New Member - Contemplating Grand Cherokee Hemi vs. Tahoe Signature

[Garandman]

I got rid of my Subaru Legacy for a killer deal on a close out 2017 Silverado Crew Cab. My wife refused to drive it in the snow and I got it high centered on plow berms twice. I carry a shovel and extraction gear in everything in AK so it was an inconvenience at worst but I hated that thing... painfully slow and cramped with my big ass and two kids in there.

I did not suggest the OP would be happy with a 4cyl Subaru.

We haven’t owned a 4 cyl Outback since we sold our ‘97. We have a 3.0R and 3.6R, which have more ground clearance, more room, 75-85 more horsepower, and a completely different AWD system that is much more sophisticated than the AWD system of the Legacy you had, let alone the 4WD system of the Tahoe.

We say “Friends don’t let friends drive 4 cyl Outback’s.” But they’re cheap and the AWD systems work a lot better than the cute-Utes so Subaru sells tons of them.

 

[cardude2000]

Unless you need to tow over 6,000 lbs (which few Crossovers will do) don’t know why anyone would buy a Tahoe.

• More comfortable than a mid size CUV
• More power than a mid size CUV
• More cargo room than a mid size CUV
• Better looking than a mid size CUV
• Better driving height (visibility etc) than a midsize CUV
• Better safety than a midsize CUV (I'll take my Yukon in a head on crash with a subaru or a fiat any day of the week. Mass matters)
• Better sound than a midsize SUV (especially with my Borla!)

I got the 6.2L and I never tow. Nor do virtually any of the soccer moms in town that own Suburbans.

When I want the feel of a sedan I drive my wifes Merc E.

 

[Garandman]

• More comfortable than a mid size CUV
• More power than a mid size CUV
• More cargo room than a mid size CUV
• Better looking than a mid size CUV
• Better driving height (visibility etc) than a midsize CUV
• Better safety than a midsize CUV (I'll take my Yukon in a head on crash with a subaru or a fiat any day of the week. Mass matters)
• Better sound than a midsize SUV (especially with my Borla!)

I got the 6.2L and I never tow. Nor do virtually any of the soccer moms in town that own Suburbans.

Yes, that is why the Traverse (Chevrolet’s three row CUV) outsells both the Tahoe and Equinox (their mid size CUV) and three row CUV’s are available from Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Rover, Volvo And others.

“CUV (I'll take my Yukon in a head on crash with a subaru or a fiat any day of the week. Mass matters)”

Driving a vehicle far more likely to rollover (one of the deadliest forms of accident) and sacrificing dynamic safety in case you have a head-on strikes me a poor bargain, though a frequently-mentioned rationale. 35% of fatalities result from rollovers. If you are not a very good, attentive driver it probably makes more sense.

The new generation Tahoe does have GM’s StabiliTrack ESC system, which probably reduces rollovers due to driver input errors.


http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/passenger-vehicles

 

[cardude2000]

Yes, that is why the Traverse (Chevrolet’s three row CUV) outsells both the Tahoe and Equinox (their mid size CUV) and three row CUV’s are available from Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Rover, Volvo And others.

“CUV (I'll take my Yukon in a head on crash with a subaru or a fiat any day of the week. Mass matters)”

Driving a vehicle far more likely to rollover (one of the deadliest forms of accident) and sacrificing dynamic safety in case you have a head-on strikes me a poor bargain, though a frequently-mentioned rationale. 35% of fatalities result from rollovers. If you are not a very good, attentive driver it probably makes more sense.

The new generation Tahoe does have GM’s StabiliTrack ESC system, which probably reduces rollovers due to driver input errors.


http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/passenger-vehicles

The vast majority of accidents are non lethal and 75% of fatalities are from collisions other than rollovers. Beyond that, large and very large SUV's have materially fewer fatalities ('per capita') than passenger cars and small CUV/SUV's). Like I said, I'd rather get into a wreck in my 5K LB yukon than a Honda CRV any day. Opinions vary on the subject for sure.

All that said, big comfy SUV's arent for everyone no doubt. Theyre expensive, can be intimidating to drive and ladder frames wont drive like a Camry. Lots of moms dont want to drive something so big. My wife has never even driven mine. I totally get why people buy cars with SUV looks.

 

[sickk23]

All of this contemplation about why people drive trucks vs cars but have no experience with the GC. It’s not a car platform. Not a full blown crossover. And it certainly doesn’t ride like a car. The air suspension is still jittery, it wobbles like hell and it floats over big humps. All of that leads to a feel of driving something bigger than you really are, and that’s not really a good thing. I’ve owned a 2012, 2014, 2015 and now 2017 GC with air suspensions.

Do we even know what OP went with? Or did he just disappear? This was started quite awhile back.

 

[Miami-Dade]

Then why purchase a body-on-frame SUV? The unibody Crossovers are lighter, have more interior volume, easier to get in and out of, etc.

I was shocked when I first drove our 2016 Tahoe. Pickup chassis are a lot better than the used to be, but you are still riding around on a body on top of a frame on top of a beam rear axle.

If you are used to and enjoy the vehicle dynamics of a BMW, you are going to be deeply disappointed by the driving experience.

I love the front interior space of my Tahoe..Every other vehicle I get into I feel cramped as I like space between the driver and passenger especially on long trips.

I also love the height..As you already know it is one of highest sitting vehicles on the road..I also enjoy the height running up and down I-95 surrounded by the big boys in their 18 wheelers..It also has awesome visibility plus I fell safe in it then most vehicles.

Maybe I am just used to body and frame from my V8 Impalas,Caprices and Town Cars..I wanted a V8 RWD,plenty of interior room and NON TURBO..The body and frame can take the nasty roads in NYC A LOT BETTER then the others.

I also really like the 26 gallon gas tank as I can run between 400-500 miles on a tank of fuel if it is all highway..Plus it looks a lot better then most CUV's..I also find the Tahoe is much easier to get in and out of then most vehicles..So do my passengers.

I also like having the column shifter.

All that just IMHO..To each their own.

 

[Miami-Dade]

Do we even know what OP went with? Or did he just disappear? This was started quite awhile back.

He was asking about incentives about a Tahoe a couple of days ago so looks like he is still on the fence.

 

[sickk23]

I love the front interior space of my Tahoe..Every other vehicle I get into I feel cramped as I like space between the driver and passenger especially on long trips.

I also love the height..As you already know it is one of highest sitting vehicles on the road..I also enjoy the height running up and down I-95 surrounded by the big boys in their 18 wheelers..It also has awesome visibility plus I fell safe in it then most vehicles.

Maybe I am just used to body and frame from my V8 Impalas,Caprices and Town Cars..I wanted a V8 RWD,plenty of interior room and NON TURBO..The body and frame can take the nasty roads in NYC A LOT BETTER then the others.

I also really like the 26 gallon gas tank as I can run between 400-500 miles on a tank of fuel if it is all highway..Plus it looks a lot better then most CUV's..I also find the Tahoe is much easier to get in and out of then most vehicles..So do my passengers.

I also like having the column shifter.

All that just IMHO..To each their own.

I agree with this. Large vehicles aren’t for everyone but they sure do feel good to be in and even pilot.

The GC has a surprisingly large tank at 24.6 gallons.

 

[WillCO]

Unless you need to tow over 6,000 lbs (which few Crossovers will do) don’t know why anyone would buy a Tahoe.

That's what I read all the time in the automotive press too. I used to feel that way myself, then I bought a Tahoe. We love it.

 

[08HoeCD]

Then why purchase a body-on-frame SUV? The unibody Crossovers are lighter, have more interior volume, easier to get in and out of, etc.

I was shocked when I first drove our 2016 Tahoe. Pickup chassis are a lot better than the used to be, but you are still riding around on a body on top of a frame on top of a beam rear axle.

If you are used to and enjoy the vehicle dynamics of a BMW, you are going to be deeply disappointed by the driving experience.

All good and fair points, yet getting into a Tahoe can still make sense for some based on lifestyle requirements.

I’d been driving a Challenger R/T for three years when I traded for my Tahoe. Damn, I loved that Challenger and driving it......but my lifestyle needs changed, and once I traded it I never looked back.

This Tahoe offers tons of room, every convenience (and more), it’s great looking and is actually fun to drive (with a tune). Really glad I bought it. Have taken full advantage of the people/cargo room many times and am reminded each time that it was a good buy.