Story and photos by Tom Strongman
The high price of gasoline continues to make hybrids attractive, and General Motors is the first to offer hybrid versions of its full-size SUV, the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
These full-size hybrids are among the first to be equipped with GM’s Two Mode system that enables the vehicle to start up and drive up to 30 miles per hour on electricity alone. The gasoline engine is a 6.0-liter V-8 with 332 horsepower. The engine also uses GM’s active fuel management system that shuts down cylinders when cruising on the highway. The engine operates in four-cylinder mode more often because the hybrid’s electric motor delivers about 30 horsepower.
Prices start at $49,590 for two-wheel drive and $52,395 for four-wheel drive. A regular two-wheel-drive Tahoe LT has a base price of $36,710.
The two-wheel-drive Tahoe is rated at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway by the Environmental Protection Agency. In my week of mainly city driving, the test truck’s onboard computer showed an average of 16.4 mpg. I expected better results, and I suspect many buyers will too. A regular Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V-8 is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway. The two-wheel-drive hybrid is capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds.
Four-wheel drive is also offered with the hybrid powertrain. Its mileage rating is 20 in the 
city and 20 on the highway. Maximum towing is 6,000 pounds.
Key to the system is GM’s new electronically variable transmission that contains two 60-kilowat electric motors. Without my going into a separate dissertation on this unit, suffice it to say the transmission can operate in two modes, one with continuously variable ratios for light loads and one with four fixed ratios for heavy loads. A sophisticated computer system decides whether to move the vehicle with electric power, gasoline power or a combination of both. GM says its two-mode transmission is unlike that used by any other hybrid.
Electricity is stored in a battery pack that is charged by the engine and by regenerative braking.
The hybrid drives pretty much like a normal Tahoe. The engine often shuts off when the vehicle is stopped. If you step gently on the throttle, initial acceleration comes from the electric motor. I found myself accelerating very gently to see how far I could go on the electric motor before the gasoline engine kicked in.
The Tahoe hybrid is distinguished from the regular model by badging and by a deeper front valance that keeps air out from under the vehicle at highway speeds.
The Tahoe drives more like a luxury car than a truck. The front seats are especially noteworthy because they offer excellent support without feeling confining. The instrument panel has elegant gauges, few seams and surface textures that are rich and inviting. The layout and design of the radio and climate controls is simple and clean. Large knobs have a quality feel.
The Tahoe hybrid has three rows of seats that provide seating for up to eight passengers. The third seat takes up most of the cargo space when it is upright. The cargo space is not overly large even when the third seat is folded forward.
The Tahoe hybrid is well equipped. Buyers can choose convenience items such as a power-folding second seat, rearview camera, power tailgate and heated windshield washer fluid. Other options include remote vehicle start, heated front and rear seats, rear parking assist, a navigation system and a rear-seat DVD system with an 8-inch LCD screen. Power adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers and a tire-pressure monitoring system are also handy.
Anti-lock brakes are standard, as is GM’s StabiliTrak vehicle stability control system that is designed to help mitigate rollovers. Side-curtain airbags with rollover protection are also standard.
Price: The base price of the test vehicle was $49,590. Options included the rear-seat entertainment center, navigation system, satellite radio and AM/FM/CD player. The sticker price was $51,785.
Warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and an eight-year, 100-000-mile warranty on hybrid components.