In order to adapt to this new market, GM took some of its least efficient vehicles — the Escalade, Yukon, and Tahoe — and converted them to hybrids.
The Tahoe Hybrid combined two electric motors with a 6. It was released during a recession when many people were being careful with their money and were less willing to splurge on a hybrid SUV. And make no mistake, the Tahoe Hybrid was a splurge. GM has massaged the SUV's exterior to improve airflow and cut drag, with a deeper front airdam, reshaped running boards and unique rear-end body treatments bringing the drag coefficient down from 0.
The big V8 can switch from running on eight to four cylinders, and thanks to an Active Fuel Management system, it can run in the fuel-sipping four-cylinder mode longer and more frequently. GM says the system can operate in electric-only mode all the way up to 30 mph for about a half mile depending on load requirements before the gasoline engine kicks in. The hybrid system adds about pounds to the sport-ute's curb weight, so Chevy uses an aluminum hood and tailgate to shave pounds.
Now we've always enjoyed playing the efficiency game with hybrids--gingerly applying the throttle from a stoplight to maximize electric-only propulsion.
Under this week's best conditions slightly downhill with no traffic behind us , we just barely touched 28 mph, and were able to keep the Tahoe in electric mode for a surprisingly long time on lower speed streets by applying the gas pedal with a soft touch.
There's a handy efficiency gauge in the upper lefthand corner of the dash's gauge cluster that helps you maintain the most efficient mode. The transition from electric-only mode to combined, gas-electric power is, under most circumstances, seamless. You barely hear or feel the engine start when accelerating from a stop. Put your foot to the floor throwing economy out the window and the hybrid seems quicker than a regular Tahoe.
About half the time it feels like a CVT, then under certain situations like highway use or under heavy load there are noticeable shift points like a regular stepped gear transmission.
But regardless of what mode the transmission's in, the shifts are very smooth. The first leg of our journey took us From our offices in Santa Monica, Calif. At the time, this was approximately 30 percent better than the regular Tahoe could manage. The secret lies in the interplay between the twin electric motors and the 6. For one thing, the Tahoe Hybrid can accelerate from a standstill to about 30 mph on electricity alone, though you'll need flat or ideally downward-sloping ground and very patient drivers behind you to make it happen.
But even when the gasoline engine kicks in, the electric motors minimize fuel consumption by continuing to provide motivation. The Tahoe also capitalizes on familiar hybrid technologies such as regenerative brakes, which are used to recharge the battery pack while slowing the vehicle.
The most novel component is the transmission, which uses three special planetary gearsets in addition to four fixed ratios like a conventional automatic. Depending on the driving situation, this electronically variable transmission EVT can function with continuously variable gearing for light loads or fixed-ratio strength for heavy-duty tasks. Because of the considerable weight added by the hybrid-related components, Chevrolet made an effort to lighten the load and streamline the Tahoe Hybrid.
Some of the body panels are made of aluminum, while thin-profile seats shed additional pounds. The Tahoe Hybrid also has aerodynamic add-ons and low-rolling-resistance tires. It's a bit surprising, then, that the four-wheel-drive Hybrid has low-range gearing, an unusual attribute for a hybrid SUV. The rest of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is largely identical to well-equipped regular Tahoe models of the same vintage. It has three rows of seating, an eight-passenger capacity and up to cubic feet of cargo space, more than any other hybrid.
To access that full space, however, you have to physically remove the third row of seats -- just about every other large SUV allows you to fold it flat into the floor. Standard features included leather seating, a premium sound system and a navigation system.
The only significant items left as options were a rear-seat entertainment system and a sunroof. In reviews of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, we found that it drove very much like a regular Tahoe from that era.
In fact, its acceleration and highway passing performance were a shade better. But while the Hybrid's combined fuel economy rating was a major improvement, it's still a far cry from what most people would consider "good" in the absolute sense.
Overall, consumers who don't need massive towing capacity would be better served by equally roomy crossovers like the three-row Chevrolet Traverse. Changes were few and far between for the Tahoe Hybrid.
For , power-adjustable pedals became standard, while the model added front-seat side airbags. Otherwise, this quirky truck received only minor technology upgrades during its run. Pretty slow. Saves gas though. Worth the 50 k in the long run. Tahoe Hybrid matches its gasoline-only siblings in comfort and convenience, with special attention paid to acoustic details that makes for a very quiet driving experience. Examples include:. A unique hybrid gauge cluster includes a special tachometer incorporating an Auto Stop position just above the 0 rpm mark that indicates when the gasoline engine is in shut-down mode.
An analog economy gauge, to the left of the tachometer, helps the driver maintain the most efficient driving style. The screen also displays reverse electrical flow during regenerative braking and whether the vehicle is in two- or four-wheel-drive mode.
While the Tahoe Hybrid bears a close resemblance to other models, styling revisions are made for aesthetic and functional purposes. In addition to setting these models apart from other SUVs, these exterior styling changes contribute to improved fuel economy:. Mass is an important factor in overall vehicle efficiency. Because of the slight increase in curb weight resulting from the various hybrid components, engineers reduced the mass of numerous vehicle components, keeping the Tahoe Hybrid in the same test weight class as its gasoline-only counterparts.
On the outside, an aluminum hood and liftgate with fixed glass replace the standard steel units. Substituting an aluminum front bumper beam saved additional weight, as well as using low-mass, aero-efficient, inch cast aluminum wheels. Additional mass was eliminated by adapting a tire inflator kit that takes the place of the spare wheel and tire, hoist mechanism, jack and tools found on gasoline-only models.
Easy to use, the tire inflator kit is conveniently located behind the left-rear quarter trim panel in the cargo area. OnStar is standard on the Tahoe Hybrid. It uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of crash. OnStar subscribers also can use the service to be Good Samaritans by sending help to other motorists, and to call for help in other non-crash emergencies.
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