Back in 2013, Chevrolet introduced the High Country trim level for the 2014 Silverado 1500 pickup truck. Widely seen as Chevy’s answer to Ford’s King Ranch trim, High Country bundles some exterior equipment and interior features to make for a fully-loaded truck. Today, the very attractive trim sits at the top of the Silverado hierarchy above the LTZ, where it commands high Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) while attracting gazes of passers-by (nearly) everywhere. And though it’s only been about two and a half years since its introduction, we would already describe the Silverado High Country as a success, so it would only make sense for Chevy to bring the trim to other trucks and SUVs, such as the Silverado’s SUV-bodied platform mates — the Tahoe and Suburban.
Doing so would not only deliver more features and equipment, but it would also grow the breed of the full-size SUVs. On top of that, it could also pave the way for Chevy to offer the excellent 6.2L V8 L86 in the Tahoe and Suburban, which are currently only offered with the smaller and less powerful 5.3L V8 L83. The move would also be great for GM from a business standpoint, raising profit margins and Average Transaction Prices.
Here’s what we can see a Tahoe High Country or Suburban High Country offer, on top of LTZ features:
- 22-inch wheels unique to High Country
- LED Matrix headlights
- Unique interior appointments
- Self-deploying running boards
- Standard driver awareness/active safety package
- Possible Magnetic Ride Control, or an upgraded suspension system
- 6.2L V6 L86 engine mated to GM’s 8-speed 8L90 automatic transmission
As far as price goes, the 2016 Tahoe LTZ has a base MSRP of $62,805, and we can see the Tahoe High Country being priced at $68,000. The same goes for the Suburban: the 2016 Suburban LTZ starts at $65,505, and we can picture a Suburban High Country carrying a base MSRP of $70,000-$72,000.
All in all, a Chevy Tahoe and Suburban High Country seem like no-brainers to us. What would you like to see ? Talk to us in the comments.
Comments
2 Door Tahoe !
These things need the 8-Speed standard across the board! Then later on get the Ford/GM developed 10-Speed as an option for the top trim model!
You want even MORE expensive vehicles? I curse you to have to BUY one, not just drive it and pen a fluff piece. Raising ATPs is
BAD for the consumer,
BAD for the economy,
and interestingly BAD for shareholders. Who benefits? CF_s whose bonues are based upon artifically inflated profitability figures.
Honestly, for a Bowtie guy like me, makes all the sense in the world.
The high country on the silverado doesn’t have any unique features besides badges. Its just comes standard with most all the options. Unless the high country packages together options for cheaper then they would be separately OR come with unique options I dont see any point in offering one.
The leather in a High Country is not offered on any other trim level.
Ya, these SUV prices aren’t high enough already, may as well tack on more gimmicks to increase the depreciation. Also add even bigger wheels to to further ruin the ride and make them more useless. That said, people will buy. Ha!
Well the fact is large SUV’s are not going to get cheaper. Why? Because they need to sell less of them and make more money on each one.
Folks the coming CAFE is going to effect everything including these models and the reason GM is one of the few left that makes them is they are mining the last of this vein of gold.
The way in the future they will limit sales on large products and powerful products with V8 engines is with price. That way it is available but to a much smaller segement.
Because of this anything they can do to drive profits will be a help here. I am just shocked they have not already done this yet but they may soon. It is not hard to add to the vehicle.
To be honest this is something that should be expected by every share holder’s to get GM more profitable and more return on their investment.
Then when many are priced out you offer mid size and smaller SUV and CUV models that sell in volume at lower prices and get much more MPG.
Lets face it you can only drop so many cylinders and add so many gears. Weight and Size is the new battle field.. Unless this mircro steel pans out much of the larger things will be fading away.
What should get your attention is the number of insiders that are now talking and saying the ICE could be gone in our life time as long as you have 25 years or more.
Yes more are speaking this way. I never even considered this till I see people in the know saying it. Many I think fear the government will force it out. Stupied and short sighted yes but when has that stopped them before.
HIGH COUNTRY AS A NAMEPLATE IS OK. IT SUITS FOR TAHOE, SUBURBAN AND EVEN COLORADO. WHAT GM MUST DO IS NOT TO CONFUSE THE CUSTOMER WITH GMC OPTIONS WHICH OFFER THE SAME THING FOR MORE PRICE. AS I READ, THE MAGNETIC SUSPENSION IS A MUST FOR ALL THE TRIM LEVELS.
I would much rather a simple work truck trim with 8 seats 4wd and the usual capability without all the luxury
High Country in the Silverado was basically created to go up against the F150 Platinum…but a half step below a Denali.
I’m a Chevy guy first, and I think LTZ in the Tahoe/Yukon is just fine, considering. No need for GM to splinter the SUV market that it basically owns. Half step up, go Denali. Or Escalade. These are all now premium vehicles; rare with this latest generation do you see a bare bones Yukon or Tahoe.
My problem with the high country is it doesn’t offer any exclusive features besides emblems on the doors and seats. If it added say magnetic ride and 6.2l as options then it would be something special.
The leather in a High Country is not available on any other trim level.
You can give me a thumbs down if you want but it is an absolutely true statement.
The High Country Colorado –
what could be more fitting, both from a physical and a psychoactive standpoint?
I would like to see a high country option on a Z71 with 18″ wheels. Low profile tires are not good off road. And most of all, a diesel!
As long as Chevy does something to make it a true off-road vehicle , Just adding different badges and stitching on the seats and dash or changing the color of the bowtie wouldn’t make much sense . i don’t think it will do any harm to GMC or Cadillac . GMC has its own customer base and Chevy has its own loyal customers . A TRUE Chevy guy will not jump ship to a GMC and vise-versa . Cadillac has nothing to worry about .
Hey GM ! Great Look’in Vehicles … But, how about bringing back the 2-Door Full Sized Blazer, an make it available is a 2WD with the Vortec V-6. I’d love to have a full size vehicle that’s maybe see the 23 mpg on the highway.
I’d buy one with the 6.2 immediately!
I think the Tahoe and Suburban LTZ models are already out of the working Guys budget, now they want make an even more expensive model. I have seen LTZ models bumping the 70K mark we don’t we need another luxury model.
If you want more luxury buy a Cadillac.
The guy who mentioned the two door Tahoe has a great idea, not everybody wants four doors. I also think a two door Tahoe would be cool.
Why can’t they bring back chrome bumpers? They can put them on a pick up why not an SUV.
I would love to be able to get the 6.2 in any trim. An LT with the 2LT package is a pretty nicely equipped truck.
I believe GM is not allowing it because that cannot make enough 6.2s. The Vette and Camaro get the majority with just a trickle making it to the other product lines.
A diesel with a 10 speed Z71 off road package
These modern Tahoes and Suburbans (and their Expedition counterparts as well) are all useless crap to us over here at the frontier in Africa, no matter what fancy trim level badge they put on them, until these short-sighted brick heads in the GM (and Ford) building’s top floor eventually come to their senses again and put a HD DIESEL (6.6 Duramax, or 6.7 PowerStroke, respectively) back in those vehicles. Till then, we’ll cling to our aging Diesel powered Suburbans and Excursions like bubblegum sticks to a shoe sole. (At least those of us who’d rather walk on foot than drive a Toyota.)
I strongly agree…GMC Yukon and XL has the Denali, Chevy should do the High Country just for bragging rights if nothing else, to take it one step higher…The USA needs a much higher end SUV something in the $250,000 – $300,000 to park outside the McMansions of america
Texans would stand in line to buy one.