Impressions of the Chevrolet Tahoe for 2003
The 2003 Tahoe is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sport utility market segment. The Z71 is a member of a series of three trim levels for the Tahoe which include LS, LT, and Z71. The four-door truck with its four-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Chevrolet. There is strong competition from vehicles from Infiniti.
Performance
The Tahoe Z71 is equipped with a General Motors 5.3 liter eight-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The Vortec engine is mated to a General Motors 4-speed Transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.
For the 2003 Tahoe, the fuel delivery system is a electronic SFI, using gasoline for fuel. A fuel-injected MFI configuration. The gas tank holds 26.00 gallons.
The Tahoe uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering gear-style configuration. The truck uses torsion bar and coil springs front and rear respectively.
Tahoe Z71 Statistics
The dimensions of the Tahoe Z71 are 78.90 inches wide by 196.90 inches long. It sits a comfortable 76.50 inches off the ground. It seats a standard six passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 116.00 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $34,200 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $29,925. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sport Utility.
The standard warranty period for the Tahoe is 36 months, or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the sport utility market.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2003 Tahoe gets 18 - 19 miles/gallon on the highway and only 14 in the city. This is exceptional for a sport utility truck.
Conclusion
The 2003 model year was unsuccessful for the Chevrolet Tahoe. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Z71 version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..