After reading a lot of GM bashing by the import lovers about how the Tahoe Hybrid wasn't this or that I decided to see how some of the 2008 Japanese SUV's stack up against Tahoe and Tahoe Hybrid.

Data collected from published information and "GM Autobook". If you find any errors in my data please let me know and I will correct it. If you feel there's another major item that should be included let me know, I may add it. Dave

I rated each vehicle against the other based on hard data, not opinion. "1" is the top score and "7" is the worst. I used data that is important to people wanting a full size SUV. The items chosen penalize vehicles that are more of a "man's mini van" than a SUV with power and capacity. If power, size and capacity didn't matter then the Highlander Hybrid would go from last to first. The last block is not weighted or factored into the data but I thought it bore mentioning. Just because a vehicle is assembled in the U.S. doesn't mean the money stays in the U.S.

 
Vehicle Score (lower is better)
Engine
HP
Torq.
EPA
Seats
Tow Cap.
Warranty:
Bumper to Bumper
+ Powertrain
Overall
Ranking
Money sent back to Japan
Tahoe Hybrid 11
6.0 V8 1
332 1
367 2
21/22 2

8-9 1
6200 3
3/36+5/100 1
1
NO
Tahoe 16
5.3 V8 3
320 2
340 3
14/20 5

8-9 1
6500 1
3/36+5/100 1
2
NO
Nissan Armada 17
5.6 V8 2
314 3
385 1
13/19 6
8 1
6500 1
3/36+5/60 3
3
YES
Toyota Sequoia 27
4.7 V8 4
276 4
314 4
14/17 7
8 1
5000 4
3/36+5/60 3
4
YES
Honda Pilot 30
3.4 V6 6
244 5
240 6
16/22 3
8 1
3500 6
3/36+5/60 3
5
YES
Toy FJ Cruiser 34
4.0 V6 5
239 6
278 5
16/20 4
5 7
5000 4
3/36+5/60 3
6
YES
Highlander 37 Hybrid
3.3 V6 7
209 7
212 7
27/25 1
5-7 6
3500 6
3/36+5/60 3
7
YES

Tahoe Hybrid gets 38% better fuel economy than the Sequoia despite having 56 more HP, 53 pds. more torque, and 1,200 pds. more tow capacity,


Tahoe Hybrid gets 34% better fuel economy than the Armada despite more weight and more HP.

 

How would each of these big boys fared if put above?
Vehicle Score (lower is better)
Engine
HP
Torq.
EPA
Seats
Tow Cap.
Warranty:
Bumper to Bumper
+ Powertrain
Overall
Ranking
Suburban 16
5.3 V8 3
320 2
340 3
14/20 5

8-9 1
7100 1
3/36+5/100 1

2nd TIE
NO
Suburban 2500 16
6.0 V8 1
352 1
383 2
??? 8

8-9 1
9600 1
3/36+5/100 1
2nd TIE
NO

Expedition 27

5.4 V8 3
300 4
365 3
12/18 8
8 1
5951 4
3/36+5/60 3
4th TIE
NO