2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Review

Increasing both power and fuel economy at the same time is like going out on a date with Scarlett Johansson and having her pick up the check. Yet this is just what the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid accomplishes thanks to General Motors' first full-fledged hybrid system known as "Two-Mode." While other GM models have donned the hybrid badge, the Tahoe and its sister GMC Yukon hybrids are the first to feature sizable electric motors capable of propelling the vehicle without the gas engine. The result is a full-size SUV capable of fuel economy in the 20s, that also carries eight people and can tow a 6,000-pound trailer.

At the heart of the Tahoe Hybrid is the "Two-Mode" technology co-developed by GM, BMW and DaimlerChrysler. A 6.0-liter V8 with cylinder-deactivation technology serves as the gasoline engine, while a pair of 60-kilowatt motors packaged within the transmission provide the all-electric motivation. Dubbed an electrically variable transmission (EVT), the Tahoe's transmission features those two motors, three planetary gearsets and four traditional hydraulic wet clutches.

The moral of the above story is that this 5,600-pound full-size SUV returns fuel economy better than most large crossovers. City mileage is particularly impressive, and like most hybrids, is about equal to highway mileage. This is the result of being able to accelerate up to approximately 25 mph using electricity only, a fuel-saving asset on surface streets and in stop-and-go traffic. If that's your driving domain, the Tahoe Hybrid makes a lot of sense.

In addition to improved fuel economy, the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid boasts more power than its gas-only brother. However, don't expect much better acceleration, as the hybrid tips the scales at a hundred or more pounds heavier than a fully loaded Tahoe LTZ. That's despite Chevy's best efforts to cut weight by constructing several body panels of aluminum and trimming heft from the seats (though ironically not from the heavy removable third-row seats, which could easily benefit from a nip and tuck).

So, unless the 2008 Tahoe Hybrid's significant towing capabilities are important, a full-size crossover like the Buick Enclave or GMC Acadia may be a better choice. They provide more usable passenger space, they're friendlier to drive, get close to the same fuel economy and are $10,000 cheaper when fully loaded. The new two-mode hybrid system is certainly impressive, but we're not entirely sure if the Tahoe is the right vehicle for it.

© Source: edmunds
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