Test drive Chevrolet Tahoe 5 doors 1991 - 1999 SUV

All photos of Chevrolet Tahoe 5 doors 1991 - 1999

Tahoe 4wd '2000

Representatives of Chevrolet call their new Tahoe a real SUV. His predecessor was also a real, but rather hardy working horse than a stately tribal stallion. Today, the SUVs are increasingly attributed to cars created according to the canons of the Highway School, with emphasized good manners of behavior on the road and the possibilities for transporting goods as a passenger station wagon. Moreover, these qualities only complement their very modest ability to move where asphalt ends. In contrast, the new Tahoe and Suburban develop the concept of cars that appeared in 1935 equally adapted for the transportation of people and goods and on the classic ramp of light truck chassis, that is, pickups. It is here that the solution to the American classification incomprehensible to Europeans lies, uniting pickups and SUVs into a category called a short and sonorous word a path.

We were presented with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the first Tahoe of the 2000 model year and the Silverado pickup, on the basis of which this favorite of the public was created. In fact, a completely new car converted from the roof to the Tahoe wheels. Perhaps, only his strong -willed character remained the same. True, designers corrected the appearance of the car with great care, given the very contradictory opinions of buyers. On the one hand, some customers believe that the design of the outgoing model is outdated, because it has not changed for 5 years. On the other hand, the owners of the old Tahoe were so akin to its bunk rectangular physiognomy that they are not ready to accept any radical changes in the appearance of a beloved car. As a result of some evolution, Tahoe as a whole remained faithful to a slightly rude style, while competitors from Chrysler and Ford boldly crush their previous ideas about the appearance of the tracks.

Even at first glance, it is noticeable that the roof of the new Tahoe has become more convex, which added space in the cabin. This will be immediately appreciated by passengers of the second and especially the third row of seats. On these two rear chairs, which are offered to order, the legs are clearly not enough, otherwise it was not infringed for freedom. In general, passengers of both back rows are not deprived of attention and care: even an independent air conditioning system with adjustable deflectors, which are located above the rear doors and about the third row of seats, are not offered to their services. The two of the rear seats in terms of convenience are not inferior to all other seats, but with a leather upholstery, standard for modification of LT, they look just luxurious. As befits a truly universal car, Chevrolet Tahoe has a 1/2 average sofa and independently removed seats of the third row. They develop extremely easily thanks to a thought -out design and applied directly to the handles of an intelligible marking, which prompts the sequence of actions. After simple manipulations, additional chairs in folded form are simply rolled out on wheels, freeing the immense womb of the Tahoe trunk for the cargo almost 2 cubic meters. m, if measured to the ceiling. Caring for convenience, the designers did not forget about such trifles as the door handles: now in order to open the door, they simply pull them over.

On Tahoe in the LT version, the luggage compartment door opens up and has in the best American traditions! Separately rising glass with heating. The swirling double door in the spirit of the transported vans is included in the standard package of basic modification, although it will be put to order on any Tahoe option. Swing doors, of course, are more convenient when loading, but significantly limit the review back from the driver's seat, so that the intra -sulfate mirror can be considered an extra part, the benefit of huge external mirrors provide good control of the situation in the rear and allow you to safely move in reverse. You are convinced of this after the first attempt to drive the car through a narrow arch into one of the St. Petersburg courtyards. Here, however, you have to remember that the mirrors are huge, like the ears of an elephant, significantly protrude for the dimensions of the car body. The answer to a completely fair question about why it was necessary to enter the arch backwards is simple: otherwise, in order to leave, I would still have to back off. For all its excellent coordination of the movements of a 5-meter machine, not to turn around in the courtyard-collar.

Managing such a large car is surprisingly easy. Excellent visibility of forward, conveniently located large circuit breakers located on the steering column control of a 4-speed automatic box (again a solution in a purely American style) everything is exactly as it should be in a classic SUV. No wonder Tahoe is often used as an escort machine: the car is large, strong, while quite maneuverable, and control of it is completely not tiring. The equipment and design of the driver’s place and the Silverado pickup is largely identical, the difference is mainly associated with the features of the used climatic installation and audio system. At first, the work of the steering mechanism based on a globoid worm equipped with a powerful hydraulic power control may seem too easy, but this does not prevent the steering wheel from being informative and ensure good control accuracy. The new, completely independent suspension of all wheels, a 5-bottom spring in the back and a torsion 2-crap in front, also plays an important role in the excellent controllability of Tahoe.

Having traveled a little on the new Tahoe, you suddenly begin to catch yourself thinking that you gradually become bolder and increase the speed in corners. Tahoe continues to keep the case as surprisingly even as surprisingly, writing out the given arcs. At the same time, irregularities on the highway and a rocky road running along the shore of the Gulf of Finland are not at all violated by unusual for the SUV of the smoothness of the course. Here we must pay tribute to the efforts of the pneumatic system for maintaining the position of the Autoride body.

What else pleasantly pleased in a new car was a 273-horsepower engine. Despite the lesser volume (5.3 l) less than that of the predecessor, it is more powerful and at the same time quieter in work. Autotrack all -wheel drive transmission with a connected front axle and lowering a number of gears has button control. In addition to the gentleman's set of transmission modes of this type, another Auto 4WD is offered. In this mode, electronics controls the slipping of the drive wheels and, if necessary, connects the front axle. The self -locking differential of the rear axle sometimes allows even in difficult situations to do without connecting the front axle. Powerful brakes for a heavy car are just a vital necessity, and Tahoe boasts huge ventilated discs on all wheels, well, just a supercar. Although no, just an SUV from the real ones!
Some technical characteristics of Chevrolet Tahoe 4wd 2000
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm 5052x2068x1960
Base, mm 2946
Front/behind, mm 1651/1676
Turn diameter, m 11.7
Clearance, mm 218
The volume of the trunk, l 1895 with two rows of seats,
3348 with one nearby
Equipped mass, kg 24191498 depending on the configuration
The mass of the towed
trailer with brakes, kg 3500
V8 gasoline engine type, 16-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 5327
Compression degree 9.5: 1
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 273/5200
Max. moment, nm/rpm 427/4000
Drive connected to all wheels
Automatic transmission 4-speed, 2-speed
gearbox, self -blocking
The differential of the rear axle
Suspension in front Independent double -leaf
behind is independent five -stained
Brakes in front of discount ventilated
at the back of the circular ventilated
Tires 265/70 R16
Max. Speed, km/h 170
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
city/route/medium 19.7/12.9/15.4
Tank volume, l 96.4
Sergey Falaleev
Photo by Evgeny Amanov.