CHEVROLET TAHOE TEST Drive since 2008 SUV

Case about $ 30 000

Some believe that Hummer H2 and Chevrolet Tahoe are built on one platform. Many even argue that H2 is nothing more than a cardboard tank based on Tahoe, suitable only to scare 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 mounted on a platform of a light all-wheel drive truck was combined with a pretty comfortable salon, so loved by America, which so far almost all SUV new light is built just like this. Powerful frame, tightening suspension, mighty engine, 5-, 9-seater spacious salon, impressive view, confident behavior outside roads and on asphalt - here is a collective portrait of a real American SUV. The thorough update in 1999, Chevrolet Tahoe in accuracy corresponds to this standard. It comes to us with a 5.3-liter gasoline engine V8, which came to change popular in one time 5.7-liter, with a five or seven-bed salon and in a rather rich configuration, with a genuine pearl of which should be considered a magnificent acoustic system from Bose.
 
The appearance of HMMWV-M998 / 1109 in the civilian army conveyor's civilian SUV market, which, between us, is easy for the army, slightly confused maps to manufacturers of SUV. Suddenly it turned out that the client, whom decades were taught to more refined cars, is ready to pay considerable money for an absolutely barbaric truck, endowed with only two positive features - unique patency and stunning image. Nevertheless, since 1992, Hummer H1 remains a real SUV of dreams for most fans of the full drive. Al perhaps to argue with him, except for Toyota Mega Cruiser, forbidden to export outside of Japan, Dae naughty Lamborghini LM002, long removed from production and the order forgotten. In short, H1 - he is so alone! However, our current hero is H2 - too, let's say right, not the last.
 
Against Schwarzenegger
 
About Hummer H2 began talking in 2000, when his prototype was shown in Detroit in Detroit. The debut of the SUV took place in two years later, when the queue on him official and unofficial dealers was already formed for six months ahead. The yellow wardrobe monster with a new 6.0-liter motor submitted to 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 his business was performed - America extended and showed all the world what 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 of the Air Force: Much more comfortable, good music, not too much shakes and spare parts in any brand service. True, the road clearance at the same time is less than almost twice.
 
Welcome, MR. Hummer!
 
There are people who adore large American SUVs, and people who are not transferred to their spirit, but on the road Full Size SUV respect everything without exception. It 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 nearby stream, even the door, but the gate with a huge neon inscription Welcome! And this, in general, is true, because it is simply impossible to see any Honda Civic, which is simply impossible. As they say, the rhino is bad eyesight, but, given its size and weight, this is no longer his problem!.
 
Tahoe with a review is much better than H2. He and landing down, and the windows more. But the Hummer trajectory keeps better. It almost does not require a steer adjustment at high speeds, it is very confidently turns and unexpectedly easily accelerated.
 
Chevrolet Tahoe hits us in the category of prestigious cars. Firstly, this is a large SUV, secondly, the price of it is rapidly for 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, costs as much as his fellow, brought from America and desperately cleared? And is American now this car? True, the hope that the 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 absent in the absence of splashing, 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 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 dimensions of the car 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, how many features of the design. Narrow glasses and very large flat door panels, highly raised chrome fake grille, huge wheels, black bumpers, short skes. H2 Against the background of TaHoe looks like an elected SUV against the standard standard.
 
In the salon differences are cardinal. Even the exit procedure itself is different: the threshold of Hummer centimeters is fifteen higher, and the footsteps would not clearly prevent the steps - to get into H2, it is necessary to act quite vigorously. And inside if too smooth lines, of 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 money cars, 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 whether it is worth a hurry. And H1, on the contrary, begetted, each stroke recalling that there is no barriers for you, and time does not wait. What is just one of the auto selector - if Chevy offers traditional poker on the steering column, then a powerful lever capable of decorating the cabin of the ocean boat on the transmission tunnel H1 is the coincide. However, despite all of the foregoing, both SUVs have common features: for example, the front armchairs with integrated safety belts 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 a custom-made side support, the filler is definitely more densely, but now they are no longer collapsed as in the old days, although they are still far from the German plywood. Adjustments in eight directions help to get comfortably with 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 constant full-wheel drive with inter-axis differential lock. 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-boss 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, on the rough terrain of the need for an opposing system number two no, 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-track differential of increased friction, it cannot boast. Even the popular current anti-pass system he has no. Therefore, the driver of Tahoe on off-road has to be calculated only on the traction, 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 use 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 turns on the rolled snow. Handsome H2 Molttvato threw the stern when adding gas, alleviating the maneuvering, and Tahoe with the full drive turned on, on the contrary, tormenting the trajectory under the traction and agreed to fit into 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 for the fracture of the relief of the rages and sowed the earth with the front skel on the steep descents, and the H2 was crushed a couple of times a bushes, we did not experience serious difficulties. But the driver of Hummer feels much more confident in the snowy virgin. Togo and the wheels are posebaste, and the road clearance is higher, and the protection is more serious. By connecting the feeding system number two to eliminate the probability of instillation, you can rush through the fields and dollars with closed eyes, making sure, of course, that there is no telegraph pole in the direction of movement. According to the Hummer pillars, 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, intelligent fight, went H2, if he demonstrated some thoughtfulness when promoting, stumbled upon the ditch hidden snow or a hill, then Tahoe, moving along, slowed down and passed the plot carefully. At the same time, Chevy never gave way to H2 - where Hummer took an obstacle to Nakhp, Tahoe neatly trampled him or overcame with caution. Or maybe it happened because people with different driver temperament were 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 the SUVs developed. As you understand, there were no problems with such motors of our characters with acceleration. 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 has a brake system taken from Heavy Duty pickups and even on three and a half ton car running 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 was sad. Roules of both SUVs from the removal to a penny do three and a half turns, and, despite the powerful amplifiers, while you can park in the yard - you understand. Moreover, both the steering and head - the back review is also not 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, including skin, climate and Bose, will cost 90 020 dollars. 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 dollars in the database, which already includes leather seats, separate climate control with two air conditioning for the front and rear rows of seats, as well as the divine Bose with nine speakers. Options are not so much - the third row of chairs for 830 dollars, hatch, arch expansion and DVD-system, bringing up to 58,600 dollars.
 
The difference in price on the subject of study of all-wheel drive relatives is $ 35,490. Why are people who choose Hummer H2 are paid instead of quite solid Chevy Tahoe? It seems, not for the permanent four-wheel drive, not for the excellent 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 simply complement the image of the owner H2 - in the complex all this gives anything that is not comparable sensation of the driver, the feeling of limitless confidence in their 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 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-mile spring, with optionally installed pneumatic elements of maintaining the body level. By the way, as an option in North America also offer the QuadraSteer system with controlled rear wheels, but in Russia H1 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 H2 is built on the shortened base of the suburban k2500 or, if you are very accurate, GM 2500 pickups. This is indirectly spoken by the eight-pailer hubs Hummer H2 wheels. In fact, the differences between the platforms are much larger. It will be enough to say that the 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 largely 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 wheeled cars in NATO troops. Subsequently, the contract was extended, and 70,000 HMMWV entered 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 doubled all demands on the tactical and technical characteristics of the Ministry of Defense. There are 15 vehicle modifications, including lightweight and heavy weapons, armored vehicles and sanitary. For all the time the production of HMMWV almost did not require upgrades, it 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, who 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 characteristics of Hummer H1 are unique: the road clearance is 406 mm with a height of only 1900 mm, the angle of overcome the slope is 34 degrees, the angle of entry is 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 5,200 rpm and torque of 488 nm at 4000 rpm. In Russia, Tahoe has similar lots: it is sold with a single power unit - 5.3 V8 with a capacity of 285 liters. with. At 5200 rpm and a moment 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. It is old-fashioned by the design of the Niower Horse Horses of the Vortec series, fantastically hardy and crap.
 
SUVs are equipped with 4-stupn-penny 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 carried out with the buttons on the front panel, there are AUTO 4WD among them, activating nothing else as the Torque On Demand system is on demand. In other words, the front axle is automatically connected when the rear wheels are slipped and also automatically turns off. In addition, four-wheel drive can be used and forcibly. Here is just the inter-axis differential from Tahoe there is no, so the 4x4 mode is better to use only off-road or in snowfall.
 
Text Igor Gubar
 

A source: 4x4 magazine [01/2005]