2010 Chevrolet Tahoe - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe? MSRP: $37,280 - $53,615

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The Tahoe's styling takes traditional SUV cues and updates them smartly. The design was new in 2007, and GM's stylists have done good work in giving the Tahoe a distinct identity from the Cadillac Escalade-though it's pretty close in appearance to the similar GMC Yukon except up front. Car and Driver praises the "handsome exterior and interior design."
The Tahoe's grille and nose carry Chevrolet's latest design theme, with twin horizontal grilles split by a big gold bowtie badge and flanked by large, square headlamps. Cars.com observes "large clear-lens headlights flank a wide grille bisected by a thick horizontal member with a large Chevy bowtie logo." Kelley Blue Book says that face "is its most distinctive exterior feature," and explains "the steeply-angled windshield, wraparound fascia and faired-in headlights help contribute to a best-in-segment 0.363 coefficient of drag." The Tahoe's glass and sheetmetal are in good proportion, there are subtle flares at the fenders, and the tailgate is simply shaped, with a minimum of cutlines and fuss. As Kelley Blue Book concludes, "despite the slightly conservative exterior styling, the Tahoe is still handsome." Car and Driver notes the Hybrid's "attractive exterior" includes "reworked front and rear fascias, running boards, and D-pillar moldings [that] help reduce the drag coefficient from 0.36 to 0.34."

The Tahoe's interior is simplified, too, and seems very appealing-it's a "handsome, well-tailored cabin," Edmunds says. A wide band of trim sits high on the dash-it looks better in metallic paint than in glossy wood grain-and gives the cabin a spacious appearance. Car and Driver asserts that the "modern and uncluttered interior gives the Tahoe a luxurious look." Large, well-marked gauges are framed by a big steering wheel, and a wide center console encases simple, clearly marked secondary controls. ConsumerGuide notes "the gauges are generally easy to read, but some testers find the markings too indistinct for best legibility," though they also mention "most controls are logically placed and operate with precision." A more work-oriented interior is fitted to the base Tahoe, but the well-trimmed LTZ's interior could have been lifted from a premium German sedan; Kelley Blue Book agrees "the instrument panel with LED backlighting is fit for a luxury sedan." The Hybrid model has several subtle modifications that improve aerodynamics and reduce weight, along with a number of Hybrid badges and a different display on the console's LCD screen.
Edmunds contends the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2009 "looks like any other [late model] Tahoe on the inside, except for the metallic trim in place of faux wood accents."