Article Comments - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe First Drive and Follow-Up Test

62 messages, Last post on Jun 05, 2008 at 3:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Hybrid Cars, SUV

Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid - Two-mode hybrids aren't exactly new. GM has had the two-mode hybrid system working in transit buses since 2003. Today, about 700 of those buses are operating in 60 cities in North America and have just been introduced in Europe. (more)

Follow-Up Test: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid - Bottom Line: It's better, but whether it's $9,100 better is up to you. (more)

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#56 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [peralta] by gagrice May 27, 2008 (5:55 am)
Replying to: peralta (May 27, 2008 2:53 am) Anyone looking at full sized SUV is not interested in the LITTLE Highlander. Especially the WAY over price HH. There is a real bad deal for the buyer. About $7,000 premium for a ONE MPG gain on the highway over the regular Highlander. Plus the towing on the HH is much lower than the standard Highlander. I think a better case can be made for the Tahoe Hybrid than the HH. Not by much though. There are many full sized SUVs with BIG discounts right now that are much better choices. Now is the time for buying a big SUV before the Oil bubble bursts. It is going to happen and those that took a huge loss downsizing will be kicking themselves. Replies to this message: adamgreen (Jun 05, 2008 10:28 am) volkov (Jun 05, 2008 10:52 am) gagrice (Jun 05, 2008 3:32 pm)
#57 of 62 Tank per tank fuel economy hybrid vs non hybrid by peralta May 27, 2008 (1:49 pm)
If you look closely on owners' input of fuel economy on various sites including fueleconomy.gov, even if the Highlander hybrid is only 1 mpg better on highway, tank per tank the hybrid is 40% better (17 mpg vs 24 mpg). Now if all the roads have no traffic lights, no intersections, no traffic jams, no speed limit below 30 mph, no stop signs, no tool booths, just plain driving from point a to point b in a highway speeds, then without a doubt the nonhybrid beats the hybrid. I did a round trip from NYC to CT in a sienna minivan (100 miles) and got 30 mpg. On steady speed, the sienna registers 33-36 mpg. On similar trip, my HH only got just above 28 mpg. The HH can only register 30-32 mpg on steady speed but when it is time to fill up, my HH gets 30 mpg but my minivan gets only 24 mpg (most of the time it is only 20-22 mpg). It makes me frustrated that I am not getting excellent fuel economy on the highway in my HH but at the end of the day the hybrid still wins by a large margin.
#58 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [peralta] by adamgreen Jun 05, 2008 (10:21 am)
Replying to: peralta (May 27, 2008 2:53 am) I looked at the first and second generations of the HH and the compromises and shortcomings outweighed the marginal benefit of city mpg since we use a Prius for around town and need space for luggage when traveling in the SUV. I'm wondering if, for example, the round-trip drive from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe would allow the Tahoe Hybrid to strut its stuff or if the long climbs would deplete the battery and the long descents would see it fully charged (and the extra potential energy would go to waste because the regenerative braking would have nowhere left to store the electrons.) Replies to this message: nedzel (Jun 05, 2008 10:45 am)
#59 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [gagrice] by adamgreen Jun 05, 2008 (10:28 am)
Replying to: gagrice (May 27, 2008 5:55 am) I think you're right to say the Highlander is not comparable to the Tahoe (hybrid or conventional) and sure enough both manufacturers position the vehicles as mid-size and full-size, so they don't intend to compare the two. As I mentioned in an earlier comment on this review, I've looked at the Highlander more than once. Most recently, looking at the newer (larger) Highlander, two friends driving it for much the same reasons I would have it (to get to the snow or take short camping trips in the mountains) said it was a disappointment. Diving it was uncomfortable (though acceleration is handy when the battery is charged,) the compact cabin space and high price were never justified when it came time to stop to fill up only to calculate unremarkable mpg performance. I really was ready to buy one at MSRP, but if the thing doesn't reward that investment with 30 or 40 mpg, the novelty soon wears as thin as the wallet. : ) Replies to this message: volkov (Jun 05, 2008 10:52 am) gagrice (Jun 05, 2008 3:32 pm)
#60 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [adamgreen] by nedzel Jun 05, 2008 (10:45 am)
Replying to: adamgreen (Jun 05, 2008 10:21 am) Hybrids do best in the city in stop-and-go traffic. That is where they see their biggest mileage advantage.
#61 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [adamgreen] by volkov Jun 05, 2008 (10:52 am)
Replying to: adamgreen (Jun 05, 2008 10:28 am) For us the cost difference for the HiHy was going to be worth the extra up-front investment compared to the gas Highlander, in part due to gov't tax incentives we have here in BC. There was no doubt it would quickly pay for itself as the overwhelming majority of our driving is in-city. The fall-down was the very high price tag of the Highlander compared to other 7 passenger options with the HiHy $200-300 more per month on a 4 year lease compared to competitors. Replies to this message: gagrice (Jun 05, 2008 3:32 pm)
#62 of 62 Re: Make it 30 mpg and less sticker premium and we can talk. [volkov] by gagrice Jun 05, 2008 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: volkov (Jun 05, 2008 10:52 am) $200-300 more per month Even at Canada gas prices that is a lot of gas per month. Should cover the average gas Highlander fuel bill every month.