The Chevrolet Tahoe Base for 1996: Improving on 1995
The 1996 Tahoe is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sport utility market segment. The Base is a member of a series of three trim levels for the Tahoe which include LT, LS, and Base. The two-door truck with its four-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Chevrolet. There is strong competition from vehicles from Nissan.
Performance
The restyled Tahoe Base is equipped with a General Motors 6.5-liter 8-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 16 valves. The engine is paired with a General Motors 4-speed transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.
The fuel system for the 1996 Tahoe is a traditional I-EFI, running on DIESEL fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 30.00 gallons.
Steering control is handled through a power-steering gear-style configuration. The Tahoe has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. The truck uses coil front springs and leaf in the rear.
Tahoe Base Statistics
The dimensions of the Tahoe Base are 76.40 inches wide by 199.10 inches long. It sits a comfortable 70.20 inches off the ground. It seats a standard six passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 117.50 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $30,464 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of an industry-average price. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Sport Utility.
The standard warranty period for the Tahoe is 60* months, or 50,000* miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the sport utility market.
Fuel Efficiency
The Tahoe Base received a miles-per-gallon rating of thirteen in-city driving and seventeen when it came to long-distance. Being a diesel-powered non-green truck, this was subpar.
In Summary
The 1995 model began the promise of the Chevrolet Tahoe. The 1996 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Chevrolet hopes that the Tahoe Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.