Like a Rock: The 2007 Chevrolet Silverado

April 19th, 2007 by Annie

The search for the unflappable full-size truck has ended with the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado. Never again will you have to worry about getting through potholes, nasty roads, lumpy fields or pulling up your three-ton trailer up a steep mountain pass. Not with the all-new Chevrolet Silverado.

With its broad stance and chiseled features, the mere design of the Silverado oozes tremendous power and a muscular presence. Like its previous models, the Silverado’s interior is similar to that of the GMC Sierra, which is almost its twin. But the outside is where the Silverado establishes its distinct macho personality, with its wide hood, bumpers and front and rear fenders as well as its tailgate, lamps and cargo box. The Silverado also shares some of the Sierra’s finest features, such as its power rear windows and its double-jointed rear doors that can open at a useful 170 degree angle.

The Silverado comes in three cabs, three bed lengths and five amazing engines. There’s the 195 horse power 4.3 liter V6, the 295 horsepower 4.8 liter V8 , the 315 horse power 5.3 liter V8 and the 367 horse power 6.0 liter V8. The Silverado will also soon launch an SS model with the 400 horse power 6.2 liter V8, similar to that of the Escalade.

Presently, all Silverado models are equipped with a four-speed automatic, but a more impressive HD version is said to be hitting the market in spring of 2007. In terms of fuel economy, the Chevrolet Silverado is impressive with its 20 mpg rate (for the 6.0 liter only).

One of the key requirements of truck buyers is a sturdy frame, and with a fully boxed front section, powerful front suspension and and extra cross-members, the Silverado’s frame is just what the doctor ordered.

Inside, the Tahoe boasts of retro gauges, a slick dash, comfortable bucket seats, a center console decorated in wood grain and a stylish two-story glove compartment. Crew cab models have huge back seats and rear benches that can flip into the cab walls should you need more cargo space.

The Silverado also has a number of impressive options, such as a power sunroof, power back glass, upgraded stereos, leather upholstery, rain-sensitive windshield wipers and a touch-screen navigation system.

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe: A Review

April 15th, 2007 by Annie

This four-door sport-utility is a roomy vehicle that can accommodate up to nine passengers. It’s a great choice for families of all sizes, especially for soccer moms and boat-hauling dads. And if your business involves shuttling lots of cargo or passengers from one place to another, the Chevy Tahoe is the vehicle for you.

That’s all good, and yet, the 2007 model offers much more than just space — it’s more powerful, more efficient and sportier-looking than the Tahoes of old.

Compared to its sister vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon, the Chevy Tahoe meets the basic requirements of a large GM SUV but at a significantly less expensive cost. The Tahoe delivers the same two and four-wheel drive capability as the Escalade and Yuko and gives you more bang for the buck. Now, if you’re looking for a longer, more stretched out version of the Tahoe, check out the Chevy Suburban.

Among large SUVs, GM boasts that the Chevrolet Tahoe has consistently been lording it over its competition in quality tests in recent years. According to GM, that’s the main reason why the Tahoe dominates the large SUV market with a 62 percent share.

The Chevrolet Tahoe offers customers a choice between two powerful engines: a 4.8 liter V8 with 290 horsepower (an improvement of five horsepower over last year’s model) and the more powerful 5.3-liter V8 with 320 horsepower

In addition, the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe boasts of vastly improved fuel efficiency, thanks to its redesigned drag coefficient. While the 2007 Tahoe models had a combined 16-17 mpg fuel economy, this year’s model has a 20.1 mpg rate for four-wheel drive units and a 20.5 mpg rate for two-wheel drive trucks.

With a quick glance, you might not notice at all the subtle changes in the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe compared to its earlier models. But a close look reveals that the 2007 model’s front end now has a bolder new design, with cleaner lines and smaller gaps. Its wheel track is wider by three inches in the front and by an inch in the rear. The door sills are also lower and give the Tahoe’s profile a cleaner look, while release buttons have replaced the tailgate handles.

Meanwhile, the wheel is now bigger at 17 inches, with optional 20-inch rims. The smoked headlights contribute to an overall sportier look. The Tahoe’s interiors have also been completely redesigned.