2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LT - 2007 4x4 Of The Year

The Chevy Tahoe is a sport utility vehicle in the simplest terms. It's kind of sporty, it's got some utility aspects, and it's a vehicle. Unfortunately it didn't get any hearts racing amongst our judges; the styling is kind of like a potato, sort of bulbous and pretty bland. The performance isn't much better, and the price as tested (50 grand) is stupid money for this ride. The soccer moms will love it for sure, and we're sure the aftermarket will come up with ways to make it better (bumpers, lift, and big knobbies would help), but out of the box this Tahoe left us wanting more. The non-asphalt terrain this truck best performed on was spots where the engine could open up and the soft suspension could soak up abusive ruts, but it was still out of its element. The true home of this machine is the cross-country family trip where the rear DVD can play hours of SpongeBob videos and yet the fuel tank could still supply a claimed 540 highway miles between fillups (we'd expect closer to 300 or 400). If you're looking for comfy luxury, this is your ticket to cruising. The Z71 off-road package is a smoke and mirrors way of saying foglamps, bigger tow hook openings, and some supposed off-road tires, though the 31-inch Bridgestones got all torn up in our loose hillclimb due to excessive tire spinning when the traction control was hunting. Interior amenities far exceeded our needs but were nice nonetheless with a backup camera, electric flip-up back seats, and a better Nav/DVD/MP3/AM/FM entertainment system than some judges have in their living rooms. For some reason our Z71 package on this and the Avalanche included "Tubular Assist Steps" which is OEM-speak for running boards that, like pawns on the battlefield, are the first casualties in the rough stuff off road. However, the rated GVWR makes this rig the towing champ, which isn't bad for an SUV instead of a pickup. In the end judges ranked it from a low of boring to a high of adequate, or called it the family hauler of 2007, but few praised its off-road attributes.

Verdict
A great soccer mom SUV

Specifications

Sport red metallic exterior paint color, Ebony/Morroco Brown interior color, LT3 Equipment Group (front and rear leather seats, front 12-position power heated, memory bucket seats, power adjustable pedals, remote vehicle starter, AM/FM/ MP3/six-disc CD/DVD/XM satellite/navigation/stereo with Bose Premium Speakers and rear parking-assist camera, head curtain side airbags, outside power-folding mirrors with auto dimming and turn signal, universal home remote, tri-zone automatic air conditioning, rain-sensing wipers, electric sliding sunroof, second-row power seat release, three-passenger third-row seating, power liftgate with liftglass, rear-seat entertainment system, luggage rack with crossbars, heated washer fluid), Z71 Off-Road Suspension Package (high-capacity air cleaner, locking rear differential, tubular assist steps, recovery hooks, aluminum wheels, off-road skidplates)