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First Drive Review: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe |
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Sunday, 19 March 2006 |
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Page 2 of 5
Exterior:
 If you’ve never seen a new Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade in person yet we can almost predict what your first reaction will be. You’re going to comment on how low to the ground the front valence is. It’s not just lower than the old generation, it’s surprisingly low. Make no mistake, this next generation isn’t going to be as “nimble” off-road as the outgoing model, but then again, when did you ever see a Tahoe off road? Yeah, we’d be hard pressed to remember either, but where the new Tahoe lacks on brute off-road skills it redeems itself in style. Sleek and swept back looking (especially compared to the outgoing model) Chevy designers really took pain to make the Tahoe’s skin vastly slipperier and good looking, while retaining that distinctive  Chevy image. Headlights are neatly detailed with chrome rings around the light fixtures and chrome dividers between the headlamps and turn-signals. Take the bowtie away and you’d be hard pressed to believe that a General Motors vehicle could be built with this much detail on the outside. The hood is adorned with two “power bulges” which add a nice touch of muscle to the front end. Walk around to the sides of the new Tahoe and the clean look follows. Where the old model’s wheel wells and fender flares stood out by being bulky and protruded into space, the new Tahoe’s lines fall clean and straight down. This lends to a less busy and better looking skin. Looking in your rear view mirror the side of the old model would gently bulge outwards, while the new Tahoe’s profile is almost vertical.
GM got it right when they decided to add 20 inch chrome rims as an option.  Not only to do they look slick but the proportions are a much better match for a large vehicle like an SUV. Those rims will cost you $1,795, which isn’t cheap. However, factoring in that 20 inch tires cost more than the standard 17 inch ones, that’s partly some of the cost. Still, it’s an option that might be too costly for those who don’t want and/or can’t afford an even “semi-decked out” model. GM has also started to standardize the new “flat wiper blade” design across their new models and the Tahoe is no exception. These new blades are incredibly small, thin, and work great even with ice and snow. Contrary to popular belief GM didn’t go to this design to force customers to buy these wipers at the dealer and replacements are available at some nation-wide auto parts stores.
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