A-to-Z Guide to Green: À la Mode
April 1, 2008
Availability: Escalade (fall 2008), Yukon and Tahoe
(currently)
Price: $70,000 est. (Escalade) $50,490 (2WD-Tahoe), $50,945
(2WD-Yukon)
Engine: 6-liter V-8, two 60-kilowatt electric
motors
Power: 332 hp at 5,100 rpm (all-three)
Torque: 367 ft
lbs at 4,100 rpm (all-three)
Zero-to-60: 8.2 seconds
Top speed: 100 mph (est.)
Fuel Economy: 21 mpg (city)/22 mpg highway (2WD
vehicles)
Pro: Fuel economy is almost on par with
cars.
Con: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
In the last few years, General Motors has gotten plenty of grief for the relatively poor fuel economy of its SUVs. But with the advent of hybrid variants from Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, models like the Escalade, Tahoe, and Yukon will no longer serve as such easy targets for environmental advocates.
The Escalade Hybrid won’t make its debut until fall 2008, but eco-conscious SUV drivers can opt for instant gratification with the Tahoe or Yukon. "Our plan was to remedy the highest fuel users first, because that’s where our hybrid system is most efficient," says Tim Grewe, chief engineer of GM’s two-mode hybrid system. "Everyone that has gotten behind the wheel of one of our hybrid SUVs has recorded an average of 24 mpg, and a 500-mile range is not uncommon. That’s better than a Toyota Camry."
I logged more than 350 miles in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid during a three-day excursion down the Southern California coast and on my return, the fuel gauge indicated the 23-gallon tank was still one-quarter full. The current non-hybrid two-wheel drive Tahoe has an average EPA fuel economy rating of 15.5 mpg, giving it a range of 400 miles with a larger 26-gallon fuel tank.
Like many hybrid vehicles, the Tahoe starts without a sound as a twist of the key brings the electric motor to life. Typically, the gas-powered 6-liter V-8 engine won’t kick in until the SUV nears 20 mph. But in daily driving, there is a constant give-and-take between the two powerplants. The first of the two modes is used for moving the vehicle forward at low speeds, and can operate in three ways: electric power only, engine power only, or a combination of the two. The second mode, which activates automatically, is used for highway driving. "The on-board computer works as your co-pilot," explains Grewe. "When you make a command with the throttle, it will determine which of the two modes will provide the best fuel economy."
Although the Tahoe’s interior looks exactly like its non-hybrid siblings, there is a slight difference in the upper left corner of the instrument cluster: an "economy" gauge that provides real-time feedback, so a driver can optimize his or her driving habits. Keeping the needle in the gauge’s center—colored an appropriate shade of green—brings the best results. Apply too much throttle and the needle shifts to the right, while aggressive braking causes it to dip left. The LCD screen in the center console offers a setting that provides a detailed view of the hybrid system, illustrating the power train components (gas or electric motors) as they engage.
"This is one of those technologies that will really change the way you think about full-size SUVs," Grewe says.
Cadillac, www.cadillac.com
Chevrolet, www.chevrolet.com
GMC, www.gmc.com
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