The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size SUV designed to comfortably carry five adults and to tow heavy loads. When the first Tahoe debuted for the 1995 model year, it was a shortened version of the Chevrolet Suburban, itself based upon Chevy’s full-size C/K pickup platform. Today’s Tahoe was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, and while it is still a shorter version of the truck-based Suburban, these SUV siblings no longer share sheetmetal and interiors with their full-size pickup cousins. A hybrid version of the Tahoe was introduced this year, but this review will cover only the traditional models.

Here is what changed on the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe:
• Standard side curtain airbags with rollover protection
• New gauge cluster pointers
• Revised front seat with storage on LS models
• Aerodynamic refinements designed to improve fuel economy
• New colors: Blue Granite and Ruby Red

The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe is sold in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, with a choice between rear- or four-wheel drive. Choosing LT trim adds a larger V-8 engine with flex-fuel capability and fuel-saving cylinder management technology, front bucket seats with a center console, a cargo cover, and fog lights. The LT can be equipped with one of two major equipment groups. The LT-2 includes leather upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, ultrasonic rear parking assist, Homelink universal remote, a six-disc CD changer, remote engine starting, and power adjustable pedals. The LT-3 also features 12-way power front seats with heaters, Bose Centerpoint audio system, power folding outside mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The top-level Tahoe is the LTZ. It has perforated leather upholstery, a third-row seat, a power rear tailgate, power folding second-row seats, an Autoride real-time damping suspension system, rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The Chevy Tahoe is available with a variety of option packages and available features. Among them: a navigation system, a DVD rear seat entertainment system, a power sunroof, a reversing camera, and power running boards. The LTZ can be equipped with a Chrome Appearance Package, and the LT model is offered with a Z71 Off-Road Package. Models with the Z71 package add a limited slip differential, tow hooks, skid plates, off-road suspension, off-road tires, wheel flares and a heavy-duty air cleaner to Tahoes that are actually headed off the beaten path.

The standard engine in the Tahoe LS 2WD is a 4.8-liter V-8 engine making 295 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 305 lb.-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm on regular unleaded fuel. All other Tahoes are equipped with a 5.3-liter V-8 engine making 320 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 340 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm on regular unleaded fuel. The larger V-8 is E85 flex fuel capable and is also equipped with Active Fuel Management technology, which shuts down half the engine’s cylinders under low driving load conditions. A four-speed automatic transmission is employed with both powerplants, and maximum towing capacity is 8,200 pounds for the 4WD model (7,500 pounds for 2WD models).

Standard safety features on the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe include four airbags: dual front airbags and side curtains with rollover protection for all three rows of seats. Antilock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system, and GM’s StabiliTrak stability control system with traction control and rollover mitigation technology are also standard. The Tahoe is available with Ultrasonic parking assist and a rearview camera to make reversing safer.

J.D. Power and Associates says the Chevrolet Tahoe competes against large multi-activity vehicles like the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia.

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