Turbodiesel sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) like Mitsubishi Montero Sport and the Toyota Fortuner may rule Philippine roads, but this country will always have a soft spot for American iron.

Since the late-1990s, V8-powered Leviathans like the Ford Expedition and the Chevrolet Suburban have maintained a small yet commanding presence in our streets, guzzling unleaded like there was no tomorrow.

But Ford decided to shoehorn a turbocharged V6 into the Expedition to accommodate the demand for better fuel economy. General Motors, however, is staying true to its roots as the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe still packs a mighty V8 under the hood.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the official importer and distributor of Chevrolet in the Philippines, announced in a May 2023 press statement that the Tahoe is now available at Chevrolet dealers nationwide.

“As we continue to receive a very warm reception for our North American products, we are pleased to share the good news that more of our NAM models shall be made accessible for the Philippine market,” said TCCCI-Chevrolet Philippines president and CEO Albert Arcilla.

“We are also committed to providing exceptional service and aftersales support for these new models with our signature 5-year warranty and Chevrolet Complete Care programs throughout the entire ownership experience,” he added.

Two variants

The Philippine-market Tahoe is available in either the Z71 4x4 or the more off-road-tuned High Country 4x4.

Both are powered by a 5.3-liter, single-cam, 16-valve, pushrod V8 gasoline engine pumping out 360 PS and 518 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

The Tahoe gets multilink suspension all around, equipped with GM’s Magnetic Ride Control and Adaptive Air Ride Suspension.

Looks-wise, the large SUV features an aggressive fascia that includes a black grill with active shutters, the signature Chevy bowtie, LED Daytime Running Lamps, and Intellibeam Headlamps. 

Aside from its high approach angle and integrated skid plate, the Tahoe is also equipped with roof rack side rails where owners can easily mount outdoor gear and equipment. 

Differentiating the two variants is easy – the Z71 has 20-inch machined aluminum wheels, while the High Country has 22-inch alloy wheels.

Huge, cosseting cabin

Given that the Tahoe is designed to fit an entire American family, passenger, and cargo space is vast.

Compared to the old Tahoe, the company said the current model has a 125 mm longer wheelbase and a 169 mm increase in overall length.

This translates into 40 percent more third-row legroom, 66 percent greater cargo volume behind the third row, and a 30 percent increase in maximum cargo room.

Behind the wheel, the driver gets a 10.2-inch Chevrolet MyLink Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 15-inch Head-Up Display. 

There are also 10-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, along with power-folding rear seats, a Bose Performance Series Speaker System, tri-zone automatic climate control, and inductive wireless charging.

Meanwhile, rear-seat passengers get a pair of 12.6-inch rear LCD touchscreens that offer independent connections so that passengers can watch different content on each side. 

Chevrolet Philippines said they could also share content from one screen to the other, mirror content from an Android phone to a screen, and send navigation points of interest, like restaurant suggestions or pit stop locations, to the central infotainment screen up front.

Safe as a tank (or safer)

Despite the antiquated specifications of its V8 engine, the Tahoe’s safety gear is bang up to date.

Aside from seven airbags and traction control, all Tahoes come standard with the following:

• 360-degree Surround Vision

• Forward Collision Alert

• Front and Rear Pedestrian Alert

• Following Distance Indicator

• Lane Keep Assist

• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert

• Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Park Assist Sensors with Camera

• Hill Start Assist

• Hill Descent Assist 

Prices for the 2023 Tahoe start at ₱7,702,888 for the Z71 4x4, while the High Country 4x4 comes in at ₱8,692,888.

Would you prefer a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 or stick to American V8 muscle?

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