The question has been posed- with our current focus on conserving energy, what's to become of larger SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe? Well that question may be answered with the innovative 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.
Power comes from a two-mode system. The first mode uses a 332 horsepower 6-liter V8 and an electric motor integrated into a 4-speed automatic transmission to send power to either the rear wheels or all four.
The Tahoe's second mode is its active fuel management, shutting off half the cylinders during highway driving.
Another fuel saving feature is regenerative braking which uses the electric motor to generate electricity, slowing the vehicle and charging the 300-volt energy storage system.
This setup delivers a fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon city, 22 highway with the 2-wheel drive model. The 4-wheel drive gets 20 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving...overall about a 25% fuel saving over the traditional V8.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is $50,455. A fully loaded 4-wheel drive model will top out at around $58,000. The Tahoe Hybrid comes with Chevy's brand-wide 5-year, 100,000-mile power train warranty.
The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid has made it possible to enjoy the energy conservation benefits of a hybrid, while utilizing all the space and versatility of a full size SUV.