GM created quite the unique combination by offering the 3.0-liter I-6 LM2 turbo-diesel Duramax engine in the all-new 2021 Chevy Tahoe and 2021 Chevy Suburban. And now, GM Authority has learned that both the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban diesel are gaining in popularity.
As of the end of April, the LM2 is accounting for eight percent of Suburban sales and six percent of Tahoe sales. The figures represent the highest take rate for the baby Duramax engine in the full-size Chevy SUVs since it entered production.
With Ford, Nissan and Toyota not offering a diesel engine in their full-size SUVs, the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban diesel (along with the GMC Yukon) currently have that portion of the market to themselves.
The two Chevy SUVs seem to be striking a chord with those who prefer the SUV body style over that of a full-size pickup truck like the Chevy Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500, both of which also offer the LM2 Duramax engine.
The 3.0-liter LM2 Duramax engine offers performance, capability and fuel economy. The LM2 engine features a dual overhead cam (DOHC) configuration and direct injection that allows it to produce 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm along with 460 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm. It’s rated at 24 mpg on the combined city/highway fuel economy cycle in the Chevy Tahoe 2WD, 23 mpg in the Suburban 2WD and 22 mpg in the 4WD versions of both models, making it significantly more efficient than the gasoline-powered versions, whose combined figures range from 16 to 18 mpg.
What’s more, the Tahoe diesel has a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,717 pounds, while the Suburban diesel can pull up to 8,000 pounds and carry up to 1,625 pounds.
Paired with a GM 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine is available on all trims of both the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and 2021 Chevy Suburban except for the Z71. It costs an extra $995 over the standard 5.3L V8 L84, although in the High Country, it’s actually $1,500 more affordable than the 6.2L V8 L87.
Chevy Tahoe & Suburban Sales Numbers
| MODEL | Q1 21 / Q1 20 | Q1 21 | Q1 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAHOE | +12.91% | 23,038 | 20,403 |
| SUBURBAN | +17.36% | 11,143 | 9,495 |
| TOTAL | +14.33% | 34,181 | 29,898 |
During the first quarter of the 2021 calendar year, U.S. Chevy Tahoe sales increased 13 percent to 23,038 units while Chevy Suburban sales increased 17.36 percent to 11,143 units.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Tahoe news, Chevrolet Suburban news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Only 60days old with no miles… so far impressed with my Yukon/Duramax performance.
Only have 800mi/2 tanks of fuel-All very short around town miles-App lifetime 21mpg-a good start.
1st big road trip this coming this week… hoping for 28+mpg SF to LA…
What’s your owner/real world feedback?
Since this is a new engine long term reliability is unknown.The high cost of the exhaust emission components is an issue.Time will tell what effect on resale values will be.
How do you know what the cost of the emission parts are?
Specified major components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first, – this engine has now been around since 2019 – I have not hear or read about any real issues with the 3.0 – excepting for some cases of the rear main seal cover leaking
2019 was not that long ago.I have heard of up to $8000 for some components on full size diesels.
Budlar which one do you own , the Sub or Tahoe diesel ?
Here in MA the highway is a boring 55mph, cruise control at 60mph I was getting 34mpg in my Duramax Yukon Denali XL on a 80 mile trip. Going up to VT soon, will see how it does on the mountain highways over 70mph.
470 miles round trip from MA to VT and I got 32.5mpg averaging speeds between 68-70mph. That is with the SUV fully loaded with the family and packed to the brim with camping needs. This bus is getting better gas mileage then my mother’s tiny Buick Encore on the same trip. Also been driving over 1,000 miles so far and only one bar gone on the DEF level. Very glad I chose this powertrain over the 6.2L gas.
Impressive numbers above….
I did get my 500 mile trip in and I average 24.1 of mixed driving mileage. On the outward leg I got 26.5 for the first 150 miles. Unfortunately on the leg home I saw absolutely horrible mileage and barely got 24. I thought it was stuck on 20MPG for the first 40 miles and I don’t really know why since the driving it was all freeway much like most of the trip.
I was pretty excited on the outward leg, and terribly disappointing at the lake coming home and I just do not know why it was so dramatically different… Same speeds same cruise control at 75, open freeways. I am wondering if the diesel exhaust regeneration system kicked in because the marriage issues at the beginning of the last leg…
Planning another trip in a couple weeks with lots of mountains and hopefully it will get better.
Hi tduder, sorry to hear about your experience on the way home, but 26.5 mpg seems about right @ 75 mph which is right around what EPA is stating. Like I said I kept my around 68 – 70 mph and there is a couple stretches in NH that drop down to 55 mph which around 60 mph I am seeing the best gas mileage, but that boring speed is not sustainable on the highway. When I filled the tank up after my trip it said 697 mile fuel range. Good luck to GM and Ford to get that on their future all electric trucks. I know regens will happen once per tank, but not sure if it affects gas mileage during it, I would assume it does to get the engine hotter, but the regen should only last at 10 miles at highway speeds. I purchased an iBanks Super Gauge to tell me when regens are happening, but the something it is blocking the device from reading the ODBII even know it works fine on the 2021 Silverado Duramax 3.0. I have an open ticket with their engineers to figure out what is going wrong.
How to watch a simple theme thread go sideways instantly.
It was only about the Duramax performance perspective & fuel mileage from early adopters which I thought might be of interest to all… It is to me…
Years of 13/17mpg With the gas version of the Tahoes/Yukons was a giant disincentive.
I also have to say that I am very impressed with the electronics and other user interface that make the 2021 Yukon a nice vehicle.
I have a 2021 Silverado with the 3.0 and so far I’m loving it- always 600 miles of combined driving and near 700 highway miles (24 gallon tank) have not towed with it yet
Duramax V8 should be on the Yukon XL / Suburban
Duramax I6 for the Yukon and Tahoe.
I have my 2021 Yukon Denali Duramax for 6 weeks now….so far used for short trips around town….getting about 20 mpg so far…..taking a 120 mile road trip this week ….we shall see what highway miles look like……great truck so far
Too bad you can’t get one with the Max trailering package right now! I put an order in for a Tahoe diesel in February and the Max trailering package is still on constraint.
I do believe I read elsewhere (perhaps another article on GM authority) that the reason the Max trailering package isn’t available on the diesel models is due to the fact the inline 6 is longer than the V-8 choices; therefore, they have a clearance issue with making the added cooling equipment fit on the diesel models. Maybe in the near future, some genius engineer will be able to figure out how to make it work.
According to my dealer that is only true for the 1500…It is truly “On constraint” due to the chip shortage and they try to submit the order weekly. I can’t be the only person that only wants a diesel Tahoe with max trailering.