GM rolls out full-size SUVs, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe

MANILA: GM is doubling down on its lineup of full-size SUV as it unveils the all-new Chevrolet Suburban and its slightly shorter sibling, Chevrolet Tahoe. Both come with bigger sizes and new suspension set up for bigger cargo space and roomier legroom.

GM, a dominant SUV player in North America—which controls about 70 percent of the large SUV market, revealed the redesigned SUVs, the first of a new generation of large SUVs equipped with digital functions and over-the-air software updates. Something that GM is taking a page from carmaker Tesla that stroke marketing gold with their over-the-air upgrades to fix problems at low cost.

And as the auto industry moves towards electrification, GM sees the sales of these big SUVs as a way to fund their transition like building a new battery plant and developing an electric pickup truck. According to GM President Mark Reuss, "We don't want to invest that much... and not have agility." 

On the outside, both the Suburban and Tahoe gets redesigned for a more robust exterior and character lines. The front façade, however, is somewhat reminiscent of Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield with the imposing front grille highlighted by a reverse C signal lights sitting below the standard LED headlights. Both SUVs ride on a set of 18-inch wheels though 20-inch is an available option. The Tahoe and Suburban are available in 9 different color schemes. 

Inside, the new generation Chevy SUV also gets an upgrade. Compared to the current generation, both the Suburban and Tahoe gets a longer wheelbase. The Suburban wheelbase gets a 4.1 inches upgrade and is 15 inches longer overall. It gets 2.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row while the second and third-row gets a few inches of additional legroom.

The Tahoe, on the other hand, gets most of the love with an extra 4.9 inches on the wheelbase and an overall 6.7 inches increase in length. The cargo space at the back of the third row is up from 15 cubic feet to 26 cubic feet and some inches on the second and third-row legroom too. Seats for the second and third-row for both SUVs can either be a three-place bench or two captain’s chair that can slide back and forth on a 10-inch track.

The Chevrolet SUVs bigger size is made possible with the new suspension setup. The new independent rear suspension allowed Chevy to lower the rear floor for extra cargo space, lower lift-in height and a third row placed higher off the floor to make for a roomier interior and wider leg space. The new suspension system also improved handling and ride quality that minimizes passenger rolls when making sharp turns.

What is more, both the new 2021 Tahoe and Suburban are offered in three suspension options. Both come standard with conventional steel coil spring with passive shocks. This can be upgraded with GM’s latest version of magnetic ride control. And for the top-of-the-line variant, a new Air Ride Adaptive Suspension that can be adjusted for improved fuel economy and better off-road clearance.

Also worth mentioning is the addition of a diesel engine option. The same turbo-diesel 3.0-litre inline-six found in the Silverado that delivers 277 hp of power and 624 Nm of torque. But the standard engine remains to be the 5.3-litre V8 that has an output capacity of 355 horsepower and 519 Nm of torque. The 6.2-litre V8 is also an option that delivers 420 hp of power and 624 Nm of torque. All engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic with a choice between 2WD or 4WD.

In terms of tech, both the 2021 Tahoe and Suburban get a 10-inch infotainment system that comes standard on all trim levels. Some other optional features are the 8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15-inch head-up display, and a 12.6-inch rear-seat entertainment monitor. 

Prices for the 2021 Tahoe and the Suburban has not been released but expect the pricing to come before the on-sale date come mid-2020.

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