First drive: 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe in the UAE
The Tahoe is a major bread-and-butter model for General Motors. Starting life in the 1990s, it forms the basis for a few other similar models from GMC and Cadillac, although the original bowtie version remains the best-seller in the GCC region. And the new 2015 model is on track to continue the nameplate’s local legacy, as an alternative for those who can’t afford a Toyota Land Cruiser.
To be fair though, it’s much more than just an alternative choice now. It has improved in every possible way to become a proper contender in its own right.
For one, it follows a well-resolved styling direction. Large for the sake of being large, it is much more handsome than anything else in its class.
The previous model was big on the outside and surprisingly not-so-big on the inside. Chevrolet has managed to eke out more space inside, so it can actually be called spacious now. There’s tons of space for first and second-row passengers, although the third row remains cramped, but access to it is very convenient.
There’s tons of luggage space too. And at a pinch, the extra-wide central-armrest between the front seats can flip up to become a lap-belted seat! And here we thought the era of 3-seater front bench seats was over.
The cabin quality has hugely improved, with more strategically-placed soft-touch surfaces to cover up more of the hard plastics. The well-specced one we drove had all the usual technology bases covered, with Bluetooth, navigation, reponsive touchscreen, good auto a/c and what not, aside from a full suite of standard safety features generally missing in lower-spec Japanese rivals. Still not a fan of that column-shifter though.
Powered by a 355 hp 5.3-litre V8, it remains the cheapest V8 fullsizer you can get. With 564 Nm of torque lugging 2.5 tons around, it isn’t that fast, but it moves adequately for something this big. And fuel consumption, while expectedly high, is either equal to or relatively better than its rivals.
The ride is silent but a bit jittery due to its body-on-frame underpinnings, yet larger bumps are damped out as if they’re being flattened when you lightly bounce over them. And speaking of bounce, while it may feel that way on uneven roads, it never feels tipsy, and its cornering limits are respectably decent.
We like that it comes with four-wheel-drive and low-range gearing, as all 4x4s should. It won’t be able to do any extreme offroading, on account of its low front bumper, but it should get you to desert campsites and such.
The Tahoe has evolved into a well-rounded SUV now, instead of just being a Silverado wagon, and it can even be specced up to almost luxury levels, if the top-spec GMC Yukon XL we briefly ran was anything to go by. All in all, a very good entry in a competitive segment.
Comments
Hamid
Loving your series on GM four wheelers, man. You the only one who tells it like it is.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
More GM reviews coming soon. All sorts of nice cars.
Saqib Khan
How much does this specific version cost on road?
marc
looks like the 173k version. basic LT
John
Love the column-shifter and bench seats! Great review!
Liwa
this car is not made for middle east heat ;0
R
Can you do a review on GMC Yukon. Or will the Yukon be similar like the Chevy Tahoe ?
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Almost the same.
RayD
House on wheels! Drove the older model and found it to be very comfortable…AC was good too. Reasonably capable off road as well.
marc
mash, your price guide seems off in parts.
we test-drove the LTZ yesterday. liberty sells only one LTZ version which comes at AED 255k. no LTZ variations at all.
I was told the same goes for ghandi.
awesome car though!!! looks like we go for one
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Dealer mark-ups and stocks will vary.
marc
thanks, mate
although that is not what i am told directly at the various dealers.
i now went to bin hammoodah (abu dhabi) and al ghandi (dubai).
both offer exactly one LTZ version only, which is the full blown one with 22′ rims, etc. (eg also not the one you got which has the 20′ rims).
hammoodah ask for 255k incl. insurance
ghandi aks for 245k excluding insurance
very odd..
marc
small correction: my comment on the 20′ rims refers to another article..
you obviously didnt test the ltz..
Muhammad Jasim
Can you do review on GMC Arcadia Denali? Surprisingly I found the third row very comfortable compare to Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban 2015! And could you do a report on “top ten subs that has best third row”, which has enough space for adults.
Fahad
I believe that the Frd Expedition has finally gotten it right and the utility of the New Tahoe has been severely compromised. I understand that people in the GCC use these Truck just for show but being a practical user of Large SUVs I Believe that GM will need to redesign the Tahoe in the next 3 years, pretty much the way they did the camry.
I trust that in this segment the best would be the Sequoia for Power Space and Gusto, Expedition a close second and Tahoe, well because of its crappy 3rd row should be more compared to the Pajero or Nissan Safar Patrol. I do not consider it to remain in the segment of full size SUV, The Acadia is Far bigger in that segment and the AWD acadia has better room and a better ride.