NOTE: Pricing based on data collected May 2011. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology 

Vehicle Summary
Chevrolet introduced the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid 4WD in model year 2008. The Tahoe Hybrid and its twin, the GMC Yukon Hybrid, were the first full-size hybrid SUVs on the market and the first light-duty vehicles to use General Motors’ (GM’s) two-mode hybrid system, originally designed for buses. The Tahoe Hybrid 4WD, which seats eight, gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon (mpg). Unfortunately, Chevrolet chose to increase the size of the gasoline engine in the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD over its conventional counterpart, boosting horsepower and torque rather than maximizing fuel economy gains. This dampened the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD’s overall environmental performance. The Tahoe Hybrid 4WD is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.

Environmental Score
With a 19 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the conventional Tahoe 4WD, the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD is at the bottom of the hybrid pack. GM did make some design improvements beyond just adding the two-mode hybrid system, including improvements in aerodynamics (via a lowered front air dam) and weight reductions (via an aluminum tailgate). The Tahoe’s impressive two-mode, full-hybrid drivetrain could have been used to bring far more to the table. Instead, GM failed to fully capitalize on hybrid technology and used an upsized 6.0-liter V8 engine.

Despite modifications to improve its efficiency, the 6.0-liter engine combined with the two-mode hybrid system actually increases peak horsepower and peak torque over the conventional Tahoe’s 5.3-liter V8 engine . Using this smaller engine would have delivered better fuel economy, though it may have compromised towing capacity. Toyota has proven with its Highlander Hybrid that SUVs can achieve much more substantial global warming reductions. In order to stay competitive in this segment of the market, Chevy will have to work for real reductions in global warming and smog-forming pollutants.

Similar to other GM hybrid models, the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD’s smog-forming emissions performance is also compromised as a result of a poorly performing tailpipe emissions-control system, earning it an EPA air pollution score of 6, the lowest among all hybrid vehicles. These factors give the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD an overall Environmental Improvement Score of 4.3. Hybrid technology and modern emissions-control systems offer the unique quality of providing a “no compromise” vehicle that does not trade smog-forming emissions for global warming emissions, and vice versa. The Environmental Improvement Score for the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD could be greatly improved if GM focused two-mode hybrid technology on maximizing fuel economy, and made an effort toward reducing smog-forming emissions.
Scorecard Environmental Score methodology

Hybrid Value
GM is charging $5,400 for the hybrid system in the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD. With a 19 percent reduction in global warming emissions, this gives the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD a “Poor” hybrid value rating.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology

Forced Features
The Tahoe Hybrid continues to come with expensive forced features; a total of $6,510 worth of features are standard on the hybrid but not on the base model, earning it the worst Forced Features rating of “$$$$$.”  The high cost of these forced features undermines the ability for consumers looking for more fuel-efficient full-sized SUV options to see the Tahoe Hybrid 4WD as a cost-effective alternative. Sample forced features include the upsized 6.0-liter V8 engine; heavy-duty rear-locking differential; rear parking assist; a Bose® audio system rearview camera system; universal home remote; and remote vehicle starter.  Click for the full list of forced features.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology

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Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.