Test Drive Chevrolet Tahoe 2005 - 2007 SUV

Case about $ 30,000

Some believe that Hummer H2 and Chevrolet Tahoe are built on one platform. Many even claim that H2 is nothing more than a cardboard tank based on TaHoe, suitable only to frighten the owners of small trains. So why is this car one and a half times more expensive than Tahoe?
 
The history of full-sized SUVs Chevrolet is counting from the distant 1935, when the first suburban appeared. The concept in which the indoor all-metal body installed on the platform of a light all-wheel drive truck was combined with a pretty comfortable interior, so loved by America that so far almost all the SUV of the new world is built. The powerful frame, the steady suspension, the mighty engine, 5-, 9-seater spacious salon, an impressive view, confident behavior outside of roads and on the asphalt - here is a collective portrait of a real American SUV. A thorough update in 1999, Chevrolet Tahoe in accuracy corresponds to this standard. It comes to us with a 5.3-liter V8 gasoline engine, which came to change popular in its time 5.7-liter, with a five-or seven-alone salon and in a rather rich configuration, with a genuine pearl of which should be considered a magnificent acoustic system from Bose.
 
The emergence of the HMMWV-M998 / 1109 light army conveyor in the civilian SUV market, which, between us, is easy for the army, slightly confused the cards of the manufacturers of SUV. Suddenly it turned out that a client whom decades were taught to more refined cars, ready to pay considerable money for an absolutely barbaric truck, endowed with only two positive features - a unique cross-suffering and stunning image. Nevertheless, since 1992, Hummer H1 remains a real dream SUV for most of the fans of the full drive. Al perhaps to argue with him, except for Toyota Mega Cruiser, forbidden to export outside of Japan, Daughty Lamborghini LM002, long shot from production and order forgotten. In short, H1 - he is so alone! However, our current hero is H2 - too, let's say straight, far from the last.
 
Against Schwarzenegger
 
About Hummer H2 spoke in 2000, when his prototype was shown at the roadshow in Detroit. The debut of the SUV took place two years later, when the queue on him official and unofficial dealers was already formed for the first six months. The yellow wardrobe monster with a new 6.0-liter engine presented by the general public against the background of Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, although he did not become a new car symbol of the nation, as at one time HMMWV, but did its job - America fell out and showed all the world, which it can create SUV. However, H2, agree, drove into success on a wide hood of his glorified ancestor, whose advertisements voluntarily or unwittingly did almost all reports from hot spots and Hollywood militants. By itself, Hummer H2 was different from H1 as a submissive game from the military simulator Air Force: Much more comfortable, good music, not too much shakes and spare parts in any brand service. True, the ground clearance at the same time is less than almost twice.
 
Welcome, MR. Hummer!
 
There are people who love large American SUVs, and people who do not tolerate them on the Spirit, but on the road, full-size SUV respected without exception. This is just the case when it is enough to blink the turn signal and slightly turn the steering wheel, as the door opens in the next stream, even the door, but the gate with a huge neon inscription Welcome! And this, in general, is true, because to see any Honda Civic, spending under the right side of the Hummer, is simply impossible. As they say, the rhino is bad vision, but, given its size and weight, this is no longer his problem!.
 
Tahoe has a lot better than H2. He has a landing down, and the windows more. But the Hummer trajectory keeps better. It almost does not require a steer adjustment at high speeds, very confident turns turns and is unexpectedly easily accelerated.
 
Chevrolet Tahoe enters us in the category of prestigious cars. Firstly, this is a big SUV, secondly, the price of it rolls over 65 thousand dollars, thirdly, it is an American car that for a Russian person is automatically a certain positioning.
 
With Hummer H2, the situation is more vague. First, it costs more than 90 thousand, secondly, it does not look like a business class car, thirdly, going to Kaliningrad. Last and first combined with difficulty. Why is the SUV who do from us, is worth the same as his fellow, brought from America and desperately cleared? And is American now this car? True, the hope that Kaliningrad assembly known for its highest quality will cure Hummer from numerous small sores, which are complaining of his overseas owners. In the meantime, the domestic influence on the design of the car was put in the absence of spare parts, thresholds and a rectangular lantern with the inscription Made in Russia hanging under the rear bumper. This and a few smallest things were made to squeeze H2 into Russian requirements for the configuration and mass: the fact is that the full mass of the American version exceeds 3.5 tons, and the Russian H1 fit into 3,493 - otherwise it would be necessary for him Categories C, and at the limits of the third transport ring, according to the current Moscow laws, the passage would be closed.
 
Heirs Silverado.
 
Both SUVs are built on the GMT800 series platform, which lead a pedigree from pickups. In general, differences in the overall sizes of cars are more seemingly. Tahoe is only 179 mm longer, 9 mm wider and 39 mm below, if you measure H2 without a trunk arc. Nevertheless, Hummer is perceived much more cumbersome. This is explained not so much by its proportions as the design features. Narrow glasses and very large flat door panels, highly raised chrome-plated grill radiator, huge wheels, black bumpers, short skes. H2 Against the background of Tahoe looks like an elected SUV on the standard background.
 
In the salon differences are cardinal. Even the exit procedure itself is different: the threshold of Hummer centimeters is fifteen more, and the footsteps clearly would not interfere - to get into H2, you need to act quite vigorously. And inside if too smooth lines, from which the contours of the front panel TAHOE are folded, and moderately elastic plastic with a modest texture look, to put it mildly, not too modern, the interior of H2 at first just shocks - the straight corners and a rigid shiny plastic with sticking out of it Heads of aluminum bolts. And for it - almost $ 100,000? But it is worth a ride on both cars day-other, as you begin to understand that in fact their interiors are harmoniously decorated. Tahoe soothes, setting up on the philosophical way - yes, you can drive quickly, but it is worth a hurry. And H1, on the contrary, begetted, each stroke reminding that there is no obstacles for you, and the time does not wait. What is just one of the machine selector - if Chevy offers a traditional poker on the steering column, then a powerful lever capable of decorating the cabin boat is rising on the transmission tunnel H1. However, despite all of the foregoing, both SUVs have common features: for example, front chairs with seat belts built into the backrest and armrests.
 
Charming revolution
 
In 1999, GM designers made a small coup in relation to the seats, and the fact that he had previously resembled a home chair, it became more like, well, let's say on the office. There was custom-made side support, the filler is definitely more densely, but now they will not fall asleep as in the old days, although it is still far from the German plywood stool. Adjustments in eight directions help to get comfortably to a person of any growth and a set, and for the most arring and non-standard, there is also a moved pedal block. The steering wheel can only bow to the driver, the longitudinal adjustment is traditionally not. The same and blocks of control of electric windows, a central lock, heated seats, and the latter applies not only to the bottom pillow, but also on the back of the chairs. In short, the unification was reflected in the salons to almost the same extent as in the mechanics of cars.
 
Locks in a circle
 
Hummer can be proud of a permanent full-wheel drive with inter-axis differential blocking. In addition, the regular equipment includes blocking the rear intercole differential and two electronic pseudo-blocking systems operating independently. The first active is constantly and is essentially an ordinary anti-test system, and the second is turned on separately, and its operation algorithm is somewhat different. It begins to slow down the wheels much earlier than the standard, but does it so softer, allowing you slightly scrolled with a possession wheel, reducing the load on the transmission and reducing the probability of self-drawing. However, there is no number two at the rough terrain of the need for a counter-test system, H2 easily copes with all obstacles, using only mechanical locks. Chevrolet in this sense has to be through. In addition to the automatic switching on the full drive and the rear inter-wheeled differential of increased friction, it cannot boast. Even the popular today is not a corresponding system. Therefore, the driver of Tahoe on the off-road has to be calculated only on the craving, inertia and on its own skill and common sense, because LSD works only on a flat surface. In the most critical situations, the SUV allows you to take advantage of the extreme measure - the gas-brake tacty, but it does it reluctantly.
 
The first thing we paid attention to after the congress from the asphalt is the behavior in the rotations on the rolled snow. Handsome H2 Molttvato threw the stern when adding gas, alleviating maneuvering, and Tahoe with a full drive turned on, on the contrary, it torpedo to hide the trajectory under the traction and agreed into the turn only when the accelerator pedal was released. And this is not surprising - everything is explained by the lack of an inter-axis differential.
 
During off-road trips, we feared that Chevrolet would not have enough geometric patency, and Hummer would not climb somewhere due to the width. In fact, even though Tahoe is somewhere and taped behind the fracture of the relief by the rainters and sowed the ground with the front skem on the steep descents, and H2 was crushed a couple of times a bushes, we did not experience serious difficulties. But the driver of Hummer feels in a snowy virgin. Togo and wheels are posebaste, and the road clearance is higher, and the protection is more serious. By connecting the anti-test system number two to eliminate the probability of instillation, you can rush through the fields and dollars with eyes closed, making sure, of course, that there is no telegraph pole in the direction of movement. According to the Hummer columns, it does not know how to climb, but it does not arise with everything else. Sometimes it seems that only anti-tank ditch can stop it. We did this: Forward, intelligence fight, went H2, if he demonstrated some thoughtfulness when promoting, stumbled upon a ditch hidden snow or a borgon, then Tahoe, moving in the next, slowed down and passed the plot carefully. At the same time, Chevy never gave way to H2 - where Hummer took an obstacle to Nakhpom, Tahoe neatly trampled him or overcame with caution. Or maybe it happened because there were people with different driver temperament behind the wheel. In any case, if Hummer is suitable for a person with any character, then Chevrolet - people are calm and judgment.
 
Differences in car characters are noticeable on asphalt. We did not put road tests in the priority of this test, but a certain opinion on the behavior of SUVs was developed. As you understand, our heroes with acceleration were not overclocked with such engines. About 10 seconds up to 100 km / h - the indicator is not bad. At the same time, the difference in the volume of engines and, accordingly, in power almost invisible. Differences appear when braking and turning turns. Hummer brake system is taken from Heavy Duty pickups and even on three and a half ton car runs with a margin. Tahoe brakes confidently, but not so decisively. At high speeds, Hummer also behaves better. At the same time, it requires a certain prudency during maneuvering, but performs rebuildings and overtaking more confident than Tahoe, which in this sense is a classic American SUV, although seriously improved. With which our heroes are all right, so it is with the smoothness of the stroke and the work of the suspension. Even the passage of a lying policeman at a speed of 80 km / h at an angle not only does not respond unpleasant sensations in the cabin, but also does not affect the course stability. But maneuvering in narrow places at low speed is sad. Roules of both SUVs from the removal to the abundance are made by three and a half turns, and, despite the powerful amplifiers, while you can park in the yard - you understand. Moreover, both the steering wheel and head - the review back is also not from the best, despite the giant mirrors.
 
Holiday in style
 
Well, now let's go back at the table with the calculator in the hands. Hummer H2 in the basic configuration, which includes skin, climate and BOSE, will cost $ 90,020. The place for the sixth passenger is still half a thousand. The maximum factory equipment with chrome and kengurine in the whole face will raise the bar until 94,090 - just such a version and visited our tests.
 
Chevrolet Tahoe is much cheaper - $ 54,410 in the database, where leather seats are already included, separate climate control with two air conditioners for the front and rear rows of seats, as well as the divine Bose with nine speakers. Options are not so much - the third number of chairs for $ 830, hatch, arches expansion and DVD system, bringing up to 58,600 dollars.
 
The price difference on the subject of studying all-wheel drive relatives is $ 35,490. Why are people who choose Hummer H2 are paid instead of quite solid Chevy Tahoe? It seems that there is no permanent four-wheel drive, not for great permeability in combination with very good handling and not even for the brutal look of the car. The secret is that the above does not just complement the image of the owner of H2 - in the complex all this gives anything that is not comparable sensation of the drive, the feeling of limitless confidence in the own forces and the mood of the holiday, which is always with you. By the way, if Starina Hemingway lived to this day, he would certainly drove the Hummer H2 - he also knew that in real men's things.
 
Both SUVs are built on close platforms that lead a pedigree from GM pickups. In their basis, the ladder frame type from a closed profile, anterior independent double-handed torsion suspension and a rear-dependent five-dimensional spring, with optionally installed pneumatic elements of maintaining the body level. By the way, the QuadraSteer system with controlled rear wheels also offer as an option in North America, but N1 and Tahoe are not supplied in such versions. So the fundamentally chassis of both models is very similar. But the length of the wheelbase is different: the Chevrolet it is equal to 2946 mm, and Hummer has 3118 mm. In fact, it would be necessary to say that the H2 is built on the shortened base of the SUBURBAN K2500 or, if you are very accurate, the GM 2500 pickups. This is indirectly indicated by the eight-pailer hubs Hummer H2 wheels. In fact, the differences between the platforms are much more. It will be enough to say that cars of the series 2500 and 3500 are built on nodes of light trucks. However, for us now is not so important who from whom in the village General Motors adopted the platform, the more schematically they are in many ways similar.
 
Applications
 
The official birthday of HMMWV can be considered on March 22, 1983, when the US Department of Defense signed a five-year contract with Am General for the supply of 55,000 high-purpose multipurpose wheels in NATO troops. Subsequently, the contract was extended, and 70,000 HMMWV were admitted to the service, replacing a whole series of outdated army SUVs. During acceptance by the Customer, HMMWV passed a total of more than half a million miles in the most difficult road conditions and almost halved all the requirements for the tactical and technical characteristics of the Ministry of Defense. There are 15 vehicle modifications, including lung and heavy weapons carriers, armored vehicles and sanitary. For all the production time, HMMWV almost did not require upgrades, was only replaced by the engine to a newer one. The sale of HMMWV to the civilian population was banned by almost ten years. Only in 1992, the first civil versions appeared, which received the official name for the nickname given to him yet designers, - Hummer and N1 index. It should be noted that in the US HMMWV, as well as Hummer H1, are not related to the class SUV, but to the category Class III Trucks. General Motors became interested in H1 back in 1995, but only in 1999 an agreement was reached with Am General about employee. Since the beginning of official civil sales, more than 170,000 cars were issued. So far, the Hummer H1 characteristics are unique: ground clearance - 406 mm with a height of only 1900 mm, the angle of overcome the slope is 34 degrees, the angle of entry - 72 degrees, the congress - 37.5, the ferrous depth is 760 mm.
 
In America, TaHoe put three gasoline engines - 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 liters, but on Suburban another one - 8.1 liters. For Hummer identified the only possible option - 6.0 V8 with a capacity of 321 liters. with. At 5200 rpm and torque of 488 nm at 4000 rpm. In Russia, Tahoe has a similar lotion: it is sold with the only power unit - 5.3 V8 with a capacity of 285 liters. with. At 5,200 rpm and a torque of 439 nm at 4000 rpm. Both engines, like cars, the nearest relatives - for example, actually 6.0-liter is made of 7.4 liter. This is an old-fashioned structure of the Niower Horse Horses of the Vortec series, fantastically hardy and crap.
 
SUVs are equipped with 4-sta-pcented automatic transmissions of Hydra-Matic fourth generation. Differences begin in the drive. TAHOE is equipped with AutoTrack Active 4WD, the selection of the modes of which is made by the buttons on the front panel, there are AUTO 4WD among them, which activates nothing else, as the Torque On Demand system is on demand. In other words, the front axle automatically connects when the rear wheels are slipped and also automatically turns off. In addition, the four-wheel drive can be used and forcibly. That's just the inter-axis differential from Tahoe is not, so the 4x4 mode is better to use only off-road or in snowfall.
 
Text Igor Gubar
 

A source: Journal 4x4 [01/2005]