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2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Quality Review

February 22, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

the heated leather front bucket seats offer OK comfort and thigh support
Cars.com

grownups won't want to spend much time back there
AutoblogGreen

lighter, thinner seats actually add 1.5-inches of second-row passenger knee room
Kelley Blue Book

The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid equals the standard Tahoe in terms of comfort, space, and ergonomics.

With seating for eight, the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is "cavernous,” according to Edmunds, but the low seating position in the third row means "grownups won't want to spend much time back there," reports AutoblogGreen.  All seating surfaces are leather—a standard feature; the front seats are heated and the driver can enjoy six-way power adjustment with manual recline. "The front seats [in 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrids]," says the Detroit News, are "made lighter to cut the vehicle's weight, have plastic curved pieces on the back to allow second-row passengers...more room." Cars.com remarks, "the heated leather front bucket seats offer OK comfort and thigh support."

Unlike some of its competitors, the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid does not feature folding second- or third-row seating. Edmunds reports that the "50/50-split-folding 3rd row seats can be removed with a yank of the release handle," and the second-row seats "tumble forward for more cargo capacity." Motor Trend thinks that adding or removing the third-row seats is "a single-person operation [and] the added cargo space with the third row removed is welcome." Cars.com notes that in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2009 there's "60.3 cubic feet [of] interior cargo volume [with second and third row] seats folded."

“Unremarkable” is how several reviewers describe the fit and finish of the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid’s interior. The "look and texture as well as the fit of the plastic panels is fine," says AutoblogGreen, adding that "the quality of some of the materials seems lower than you might expect in a vehicle costing over $50,000." Conversely, Cars.com gushes, "minor changes were made to improve an already excellent interior." The rear glass window is fixed in place and cannot be opened separately, so park away from walls and other obstructions if you need to toss something in the back. However, made from lightweight aluminum, the hood and liftgate of the 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid have been designed to save weight. Thus, both are easier to lift than those on the standard Tahoe.

Better aerodynamics equals reduced wind noise compared to the less-streamlined nonhybrid Tahoe. AutoblogGreen finds it "kind of spooky rolling along in such a big heavy vehicle in almost complete silence [in electric-only mode]." Cars.com notes it's "difficult to tell when the Tahoe Hybrid's gas engine kicks on when accelerating from a stop—there's no jerkiness or even any engine noise."

Conclusion

The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is quieter and refined inside, but some might be disappointed with the fit and finish of the interior in this $50,000-plus vehicle.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:the heated leather front bucket seats offer OK comfort and thigh supportCars.comgrownups won't want to spend much time back thereAutoblogGreenlighter, thinner seats actually add 1.5-inches of second-row passenger knee roomKelley Blue Book The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid equals the standard Tahoe in terms of comfort, space, and ergonomics. With seating for eight, the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is "cavernous,” according to Edmunds, but the low seating position in the third row means "grownups won't want to spend much time back there," reports AutoblogGreen.  All seating surfaces are leather—a standard feature; the front seats are heated and the driver can enjoy six-way power adjustment with manual recline. "The front seats [in 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrids]," says the Detroit News, are "made lighter to cut the vehicle's weight, have plastic curved pieces on the back to allow second-row passengers...more room." Cars.com remarks, "the heated leather front bucket seats offer OK comfort and thigh support." Unlike some of its competitors, the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid does not feature folding second- or third-row seating. Edmunds reports that the "50/50-split-folding 3rd row seats can be removed with a yank of the release handle," and the second-row seats "tumble forward for more cargo capacity." Motor Trend thinks that adding or removing the third-row seats is "a single-person operation [and] the added cargo space with the third row removed is welcome." Cars.com notes that in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2009 there's "60.3 cubic feet [of] interior cargo volume [with second and third row] seats folded." “Unremarkable” is how several reviewers describe the fit and finish of the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid’s interior. The "look and texture as well as the fit of the plastic panels is fine," says AutoblogGreen, adding that "the quality of some of the materials seems lower than you might expect in a vehicle costing over $50,000." Conversely, Cars.com gushes, "minor changes were made to improve an already excellent interior." The rear glass window is fixed in place and cannot be opened separately, so park away from walls and other obstructions if you need to toss something in the back. However, made from lightweight aluminum, the hood and liftgate of the 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid have been designed to save weight. Thus, both are easier to lift than those on the standard Tahoe. Better aerodynamics equals reduced wind noise compared to the less-streamlined nonhybrid Tahoe. AutoblogGreen finds it "kind of spooky rolling along in such a big heavy vehicle in almost complete silence [in electric-only mode]." Cars.com notes it's "difficult to tell when the Tahoe Hybrid's gas engine kicks on when accelerating from a stop—there's no jerkiness or even any engine noise." ConclusionThe 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is quieter and refined inside, but some might be disappointed with the fit and finish of the interior in this $50,000-plus vehicle. 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID STYLING | [8 out of 10] ForbesAutos: "still boxy and burly" Edmunds: "handsome with fine build quality" Detroit News: "uncompromising in its size" Car and Driver: "Attractive exterior" There are subtle and obvious differences between the 2009 Chevy Tahoe ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

If buying a hybrid is the driving force behind your selection decision, Toyota offers the Highlander Hybrid and Lexus has the mechanically identical RX 400h. These are both very nice SUVs with good passenger comfort and real-world fuel economy of around 25 mpg, but neither offers the room, towing, or genuine four-wheel-drive capabilities of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz offers a diesel-powered GL320 BlueTec SUV, a marvelous performer with more comfort inside, more available technology features, and similar towing capability for not quite $10,000 more than the Tahoe Hybrid. From Chrysler, the Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen two-mode hybrids utilize the same technology as the Tahoe. While these Chryslers benefit from a great piece of technology, the Durango/Aspen platform is generations behind the Chevy Tahoe—especially in ride, handling, and refinement. The Jeep Grand Cherokee with the newly available 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 is another alternative; it delivers EPA ratings of 17/22 mpg with excellent towing and off-road capabilities. Of course, the Jeep is considerably smaller than the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

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See the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Robert #1, Posted: 2/6/2009

    Good choice

    This is a good choice for anybody that can afford the high cost and wants to help reduce our dependence of foreign oil.
    Much more practical for a family than a Prius.

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