Earlier today, GM Authority authored a post that indicated the Cadillac Escalade was set to arrive for the 2021 model year and not 2020 as previously believed. Our article indicated the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL were still on track for 2020, however, we must now issue a correction, as we’ve received word that *all* next-gen GM SUVs won’t be arriving until 2021.
2018 Chevrolet Suburban
This means that, just like with the Escalade, the Tahoe and Suburban and Yukon and Yukon XL will soldier on for 2020 with no changes. If GM does decide to apply any updates to the SUVs, they will probably be limited to new exterior and/or interior color options.
The next-gen GM SUVs will ride on General Motors’ new T1XX body-on-frame platform, which also serves in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, and should retain the 5.3L L84 V8 and 6.2L L87 V8 engines. We’re also expecting GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission to appear across the board.
The Escalade may have an exclusive powertrain to offer customers in certain trims, such as the new 4.2-liter Blackwing twin-turbo V8, although we’ve heard no official word from GM on this.
In addition to a new platform, all next-gen GM SUVs will also benefit from new exterior and interior designs, improved third-row seating, independent rear suspension (which may be an option or offered as standard) and front air curtains for improved fuel efficiency. Super Cruise will also be offered on the Escalade eventually, but isn’t expected to appear on the SUV from launch.
All next-gen GM SUVs will also continue to be assembled at the GM Arlington plant in Arlington, Texas.
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Comments
I hope the extended release date was to allow more time to redesign the interior that will be shared across the pickups. It could allow a chance(?) that there be a refresh on the Silverado and the Sierra for a new interior to be released about the same time?
The SUVs haven’t really shared an interior with the Silverado Sierra since 2006 save for theTZ and Denali trims from 2007.5-2013
Like I said in my previous comment on the previous article, GM is taking their time here developing their new SUVs. The Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade are arguably GM’s finest and most important products. They must come out as throughly finished products to compete with the redesigned Expedition and Navigator offerings. As an automotive enthusiast who has a soft spot for BOF 4×4 utility vehicles, I’m hopeful that GM’s redesigned SUVs will come out as higher quality products than their recently revised pickup trucks, especially on the interior design game. Fingers crossed.
They have an utterly fantastic base to build on – the driving dynamics, increased fuel economy (especially real world), improved handling, and vastly improved responsiveness of both acceleration and braking are the most (and in my opinion the only) impressive parts of the 2019 Silverado 1500. I remain entirely unconvinced by the build quality, materials quality, overall design, or comfort levels of the new Silverado in the face of the new 2019 Ram 1500 and even the now-aged F150.
The interiors need to be top notch, within reason of course. They can’t just match the current-gen Tahoe/Suburban or Ford’s Expedition/Expedition Max; they need to be better. Unfortunately, I’m not overly convinced that GM’s “increase profit per vehicle, not total sales numbers” strategy allows for that.
I am actually excited for the independent rear suspension. With that, the Tahoe’s 3rd row might actually be usable for anybody above the age of 5. I imagine the new full-size SUVs are going to be extraordinarily comfortable, as long as they don’t use the rock hard flat seats from the Silverado.
Tahoe and Suburban are two of my favorite vehicles that Chevrolet makes. I was raised riding in those things; my dad still drives his 99 Tahoe as a daily driver. I sincerely hope they don’t screw it up, but seeing and working with the new Silverado doesn’t give me that much hope in that department.
I’m guessing we will really see them by next spring/summer., I kinda get why they aren’t coming for 2020 we are already midway through they year and the 2019’s are on there way out. My best guess is going to be at LA or maybe a private event.
Maybe the delay is a redesign of the front end (from intended styling) as they were heading toward the Silverado fork in the road which debuted as a dud (and rightly so in my opinion). They need a styling hit that can go into the future as these type vehicles remain fairly unaltered and have to have it right from the beginning. JMO (and speculation)
I’m hoping for a custom trim or ls trim in the suburban. Today’s mega suv’s are insanely priced. I would buy a Tahoe over an explorer if financially possible, and pay a little extra for a suburban. I know it’s not a priority, but a 9seater would be nice as well. These are formost luxury vehicles these days, but it would be nice to see a utility be put back in the SUV
You can still get a base model LS Tahoe/Suburban or SLE Yukon with cloth 40/20/40 front bench seat. They’re not common, but they apparently sell just well enough to keep the option around.
Does this mean we can expect a better effort on interiors, an actual increase in MPG and IRS across the board for all this waiting?
I hope that new focus groups find better design solution (inside and outside) than in new Silverado/Sierra, Caddy XT4/XT5/CT5. GM needs premium product not standard crap. Not the same technology, quality and design language from Chevy to Caddy.
Those air curtains didn’t seem to help the Silverado in fuel economy
After brief ownership of a 2015 suburban LTZ with repeated strut issues, I traded it for a brand new2019 LT. less technology features but little more confidence with mechanical concerns.
However my 2001 Yukon XL runs like a sewing machine… I will go back to a new 2021 Yukon xl
Gm , i hope yur listening…! The back up cameras need to be moved up higher. Wher ther are now , by the license plate ,if ther is the slightest bit of weather it quicly blurs the camera lense.
On a dark rainy, night the dash lights need more than a little dimability..to be able to see out.clearly
Love the hidden in-dash storidge compartment
I’ve installed camera nozzle connected to rear window sprayer. Awesome.
Um this is standard for the gm release.. First the 2019 silverado launch. Then 2020 hd launch.. No way they launch the nxt gen SUV the same my as the hd.. I don’t recall them ever doing that..
In 1999 they did the silverado then in 2000 they did the suv. Followed by the 2001 hd launch and birth of the duramax.
They did it for the 2015 model year lol
Have a 2015 with chrome rims that were so cheaply built I had to replace them after only 4 years they wouldnt hold air any longer. The crome was peeling right off the rims. Middle console is not userfriendly at all as you have to lift up this huge lid to get anything out of it which requires both passenger and driver to move elbows out of tbe way. Cheap plastic lighter plug covers snapped off and broke right away. All the sensors are constantly in need of service. Air conditioning condensor had to be replaced after only 4 years. Thousands in repairs and replacements. Shame on GM this car is poorly built and thought out for the astronomical price!
I think GM saw the new Silverado front end was not liked by many, planned to release the new Tahoe in 2020, then Ford releases a great looking Expedition and GM said “oh no we need a complete redesign here” and 100% pulled what they were to release. Now they get it, and will I’m sure, release something to blow us away in 2021, I’m ready to buy right away.
You know, the current Suburban/Tahoe never shared looks with the Silverado, why would the next one? And I disagree with the exterior design of the current half ton being poorly received.
In my opinion, GM’s greatest launch ever was the Spring of 1987 when the 1988 C/K pickups debuted. Possibly, many here are to young to recall the excitement of thirty-two years ago.
I actually didn’t like the 1988’s when they came out; looked too car like compared to the square bodies. I ended up owning a 1993 GMC which I really liked and now I think they were great looking trucks. It just took an adjustment period.
I took to them right away though not as quickly as my father and two of my younger brothers. My father bought a GMC Sierra SLT 2WD and my brothers got 4X4s by June of ’87. I bought my first ever 4X4 on August 20, 1987; fire engine red. We used these vehicles in support of my father’s contracting business; masonry construction mostly.
I saw the first of these new trucks in April of ’87 on I-95 just south of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and did a triple-take. I couldn’t fully appreciate the shift-on-the-fly feature since I’d never had a four wheel drive vehicle but it was handy for so many things as I worked with my father and brothers. One other younger brother ( five sons in all we were then) did buy a Chevrolet K1500 in January of ’88 which let him tryout his new vehicle in the snow right off the bat.
Taking mine offroad for the first time that September after I’d bought it was enlightening and I was very satisfied with the vehicle’s performance. Later I used it for surf fishing and it has good manners on the sand when the tires were aired-down to 17 psi. I owned a total of six of these (passing a couple down to my brothers) before my last of the body style in ’96. These vehicles were always good to me, virtually trouble-free, especially as they were always under the original warranty.
Boomer scum
Can’t say I’m not surprised by the announcement. I’ve been asking around about when the reveal is if GM planned on building these as 2020’s. It’s a critical vehicle, and GM needs to get both the design and engineering right – in year one. The cost of these vehicles is at the squeal point for many, and GM might find that their potential customers are looking to downsize where the competitive is fierce.
I am still on Last Gen 2013 Suburban. There is Big difference in trunk space in my Gen and current 2015+ Gen.
Try fitting 6 Large size bags in 2019 Suburban. No way. 2013 fits that easy. That’s because of that stupid hidden incline storage under trunk.
Putting back row down to show how much you can carry is not a way to measure trunk space. Fit in 8 people then talk space.
I am hoping with Independent Suspension…that will go away or something with new model.
Funny thing is NoNE of the reviewers really talk about actual trunk space. Reviews should be done my owners not someone who owes a sedan.
I’d have appreciated their just trimming the flanks of the previous body-style (my favorite), improving the drive trains as they have done and given them even more nimble handling. Not that I’m complaining too much. I still appreciate the ability to offer family members a break from driving when a function comes up. No one has complained about getting into the rear area of the 2017 Suburban I’m currently driving. The current body-style can also be driven on sand even with the 20″ tire option. It never occurred to me to get wheels any larger than that as I feel the shorter sidewalls on the tires are unbecoming of the vehicle’s overall attractively rakish appearance.
Watch the YouTube Alex On Autos if you want useful real world reviews. He’s the best I’ve found so far.
All I ask from the new design is: please make the console-delete / split bench seat option available after the change-over. If they all have consoles, I’ll buy a left-over 2020. Thank you.
Sorry but what exactly is Console ?
Thanks.
That big long thing between the front seats that goes all the way to the dashboard. Some vehicles have shifters and storage on them. Cars started having them in the early 60s. The ridiculous “center stack” architecture started after that.
Both cause (for me) a cramped, tight, uncomfortable driving position. Some context: I’m a big man. Broad shoulders, big torso. In US size, I wear 14EEEE shoes. I need all the foot room I can get.
The Tahoe and Yukon offer a 60/40 split bench seat option. It has a little storage box with cup holders, but does not cover the transmission. It gives me room to bend and stretch my right leg. You lose some USB outlets but I don’t care.
I bet they were originally slated to come out as a 2020 MY, with mild interior updates like the Silverado, which was NOT well received by the market and viewed as falling short of expectations. I’m guessing they didn’t want to repeat this mistake and is taking another year to improve the interior design of the Tahoe/Yukon.
Frankly, the latest RAM interior looks chaotic to me. I don’t need a large screen in my truck, just one large enough to view nav maps and written info. It’s not a Tesla. And what is all the dislike about shifters on the column? Just upgrade some of the the materials and be sure that everything feels tight, and I have no problem with the GM truck cabs.
I agree with the Shifter comment. Each reviewer I pulled on Youtube has a shifter problem. Again these are the guys who don’t even own a large SUV. Funny the look on their faces when start driving on road.
GM….get your ideas/complaints/compliments from SUV owners. Not some Honda Civic Driver.
I wished that GMC would again make a body on frame “mid-size” SUV like my 2009 GMC Envoy with the Vortec 4.2 liter inline six DOHC engine. My wife even liked to drive that 4×4 in snow, ice or even good weather rather than a 2 wheel drive compact “Kiddie Kar” After our family size increased exponentially (4 Daughters each had 2 kids = 8 Grandchildren) I sometimes needed a 7 seater (to pick-up as many as 6 Grandkids from school or go to and from the Airport since one family lives in California) so I bought a used 2005 GMC Envoy XL (that is longer and has a better sized 3rd row seat than my other Son-in-law’s 2013 GMC Yukon or his Father’s GMC 2017 or 2019 Accadia)
I still have an 2004 Envoy XUV and find it hard to give it up for the Acadia and the Yukon is out of my price range. I wish the Envoy would come back with the most reliable V6 that GM ever produced.
The 2021 Suburban should have more interior room like the 2007-2014 model. GM should also sell the HD model to the public because there are people that want a heavy duty SUV to pull a trailer instead of a pickup truck.
on my second suburban (2008 and 2012) hoping they have addressed the oil burning issue in the newer models and the ’21 future model. I use it as a truck and love the room the current gen seems odd with the seat layout. I have full sheets of drywall and plywood in it without an issue. dive gear no problem.
Hope they keep the ability to open the back window on the new redesigned 2021 Tahoe! There are very few suv that have it and if you travel a lot it’s a very important feature
2021 Tahoe needs to keep opening back window