said, the Z71 has some degree of firmness, but the air suspension does a fantastic job of keeping the ride level. Bumps and potholes prove no challenge for it, and it pretty much pulverizes and road imperfections.
The Tahoe is in its element on the highway and one barely feels expansion joints that come across it. But it’s also great around city streets and muddy tracks. Body control is excellent, and there’s none of the wobbly, floaty sensations that are usually associated with American vehicles.
Handling was a pleasant surprise although the overly cautious stability control masks the talents of its chassis. Steering is well weighted and precise for such a large vehicle. Believe it or not, its cornering abilities are good, and that’s despite the all-terrain tires fitted to it.
Given its dynamic capabilities and tough chassis, it’s perhaps no surprise why the Tahoe is one of the popular police cars in its home country.
Extra features
There’s no shortage of features in the Tahoe. As mentioned, there is air suspension, along with a suite of advanced driver assist systems. A barrage of cameras ensure you won’t add scrapes and dings on its body.
But the main goodies here are its off-road features. The suspension can be raised or lowered with a flick of a dial, and there’s a dedicated off-road mode that primes it for rough terrain. Selecting that mode boosts ground clearance to a whopping 254mm. Also, it has an automatic locking rear differential for when the going gets even tougher.
It’s safe to say that the Tahoe is ready to tackle the trails, but that’s only if the owner is willing to adds some battle scars on its expensive body.
Verdict
Yes, we said expensive. The Tahoe retails for P7,780,000, a massive jump from past models. Mind you, this comes with four-wheel drive and loads of tech, but we can't get over the sticker shock.
Yes, there are discounts on it at the moment, up to P2,000,000 off, in fact. And yes, it has more equipement than, say, a Land Cruiser or Patrol. But how long before it goes back to its original price?
But even so, it has some fit and finish shortcomings that are inexcusable at its asking price. We hope it’s better in other Philippine-bound units than the tester we had.
Mind you, there’s a lot to love about the Tahoe. Comfortable, spacious, capable, and solid, it’s easily one of the best full-size SUVs in the land. It’s a slice of Americana and unapologetically brash. But it’s really the price tag that leaves our heads scratching.
If Chevrolet Phillipines can keep that discount forever, then it’s more reasonable. It’s a great Land Cruiser and Patrol alternative at P5.7-M, but you’ll have to really want one at P7.78-M.
See Also
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