GM's Maven Reserve: Book a Tahoe for the Same Price as an Escalade or CTS-V
As urban populations grow and analysts continue to predict dwindling car ownership, alternatives have sprung up and automakers are gradually getting in on that sweet car-sharing action. Currently active in 17 North American cities, General Motors’ hourly ride-sharing unit Maven has been building slowly.
GM is now expanding Maven to include long-term rentals which, come to think of it, sounds identical to what it was doing with its Book by Cadillac premium subscription service. While the Caddy offering is intended to be a monthly subscription serving as an alternative to normal vehicle ownership, nothing is really stopping customers from using “Maven Reserve” in a similar manner.
Also similar is the pricing. While the special Maven Reserve vehicles don’t yet encompass all GM’s fleet, a Chevrolet Tahoe runs $1,500 for 28 days, which is identical to the subscription fee for Cadillac Book, which also includes curbside car delivery and mid-month vehicle swapping.
In essence, GM is allowing you to have simultaneous access to a CTS-V and Escalade or a Tahoe for the same amount of money.
To compare, the Tahoe can be leased in a traditional manner for $299/month and found for similar, occasionally lower, monthly rates through traditional rental agencies — provided you are less picky and they aren’t gouging for larger vehicles, which they may. Drivers can also use Maven’s normal on-demand service and get that same vehicle for roughly $14 an hour or a slightly discounted daily rate.
At the moment, the only other long-term option is an extended-range Chevy Volt for $1,100. GM explained the limited offerings are due to the program’s initial California location and customer preference. When monthly rentals eventually roll out to other parts of the country, expect more options.
The case to be made for Maven Reserve over Zipcar or an airport rental is that General Motors provides SiriusXM satellite radio, 4G LTE WiFi. insurance, a $100 gas voucher, and a parking space for when you aren’t driving. However, the usefulness of that space will be largely dependent upon how close it is to your home base. While any open slab of concrete is worth its weight in gold in a densely populated city, its of no help to you if you can’t easily access it.
Maven Reserve is currently only available in Los Angeles and San Francisco while Book by Cadillac exists in the New York Metropolitan area. However, GM says it anticipates expanding both services to other cities soon.
[Image: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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This could actually be useful to me if it were available in Seattle. I've been thinking of buying a large CUV because we are going to be taking a fair number of road trips for the foreseeable future and will be a bit cramped in my LS460, especially while both kids are in bulky car seats. But if the rates for 14-day rentals are consistent with this 28-day price, it might be more cost-effective for me to rent a Traverse or Enclave from Maven instead. The rate is lower than it is from a rental company and you have more precise choice over the vehicle you get. And I'd get to keep the comfy sedan for the times when we're not stuffing ludicrous amounts of gear in the back.
"To be clear, a Tahoe can be leased in a traditional manner for $299/month" Unmitigated b.s. If that were the case, despite my general disdain for the GM BOFs I'd have one. The lowest rate I've seen on a stripper Tahoe with no down is just short of $600/month.