Full-sized sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, have the seating and cargo space for multiple purposes. Families can pack these vehicles for a vacation or use them to haul gardening supplies and sports equipment. The Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevvy Tahoe to some, is the main full-sized SUV option available from this automobile manufacturer. Its predecessor was the Chevrolet Blazer. The change in name to Tahoe was accompanied by a number of body and structural changes. These improvements helped SUVs become one of the most popular types of personal transport vehicles. Drivers can pick up a new Tahoe from a dealer or find one of the many used models still on the road.

Transformations

The full-sized SUV from Chevrolet transformed from the Blazer into the Tahoe in 1995. This model was based on the GMT400 platform that the Suburban used at the time. The Tahoe was shorter than the Suburban and more manageable in many driving situations. Chevrolet released both two-door and four-door versions from the beginning and buyers could also chose from rear and all-wheel drive, in addition to a small-block V8 engine or a diesel V8 with a turbo charger. New side mirrors and driver side airbags were also added as the name was changed to Tahoe.

Luxury features

SUVs are designed to be utility vehicles, but upper class families began to purchase them for daily transportation in the late 1990s. The rising popularity of the Tahoe lead to the inclusion of many luxury features. Electronically controlled shifting for the four-wheel drive was added in 1996, while passenger-side airbags became available in 1997. Rear-seat air conditioning vents and Homelink security systems became optional during 1998. Two special editions of the GMT400 Tahoe were also produced in 2000 as the rest of the model line was redesigned.

The new GMT800 base

The GMT800 base was one of the largest pickup platforms used by Chevrolet. The manufacturer decided that this model would improve the size and performance of the Tahoe line. Manual transmission options were dropped, along with the two-door design. The exterior design emphasized more curving lines and rounded corners than the previous styles. Vehicles produced after 2003 included the new StabiliTrak system to improve handling and control in dangerous conditions. Entertainment was also expanded in the Chevrolet Tahoe, with Bose audio and XM satellite radio packages.

Another platform change

Only two years after adopting the GMT800 base, Chevrolet switched the Tahoe's platform yet again to the GMT900. New fascias and grills were added in 2007. This was also the first year that modified versions of this model went into dedicated production for police use. The hybrid version of the Tahoe first emerged at the end of 2007. A battery in the engine provides power to keep the car moving, but gas is still used for the best responsiveness. An automatic system senses which power source to use based on speed and torque and switches between the two seamlessly. This improved the Tahoe's fuel efficiency by over 6 miles per gallon.