Hybrid Tahoe

[gr8fl4porsche]

Anyone know any inside info on next years Hybrid Tahoe?

I need a new full sized SUV next year and the Tahoe interests me. I like vehicles with plenty of power that can pull a trailer/car every now and then. I am hoping to find a vehicle which is large, can pull and gets better than 16/17 MPG. I drive lots of miles each day.

GM claims 25% MPG improvement which translates into about 4 extra MPG. Not too impressive, but not too bad either. I have heard rumors of a $10,000 premium for the hybrid which is way too much and could really hurt sales - especially one to me.

I am hesitant about buying the first generation of any new technology but they say this style of motor is being used in transit buses around the country. The technology is a joint product between GM, Daimler and BMW.

[legion]

I've got an '07 Silverado that shuts down four cylinders when they are not needed.

On 87 octane, I was seeing 19 mpg highway and 17 mpg city.

I switched to 89 and am seeing 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg city.

Oh, and it can tow 6800 lbs.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Not at those numbers. When towing, you're lucky to see 10 mpg.

[Jim Bremner]

my 2002 silerado see's 16 on the highway if I'm not trying to drive it like a 911

[VincentVega]

Cant help you with the Tahoe, but the Ford diesels get great mileage, even when towing. My old 6.5 Chev diesel get's ~13 towing the 911.

[onewhippedpuppy]

My 5.3 2wd 1/2 ton Silverado gets 19 MPG highway. 25% for $10k doesn't sound like a bargain to me. Maybe if you put 300k on it you would break even. Almost as silly as a hybrid version of the Lexus LS.

Many of the larger V6 SUVs on the market can pull 6-7000 lbs, with nearly the interior volume of a Tahoe, and 24 MPG or so. You pay a real MPG premium for a body-on-frame SUV like a Tahoe, but few really take advantage of that extra capability. When you consider how good many of the larger unibody SUVs have gotten, it really doesn't add up. Not to mention the fact that the unibody SUVs are far more pleasant to drive on-road.

Either that, or wait a few years until F150s and Silverados have small displacement turbo diesels. Considering that a diesel F350 dually 4wd can pull in 20 MPG, 25 MPG should be a breeze in an F150.

[kaisen]

The Tahoe/Yukon Hybrid is pretty cool technology. The could/should do 20 mpg city and 25 mpg freeway in 2008 testing, but haven't had EPA certification yet. There will be more two-mode hybrids to come, even with diesels at some point in the not-too-distant future.

GM has stated publicly that two-mode technology should retail for about $10K but are planning to subsidize that difference. Figure a $4K premium over a 5.3L version. That should put hybrid payback in the three year range for the average driver.

The 6.0L V8 in the two-mode should prove to be a considerably better tow rig than a 5.3L and the electric motors can help as well. The ~6000 pound tow rating is hindered by the low-rolling resistance tires and some other small changes, not how 'strong' the powertrain is.

[MotoSook]

We're getting a Saturn Outlook, which has more room than a Suburban IMO..with the seats down or up. I recently rode in my cousin's Suburban, and it felt cramped in the back seats. The Outlook can tow up to 4500 lbs. I wouldn't buy it if it couldn't tow the track car on a trailer.

MPG numbers for the Outlook XR AWD is 17/25.

A hybrid Tahoe is like given $5.00 to Green Peace while you are the dumping waste into the ocean. It makes the owners feel better about themselves...and GM can tout it as their attempt to be more conciencious...

[David]

I think the key here is not to look at the 4 mpg but look at the 25%, that's the key. I think they focused on large vehicles because the actual fuel savings was greater than on small cars.

My 2001 Silverado is still running fine, so I'm going to try to hold out for a half ton diesel in 2009 or 2010.

[onewhippedpuppy]

My 2000 Silverado still runs like new with 134k on it. Suprisingly enough, still no rattles, cheap plastic and all. Maybe when the small displacement diesels come out I'll be willing to fork out some money on a truck.

[911boost]

My 01 Tahoe has 75K on miles on, and still runs great. I have the 5.3L and use it tow my super heavy camper and dirt bike trailer behind the camper. I wouldn't mind having a pick up, but my wife has pretty much said that will never happen, soooo, I think I am going to wait for the small displacement diesels (why in the hell is that word so hard to spell?)
as well since i heard they were going in the Tahoe.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Has your wife ever seen the room inside most of the 4 door diesel pick-ups? My father in law has an F250SD, It is huge inside. If you need luggage room, just get a locking bed cover. I assume the GM 4 door trucks are just as large.

[911boost]

It has nothing to do with interior room. My friends F150 4 door has a ton of room, the 2500HD Chevy's don't have as much, but they still have plenty.

Its one of those things I don't argue about, she is cool on the bikes and the Porsche's, so i don't push the pick up thing.

[911pcars]

CAFE standards for cars in '90 was 27mpg. That was 17 years ago. Now, the manufacturers are pushing large SUVs that get 23 mpg instead of 18 or 13 but consumers get to pay a $10k premium. Nice.

This is what happens when big corporations get a free ride. No incentive to improve mileage; more incentive to gain weight and grow bigger and consume more fuel us regular guys could use.

Sherwood

[kaisen]

Originally posted by 911pcars
Now, the manufacturers are pushing large SUVs that get 23 mpg instead of 18 or 13 but consumers get to pay a $10k premium. Nice.

Are manufacturers 'pushing' or does the marketplace demand it?

Consumers get to pay a $10K premium? I would guess that the free market will prevail. The premium will end up being what the market bears for the supply the manufacturer needs to sell. The technology costs money. Only part of those costs will be absorbed by consumers. Nice.

This is what happens when big corporations get a free ride. No incentive to improve mileage; more incentive to gain weight and grow bigger and consume more fuel ......

No free ride. Trucks have CAFE as well, just different than cars. There is certainly incentive. You can debate the chicken and egg of it, but the market has demanded larger vehicles for years. Even cars - look at the original Honda Accord compared to what it is now. Sounds like you're a fan of government regulation. I'm not.

....and consume more fuel us regular guys could use.

So 'regular' guys should get to use the fuel that 'irregular' guys (i.e. SUV owners) use? What a noble position.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The government does not need to dictate MPG to the auto companies, the market and $3/gal gas will do it for them. In case you haven't noticed, MPG is a BIG deal these days. Pay attention to car ads here recently? It's not HP that companies are bragging about, it's MPG.

Companies will develop more efficient vehicles because they will sell, pure and simple. Premiums will have to be kept low, or they won't sell. It's simple economics. Build the product that the consumers will buy. Can you imagine how well a 25-30 MPG F150 or Silverado would sell? THAT is why government regulation is stupid. People vote with their pocketbooks, which is far more powerful than the flacid CAFE standards.

[kaisen]

Yeah, what Matt said.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Anyone know what kind of MPG the Toyota Tundra pickup with the big V-8 gets?

[onewhippedpuppy]

16/20 2wd or 14/18 4wd. Off of their site.

[tobster1911]

Originally posted by gr8fl4porsche
Anyone know what kind of MPG the Toyota Tundra pickup with the big V-8 gets?

This is exactly what I don't get when people start moaning about how horrible the US Auto makers are for providing SUV's with low mpg numbers. Has anyone ever compared the current offering from the Asian or European companies. They are ALL moving to larger more "thirsty" vehicles. They actually do worse than the US SUV's because they are first starting and don't have it down yet.

http://fueleconomy.gov/

Put in a Chevy, Honda, Toyota all with V8's and see what you get.