Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid: Used Car Reminder
Posted by Doug DeMuro in Used Car Reminder on | 9 comments
If you’re reading this site, you probably already know I’m a bit odd. For example, I’ve posted several long reviews of cars I’ve never even driven. And I once owned a Range Rover Classic. This is not normal behavior.
However, the strangest thing about me, undoubtedly, is that I love the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
The Tahoe Hybrid came out for the 2008 model year using a 332-horsepower 6.0-liter V8. If that sounds like a lot of power, it was: the Tahoe Hybrid did 0-60 in the mid-8 second range, which makes it a veritable monster truck of performance. (OK, maybe not, but it’s no i-MiEV, either.)
Most importantly, however, the Tahoe Hybrid boasted a huge fuel economy savings over the standard Tahoe. How huge, you wonder? According to the EPA, 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. I know what you’re thinking: doesn’t a semi truck get that going uphill?
OK, fine, so the Tahoe Hybrid’s gas mileage wasn’t up to i-MiEV levels either. But consider this: the standard Tahoe got 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. That means the hybrid’s city mpg boost was 5 mpg, or a whopping 33 percent. By comparison, the Sonata Hybrid only gets a 40 percent improvement, which means the Tahoe Hybrid is almost as green, provided you don’t look at the overall numbers.
The Tahoe Hybrid had one major problem: it was expensive. A base Tahoe costs around $40,000, while the Hybrid was closer to $54,000. Granted, no one buys a base Tahoe except for the US Forest Service, but most people could probably leave a dealer without spending more than $45,000 (or $16,000, after GM incentives). Fortunately, the Tahoe Hybrid actually added some features to compensate for its expense.
But on the used market, it’s a whole different story. Unlike me, no one respects the Tahoe Hybrid, which has brought its values to the same level as a gas-powered one. That means you can get a three-year-old Tahoe Hybrid for maybe a few grand more than a regular three-year-old Tahoe. And at that point, it’s worth it. If only so you can tell people you’re just as green as a Sonata Hybrid.
9 Responses to “ “Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid: Used Car Reminder”
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If you assume that the Battery lasts 5 years until you need a new one, that’s 2 years of great savings before you have to invest the next 5 digit amount
This is, possibly, a minor issue with the Tahoe Hybrid.
Why would you assume the battery only lasts 5 years?
I suppose I’ll be *that* guy and point out that in terms of absolute fuel consumption, going from 15 mpg to 20 is a massive increase compared to going from 21 to 40 or whatever the Sonata Hybrid does. the hybrid drivetrain actually does make a lot more sense in large SUVs than say, the Prius C.
In my little corner of Beijing here I’ve seen at least 3 or 4 different Escalades, and for some reason 2 or 3 of them have been the Hybrids. I can only assume that this is because the buyers have no idea what the 18′ tall lettering on the side actually meant(SUPER MEGA STARS AND STRIPES?), and just wanted the most expensive American vehicle money could buy before the X6M came out.
Shall I be correct in expecting that a Chrysler Aspen hybrid article somewhere in the pipeline? The first and so far only hybrid Chrysler in existance surely must warrant some acknowledgement for the sake of historical significance, if nothing else.
Well – if you buy a used 2008 model to take advantage of the price drop, then I guess it’s only five MORE years. Either way, he’s right: it’s pricey.
Oh, the Chrysler Aspen. About 11 people remember that car, and you and I are the only ones who remember that they made a hybrid version. Certainly article-worthy in the future.
I would assume that it would last only 5 years because it’s a NiMH battery which suffers from capacity loss over the years. A battery which is constantly charged and discharged won’t last forever – probably not even the lifespan of a normal car. Maybe it won’t be completely useless after 5 years but it will have lost a significant part of it’s capacity and therefore the time it can deliver electric energy. And this means you’re not saving that much or you’ll be facing a costly repair.
That’s one of the main reasons why hybrid doesn’t sell that well over here in Europe. People don’t trust that the technology lasts long enough to provide real savings. That’s why we stick with our torquy Turbo Diesels which provide 47 – 33 MPG in an average car – like a Golf/Jetta TDI e.g.
The Hoe was/is my favorite GM product.
I hope the T1000 doesn’t screw it up.
And is the new Slade a lambda or not!
Yeah, all good questions. I’m nervous to see the new SUVs too, if only because the trucks didn’t change nearly enough. The SUVs are already looking stale, and if the redesign is minor, it won’t do much for them.
Oh, and: hopefully, they keep the hybrid around.
Had to follow one of these Tahoes down our switchback road to exit the subdivision this past Thursday. He’s owned it since new. Great lumbering beast.
Meanwhile, I see you got the obligatory letter from a European pushing diesels and arguing about batteries going off in hybrids. Apparently unable to read or research, these folks don’t know about battery management a la Prius. I doubt Toyota have replaced more than a couple dozen batteries since the 2004 model came out. That would, of course, go against Euro prejudices. They’re so sure they’re right it makes me laugh.
On the other hand, DPF replacements on post 2008 diesels of any make are depressingly common – and expensive. And I’m never in doubt when I’m in a diesel car: noisy throbbing beasts, only partly camouflaged by modern NVH methods. No revs, no fun.
Had a guy in a new Jetta diesel hammer around an on ramp, saw him coming and moved into the left lane to let him in. Nice wheels. He accelerated hard, pulling up my inside. Waited until he was level, and then floored the old Leggy GT in third. Bye, bye Jetta. He appeared stunned by my response, slowed down, and meekly followed me into town.
Diesels, the anticipation exceeds the reality.
Agree about the “no revs, no fun” remark. I will say: diesels are tons of fun in town, because they rev quickly at low speeds. They get zapped on the highway, where they don’t have much passing power. That said, if they did a performance diesel, I would consider driving it.