The most noticeable interior feature is the redesigned dashboard introduced in the
1995 Tahoes. Big and rounded, it looks far more attractive than the previous
squared-off panel and holds a complete array of gauges (speedometer, tachometer,
coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level and voltmeter) and soft-touch rotary
knobs for headlamp and heat/vent/air conditioning controls. All switches, knobs and
buttons are backlit, making them easy to use at night.
Give General Motors one demerit, however, for not including a passenger airbag among
the Tahoe's safety features. No doubt one will be offered in time, but we believe it
should be there now.
Depending on seating arrangement, Tahoes can carry five or six passengers. Three can
ride in front on a standard bench seat; the optional bucket seats hold two, and are
far more comfortable for extended use. In standard form, the seats are covered in
attractive and long-wearing cloth that has been treated with Scotchgard for improved
stain and soil resistance; the base 2-door has durable but less attractive vinyl
upholstery. Leather seats are optional.
As expected, the sporty 2-door is best used by two people and luggage. The rear seat
has adequate room, but getting there is something of a chore and the 4-door is far
more spacious. Climbing into the 4-door's rear seat presents no challenge, of course.
There's a good-sized step-up, but passenger-assist handles take excess effort out of
this and the door openings are wide.
A side benefit to opting for the larger Tahoe is the extra cargo room freed by placing
the spare tire under the rear floor. Two-door models still carry their spare upright
in the cargo space.
Tahoes can be as plain or fancy as the owner's inclinations and budget allow. A long
list of extras are offered to make them more comfortable, including air conditioning,
tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, power assists for windows, door locks and mirrors,
a variety of sound systems, fancier paint and upholstery upgrades, side running
boards/steps that can support 600 lbs., styled steel or cast-aluminum wheels, or
easier to drive off-road electric pushbutton shifting for the 4x4's 2-speed transfer
case.
First, last and always, the Tahoes are large vehicles. As such, they lack the
maneuverability of smaller sport-utilities. That's especially true in around-town use
where the Tahoe driver has to exercise the kind of caution familiar to big truck
drivers, though the Tahoe and Yukon 4-doors are distinctly handier than the even
bigger Suburban.
That said, Chevrolet has done a good job of tuning Tahoe's suspension and power
steering to make commuting comfortable and easy. With reasonable care, these big
vehicles can be wormed into parking spaces and threaded through traffic.
On the open highway, the 4-door delivers a remarkably smooth ride, not quite up to
sedan standards, but far from trucklike. Comfort is hardly affected by load; even a
trailer (maximum weight 5500 lbs. for the gasoline-fueled versions, 7000 lbs. for
turbodiesel) does little to disturb the occupants' comfort.
The 2-door's shorter wheelbase gives it a choppier ride by comparison, but it still
copes well with all but the worst road surfaces.
Power, always a strong suit in full-size American sport-utes, is plentiful. Our
Tahoe's V8 delivered the kind of effortless performance that we normally associate
with luxury sedans, and there's plenty of reserve for passing on 2-lane roads.
Braking is another matter. All Tahoes (and, for that matter, the big Chevy trucks from
which they are derived) suffer from somehat numb, mushy brakes. They work well, but
not as well as we'd like.
This year's version of the Tahoe/Yukon 5.7-liter V8 has been given substantial
increases in horsepower (250 vs. last year's 200) and torque (335 lbs.-ft. vs. 310).
Drivers will notice the difference. The turbodiesel's ratings are unchanged; its
advantages are better fuel economy and enough torque (360 lb-ft) to deal with the
heaviest loads.