Featured Review

2007 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas

2007 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas

Review Archive

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe :

David Finkelstein

Thursday, July 6th, 2006

Car manufacturers, much like sixteenth-century prognosticator extraordinaire Nostra-damus, have the ability to see into the future. But where Ol' Nosty saw winged beasts, Chevrolet looked into that crystal ball called “sales figures since 2001” - and saw that the Tahoe has been the best-selling full-size SUV in the United States for the past five years. Tahoes comprise 26 percent of all full-size SUV registrations in this country; combine that figure with the success of its bigger sibling, the Suburban, and you're looking at 41 percent of the market. Chevrolet could predict nothing but an even better Tahoe for 2007. And lo, it has come to pass.

The redesigned Tahoe features a sharper exterior, a more refined interior and more power under the hood. The 2007 Tahoe is more aerodynamic than its predecessor, with sleeker lines and a more steeply angled windshield that helps reduce wind drag. But while this newest Tahoe's design is completely contemporary, its body has all the brawn that Chevy drivers have come to expect. Built on GM's new full-size underpinning platform, the ´07 Tahoe boasts a tough steel frame that adds stiffness and subtracts unwanted body vibrations. Plus, with precise rack-and-pinion steering and larger tires than on models past, this new Chevy SUV handles wonderfully. Advances in engineering continue ´neath the hood, where you'll find a 5.3-liter V8 engine rated at 320 horsepower; it's designed with a fuel-stingy electronic-displacement system that cuts off four of the cylinders when they're not needed (i.e., during light-throttle cruising). And while SUVs - particularly those as large as the Tahoe - are never going to be the smartest purchase from a miles-per-gallon perspective, this ´07 model guzzles less gas than much of the competition (you'll get 20 mpg on the highway).

Climb inside the new Tahoe and you'll find a luxurious interior that's on par with many premium SUVs. Enjoy Cadillac-esque details at Chevy prices with such optional features as power-release, "fold-and-tumble" second-row seating (which lets you flip seats down for extra storage capacity). You can also take advantage of power-activated running boards, touch-screen navigation (sweet!) and a rear-view camera that'll make sure you won't take out a mailbox on a sleepy Monday morning (yeah, we've done that too). The 2007 Tahoe is sold in three trim levels and in a variety of equipment options, and is available with two- or four-wheel drive. Find out which configuration is best for you - just stop by a GM/Chevy dealer for a test drive.

Phoenix New Times Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff
Backpage.com