History repeats itself, as they say. In the mid-1990s and early 2000s, the SUV and truck boom began to crest and crash over the United States automotive market. The only thing to calm the wave was the 2008 financial crash, which sent fuel prices rising and put Americans back into smaller and more efficient cars.
One of the crusaders of the SUV boom was the Chevrolet Tahoe and its corporate cousin, the GMC Yukon. And at the time, there was a lot to love, as the MotorWeek retro review tells.
A new nameplate for 1995 after the K5 Blazer exited production, the Tahoe represented an in-between SUV for consumers who wanted something larger than the S-10 based Blazer, but smaller than a Suburban. GM and Chevrolet hit the nail on the head with pricing below a fully loaded Ford Explorer, premium content like a CD and cassette player and more storage and cupholders than occupants knew what to do with. Also new was the addition of a four-door model. For added convenience, buyers could choose between a drop-down tailgate with an opening rear window or barn-style doors.
The Tahoe and Yukon remain cash cows for GM to this day after surviving uncertain days during GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring but have a look back on their humble beginnings over 20 years ago.
Comments
I miss my 95 2dr Tahoe, perfect size to me and for anyone who doesn’t need or want a 3rd row. Full-size comfort and towing ability, yet short enough to parallel park! More room in the garage, too.
A nicely equipped tahoe according to this video was around 30k. In today’s dollars that’s 48k, which is the starting MSRP for the lowest trim Tahoe.