Which is better? 2007 Chevy Tahoe or 2006 Hummer H3?

[Jessica P]

I need a large SUV for my family. me my husband, a 1 yr old, and our 4 dogs (2 big dogs). I've narrowed it down to the 07 Tahoe or 06 H3. Which do you think is a better pick for storage space, safety ratings, handling, etc? Storage is the big one... I need lots of space behind the back seats for all our stuff and/or the dogs. I've heard that a lot of people think that the hummer has a lot of blind spots because of the smaller windows. Anyone with a hummer have this problem? Safety is a big deal for us too. Which would you buy for your family and why?

[Bostonian In MO]

The H3 is nothing more than a re-badged Chevy Blazer/Colorado with some custom body panels and Hummer-like interior touches. It's got a dinky engine to boot. (The H2 is a re-badged Tahoe, by the way.)

Neither the Tahoe or the H3 are at the top of the list for big SUVs but the Tahoe is far better than the H3 -- and the H3 is really a mid-size vehicle. If those are your choices, get the Tahoe. It has more room, better hauling capacity, is more reliable, and handles better. Blind spots are a big issue on all Hummers, another negative.

Any body-on-frame SUV will have safety issues. They are much more likely to roll over if driven improperly. Drive either as if it is a truck -- they both are -- and you'll be OK. But thrash it around like a Mustang GT and you'll be on your roof in short order.

Better choices than either, according to Consumer Reports, include the Toyota Sequoia or the Ford Expedition. The Toyota is the hands-down winner for quality and reliability and competes well with the H3 for size though is a bit smaller than the Tahoe. The Expedition beats any GM for quality and reliability and is competitive with the Tahoe for size and carrying capacity.

[xx_satanic_mechanic_xx]

Tahoe. Far better engine than the H3. Rommier, more comfortable, and probably about the same or better on gas mileage.

The H3's standard engine is a 3.5L Inline 5-cylinder. The same engine that is used in the Chevy Colorado pickups. It only gets about 15mpg in the city. It's underpowered for the extra weight of the H3

The Tahoe, though, is most common with the 4.8L V8. It gets about the same estimated MPG as the Hummer.

The Hummer line is discontinued, and likely will have a lower resale value than the Tahoe as well.