Upsize your happiness
Growing up in the 90s, times were good. The Philippine economy opened up, imported goods, particularly cars started coming in. We saw a huge influx of big, previously unknown and unseen cars on the road. And what caught many eyes were the full-size American SUVs: massive land yachts that sent smaller vehicles scurrying away from its path. And they were quite cheap, considering the amount of metal, rubber and plastic you got for your money. Plus they came with a big stonking V8, which was the gold standard for engines, thanks to American brainwashing. Fuel was roughly 1/4 of what it costs now, so you can imagine how popular these were back in the 90s, and with far less traffic than today.
So more than 20 years later, we find these very same type of vehicles, particularly the Tahoe, back on our roads again. But alas, times are different. The market demands an affordable, fuel efficient yet highly versatile vehicle with a smaller footprint to fit today’s congested roads and tight parking spaces. Fuel price is astronomical, and working from home is more common. Do massive land yachts like the Tahoe still have a place on our roads?
Let’s take a closer look. The 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe is the slightly smaller full size 7-seat SUV from the bowtie brand. If you want something even bigger, there’s the Suburban which offers just more of everything. Our Tahoe Z71 came well equipped with the 4WD ready Magneride adaptive and height adjustable suspension plus aggressive all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler rubber sized 275/60R20 wrapping handsome alloy wheels. Though its days may be numbered as the world transitions to electrification, 5.3liter Ecotec V8 engine still has life left in it, outputting a healthy and silky smooth 355hp and 520 Newton-Meters of torque low-down. It’s mated to a buttery smooth 10L80E Hydramatic 10-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive, leather interior, a massive 10.2 inch Chevrolet MyLink LCD infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus oodles of space inside, particularly 41% more 3rd row legroom and 60% more cargo space than its predecessor. In fact, I even mistook the Tahoe for the bigger Suburban.
It also has Chevrolet’s surround vision, offering a 360-degree view which is massively helpful maneuvering the Tahoe in very tight spaces, a fact my wife was amazed that I was able to fit it safely into our townhouse compound that was never designed to accommodate something so massive. I was also able to park it at my hospital for my regular health check-up, which was daunting as it gets very full and very tight easily there.
And that was initially an issue of mine. I dislike big heavy vehicles because they feel so inert and lifeless. Many of the older American SUVs felt like lead on wheels, with lifeless steering and wobbly suspension. Thankfully, the Tahoe was none of that: the ride was firm in a controlled manner with very good compliance, the brakes reassuringly firm and felt like it would stop the Tahoe on a dime, and the steering felt more than decent, brimming with feel almost alien to a SUV of this class. NVH isolation was excellent, you feel cocooned safely inside. The drive is serene and peaceful, and my knack for eking out efficiency from thirsty vehicles saw me do 5km/liter in the city. I honestly love it, and can see myself owning one, if I could overcome the steep P7.7 Million SRP.
Aside from the SRP though, I do feel sheepish driving such a massive vehicle with me being the sole occupant, as is the case most of the time. We have no children so it’s just me, my wife and our dog Lulu who loves to sit on the massive center console in traffic. Another issue is the weight of the doors.
The Tahoe is made for Caucasian frames. The door swings out very wide (good) to allow easy access. But you need lots of parking space else it’s hard to get in and out of. The doorsill is huge too, so you end up grazing your pants and legs on the side and step board. If it’s been raining, your legs will get dirty each time you step out. A grab handle would also help on the driver’s side A-pillar to help hoist yourself in.
But the biggest issue I feel with vehicles like the Tahoe, is that it dwarfs everything around it. You tend to miss a lot of things on the road you normally will easily see in a regular sedan or hatchback. But you might miss a B-segment car inside the Tahoe, especially
at night. Motorcycle riders really kept me on my toes as they would suddenly cut in and brake or veer / swerve ahead of me. Physics being what it is, the Tahoe requires a bit more space and reaction time to stop or change directions.
The Tahoe is faultless, peerless and much better than its predecessors. It drives really well, delivers surprisingly decent fuel efficiency, is surprisingly maneuverable, fairly agile at speed and composed on the highway. There’s nothing to dislike, everything to enjoy and love about it. The real issue is where you will use it. In-city driving will be stressful and difficult. The Tahoe, like the rest of its ilk, deserves the open road.
I’m moving to the south.