Phelan at FREEP drives the Tahoe 2M

[PhishPhood]

I didn't see this review posted anywhere previously but if it was, mea culpa.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...802210312/1081

Another very good review ...

It's my job to be skeptical about the claims car companies make when they introduce new vehicles: to believe what I experience behind the wheel, not what the PowerPoint presentations and computer-enhanced commercials promise.
Skepticism is healthy, but I approached the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid SUV with outright cynicism. My expectations were so low you'd need a pooper scooper to lift them.
GM's previous hybrids fostered that response. The vehicles felt like they were built out of a sense of obligation, not a drive to be best. Sure, as GM points out, they cost less than the hybrid systems pioneered by Ford, Honda and Toyota, but they broke no new ground, set no new standards and made no pretense to technical leadership or innovation.

I expected more of the same from the Tahoe.

Man, was I wrong. Not "Oops, my bad" wrong. I was the-world-is-flat, man-will-never-fly wrong.

I was 26.3-miles-per-gallon-in-three-ton-SUV wrong; and that's way wrong.

GM has redefined what's possible for hybrid drivetrains

[frindz]

Im happy to see GM's work being gladly recommended...
Im dying to buy one...

[MelvinJ]

Well, that confirms what I thought when I test drove the Yukon Hybrid - it never got warm enough to use the auto-stop feature for me. I checked the transmission temperature close to 15 minutes into my test drive, and it was still only 77 degrees on this frigid 15 degree day after the truck had been sitting outside on the dealer's lot at least overnight.

VERY impressive results that Phelan got.

[momo67]

26mpg is better than most mid-sized cars. If that's true, real-world driving and not some experimental stuff, GM has hit a home run. With a little HGH ;-)

[PA Dweller]

They really need to put this Two Mode system into the Lambda's. If it gets such great MPG in a Tahoe imagine what it can do with the Acadia, Enclave, and Traverse.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

They really need to put this Two Mode system into the Lambda's. If it gets such great MPG in a Tahoe imagine what it can do with the Acadia, Enclave, and Traverse.

+1 also add the Zeta-cars to the list

[TJ95GAGT]

Good write up. I'm with the author, I want to see it in smaller/lighter vehicles. If my car could do 25mph( I thought it could do 32? ) with no gas I would use alot less fuel and I think alot of people are the same way.

[FStephenMasek]

Yes, a G8 and a G8 car-truck with the two mode system should provide wonderful fuel mileage.

[bone]

An excellent article from one of the best auto-journalists anywhere. I read the Freep and Detnews every day.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by Stéphane Dumas

+1 also add the Zeta-cars to the list

They should make the system optional equipment on any vehicle that can be made compatible with the system.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

They should make the system optional equipment on any vehicle that can be made compatible with the system.

Agreed. But I'd take it a step further. The 2-Mode system should mandatory on all BOF vehicles....all suppliers. Diesel is an option too. The Federal Government and the State governments should mandate that all SUV vehicles purchased should be hybrids only.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

They really need to put this Two Mode system into the Lambda's. If it gets such great MPG in a Tahoe imagine what it can do with the Acadia, Enclave, and Traverse.

Here is a rough shortcut formula that can be applied to every hybrid on the road. It turns out that it's about the same for every one of the hybrids excet the 'mild' variety.

Take any non-hybrid vehicle's EPA ratings, Tahoe for example, ....
City 14 mpg ....... add 50-60% to this number = 21 mpg
Highway 18 mpg.. add 10% to this number = 20 mpg
That's the hybrid numbers..

Acadia???? Ford, Toyota, Honda, GM, Nissan... it's the same for them all.

[roteague]

My favorite quote:

The hybrid system operated nearly seamlessly. The automatic engine shutoff was unnoticeable, smoother even than in a $115,000 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan I drove recently.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Agreed. But I'd take it a step further. The 2-Mode system should mandatory on all BOF vehicles....all suppliers. Diesel is an option too. The Federal Government and the State governments should mandate that all SUV vehicles purchased should be hybrids only.

That sounds like a good idea. Its probably going to be necessary with Café anyway. I would like to see them come out with a Diesel/Two Mode system.

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Here is a rough shortcut formula that can be applied to every hybrid on the road. It turns out that it's about the same for every one of the hybrids excet the 'mild' variety.

Take any non-hybrid vehicle's EPA ratings, Tahoe for example, ....
City 14 mpg ....... add 50-60% to this number = 21 mpg
Highway 18 mpg.. add 10% to this number = 20 mpg
That's the hybrid numbers..

Acadia???? Ford, Toyota, Honda, GM, Nissan... it's the same for them all.

Thanks for that, its interesting to see how much fuel a hybrid system will save as far as fuel goes. Yes though the Lambda's really could use a two mode system even though they get decent fuel economy for their size.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by FStephenMasek

Yes, a G8 and a G8 car-truck with the two mode system should provide wonderful fuel mileage.

No kidding, bet 30-35 MPG would not be out of the question on a G8 with a 5.3L AFM V8 Two-Mode, GM could use the smaller 5.3L in cars since they are lighter, it would also simplify the mechanicals since the engines have the same mounts, bolt patterns etc. Only some minor cam and valvetrain changes would have to be made to the 5.3L internals.