It's got a CVT transmission right? How does that do in everyday traffic?

 

Hows the acceleration as compared to a regular tahoe. And are the thinner seats as comfortable?


No, basically a 4 spd auto

 

MSRP???


What are ya liking about it the most?

Can you feel the electric boost?

 

MSRP: $56,430.00 **GULP**

It's a pretty solid vehicle overall. I like the powertrain a lot...very seamless.

To be honest, I haven't had it over 30 MPH yet (they just delivered it at 1 PM). I'm trying to drive it conservatively to see what kind of fuel economy I can get out of it. That is hard considering I had a Camaro SS manual last week...

 

The MSRP isnt too bad considering a LTZ 4X4 starts at $54,570.

 

Woof, that's a lot of coin. I just couldn't justify it for this vehicle. Then again, I'm not in the target market for a hybrid BOF giant. I'd have me a Denali Acadia or something if I wanted plentiful accomodations but fuel savings, not that they're comparable. As a second "then again", I haven't driven a GMT900 hybrid either.

 

Just took it out for another spin around town. With cruise set at 30 MPH it operated on battery power for about two blocks. I thought that was rather impressive at 30 MPH.

 

When was the last time you drove your own car?

 

I drove it this weekend to take photos of it with the Camaro I had. Other than that...about 5 weeks ago.

 

I thought it had something called a "4-CVT", which is either a CVT with four simulated traditional gears or vice versa. Idk, don't remember.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it has 4 fixed forward gears + the electric motors.

 

Pics?

 

I've heard grumblings about poor fuel economy from other hybird SUV owners, in particular Highlander owners. Does GM deliver as advertised? A log/detailed account of your driving and fuel economy for a set period would be great. Also, if you were doing 30 mph on only battery power that sounds great. How does it compare driving-wise to the other hybrids out there?

 

I can't say about the hybrid, but my 2009 Tahoe LTZ can easily get 22 on the road and 18 city. That is my reason for not buying the Acadia, since the Tahoe can out pull it and out mileage it, plus being larger. I would hope the hybrid would also do even better.

 

MechEng is right about the trans details. 2 electric CVT modes (2-mode) plus 4 fixed gears.

I'd like to know your thoughts on drive quality improvements with the seamless shifting over a conventional 6 spd Tahoe.

 

Is it 2WD or 4WD? Are both versions available.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the interior. After sitting in a few of the GMT900's at the auto show this past weekend, I couldn't help but think the interior design and materials haven't aged as well as some others. While I prefer the Tahoe exterior to the Expedition, I think that the Ford's interior is more befitting of a $50k SUV.

 

Is it 2WD or 4WD? Are both versions available.

He stated it was a 4x4 in the first post.

Hopefully this will do better that the last batch of these. 1-2 mpg was hardly worth the additional cost.

 

It seems to me this is the perfect kind of vehicle for Hybrid tech! Something that would use more gas normally being made more efficient. Something larger and notorious for gas hogging being fixed in this way! This is the answer not unit body/FWD for a TRUCK!

 

I know of a lot of people that complain about the mileage gain out of the Tahoe, Yukon, Silverado and Sierra hybrids. But with that being said, this is just another vehicle that will have extreme MPG reports because of the different ways people drive.

Like every hybrid, if you are easy on it, it will return great mileage. When I drove one last I was able to make a 15 mile trip that was about 70% city and 30% highway, and I got 28 MPG out of it.

But if you drive them like most people do, you will get the same mileage as the regular truck because you are not using any of the advanced systems in the vehicle.

 

Like every hybrid, if you are easy on it, it will return great mileage. When I drove one last I was able to make a 15 mile trip that was about 70% city and 30% highway, and I got 28 MPG out of it.

If you only drove 15 miles, then your 28 mpg estimate probably comes from the trip computer. I don't trust that as much as I trust the gas pump.

I know there are people that swear by the trip computer, but I prefer to do things the old fashioned way - fill the tank up, drive at least 1000 miles, filling the tank as necessary, when finished fill the tank up again, and then divide miles driven by how many gallons of gasoline you bought.

There's going to be some error because different gas pumps stop you at different times and may have their measurement of gallons off by a few percent, but if you put a lot of miles on the vehicle that's a statistically small factor.

So with all due respect, I don't care what the trip computer tells nsap, I want miles driven divided by gallons purchased.

 

Probably not practical to get done in the time you have it, but I'd like to hear how it behaves when towing or using the 4x4. Maybe you have access to a driveable beach and could get some sand time in?

 

I would like to know the Towing Performance/ FE when towing As I think the hybrid would shine in FE when working hard as the Electric torque # are a ZERO Rpm

 

The dual-mode GM hybrid SUVs, like most other hybrids, use the Atkinson cycle in their engine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_cycle ). It improves engine fuel economy but sacrifices torque per cubic inch. The electric motor makes up for the missing torque.

I would imagine that for short distance towing a Tahoe Hybrid would be much better on fuel than a regular Tahoe, because it has the electric motors plus the highly efficient V8 doing the work. But for longer trips, after your batteries are depleted from all the work your Atkinson V8 has to rev much higher to do the same amount of work as the regular Tahoe's V8.

But that's just a guess, I really don't know.

 

I've ridden in a Yukon Hybrid, but never driven one of the GMT900H variants or seen them used for hauling.

Would be interesting to have you hook a trailer onto that Tahoe and see if it makes much difference in mileage when the vehicle is being used for what it's meant to be used for -- hauling stuff around.

 

I thought I read ( on here or link from here ) that GM was not going to make these Hybrids anymore . Cost of transmissions and batteries were the reason given . I was hoping that next generation would tow more , better MPG and cost less . By the time next gen. was here and a couple years in I will need a new tow SUV .

 

I believe that was in reference to the mild hybrids (Malibu, Aura, etc.). They killed those shortly after bankruptcy, but the Two-Modes are still being produced. At least they better be if they are pawning them to us in the press fleets!

 

Well, the Tahoe is at the dealership. Last night the check engine light came on. OnStar says there is an issue with the transmission as it is communicating "intermittent" data to the powertrain computer. They said I could keep driving it as it was a "minor issue."

It isn't getting worked on until Monday, so I will report back then!

 

Hmmmff
I've been driving one for over 3 years now and never had a MIL.Other than having various software updated, (sniped while in for oil changes, as my dealer doesnt even let their regular "lube" guy do those) it's been trouble free and delivers amazing economy (esp. for a vehicle of this class)
I routinely get 24-26mpg. (better than my wifey's 3.5L Impala on most trips)
Did Onstar give you the actual DTC?
WopOnTour

 

Is the third row actually accessible and useable? How easy is it to remove the third row seats? And once they are out, how is the flatness of the floor -- i.e. any holes or protrusions?

 

Well, the Tahoe was diagnosed with a defective transmission control module.

 

What does that entail in terms of replacing?

 

Pretty simple actually. Drain, drop the pan, bolt it on.
The only one I've seen replaced had the pan bashed up from running over a black bear. (like drving over a 400lb rock!)
Hopefully nsap will be back on the road asap!
WOT

 

2008?

I don't think any of the hybrids are E85 capable. They don't want that fuel sitting for months on end.