As we approach the end of the summer season here at Jim Butler Chevy of Saint Louis, there are many opportunities to reflect on how resilient and recommended our brand has become! The GM Authority blog just reported last week the J.D. Power 2023 U.S Tech Experience Study had honored several Chevy models for greatness last week. The results are finalized by focusing on user experience with the latest in advanced vehicle technology as soon as it hits the market.
This year 82,472 owners of brand-new 2023 model-year vehicles were surveyed after a full 90 days of ownership. It all went down between February and May of 2023 and closely combined a thorough watch on the level of adoption of new technologies for each brand with superior standing in execution. Chevy ranked 6th among 18 brands studied, totaling nearly 500 points on a 1,000-point scale. The categories of infotainment and connectivity, emerging automation, convenience, and sustainability were closely looked at, with just 30 of the technologies making it to “advanced” status.
This renders full eligibility for the esteemed Advanced Technology Award. Both the Corvette and Tahoe were recognized as the premium model recipients of the Convenience Award, drawing praise for their segment-leading streaming-based entertainment technology. Both hailing from the mass market segment, the Chevy Tahoe was situated in a tie with the Hyundai Sonata, as drivers consistently love its “trademark SUV” flair with a full dose of highway-ready confidence. The Tahoe also rolled over into this year freshly equipped with Super Cruise technology, and “fulfills all missions admirably.”
Drivers on a mission for either a quick cup of coffee before rush hour or an all-out trip a bit further west to see the Royals or Chiefs will love how the Tahoe takes its duties seriously, with interior space being very comfortable even back in the third row. Cargo capacity is excellent for the class, and all the tech features on board are right up there with the best in the segment. The Tahoe RST Performance Edition borrows chassis bits from police-grade Tahoe models and enjoys a 13-horsepower bump to properly chase down the bad guys.
The 2023 Corvette comes in quite a few types, but the foundational and always-strutting mid-engined C8 was billed by TopGear.com as “a revolution, not evolution.” Even the standard LT2 boasts a 6.2-liter cranking out 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, potently driving the wheels via an 8-speed twin-clutch gearbox. The Z06 exists as the brilliantly “hardcore” version, with a masterfully retuned suspension geometry that delivers 165kg of downforce at 186 mph. The engine is the true star here, as it presides on the high-octane pulpit preaching the gospel of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8, ever.
Thrusting out all the well-chiseled and churning muscle it promised and bearing a very diverse and unexpected character, this year's Corvette has absolutely been one that boasts the exhilarating output we were promised all along. Costing “muscle car money and giving supercar performance”, it still doesn’t make you work quite so hard to consistently access it. Presiding at the top of awards and accolade lists is a common occurrence for our models here at Jim Butler but this instance rises a star-struck notch above the rest: when the “hammer comes down” and cars are put to the test face-to-face with each other, the numbers notoriously never lie!