Would 2021 GM SUVs Look Better With This One Design Change?
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When GM introduced its latest generation of full-size SUVs, it switched from a flat beltline design to one that sweeps up to the rear glass. Yet the automaker retained the flat style for the extended-length variant of each model. Which beltline design do you think is better?
Launched for the 2021 model year, the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade represented a complete overhaul (re-engineering and redesign) of their respective flagship SUVs. The extended-length variant for each is the Suburban, Yukon XL, and Escalade ESV, respectively.
GM’s latest full-size SUVs were redesigned to be the ultimate utility vehicles- offering the most interior space of any SUV on the market and exclusive technologies and features along with the best driving dynamics in the full-size segment. This was achieved through a complete transformation, combining the strongest aspects of GM’s new full-size truck architecture with entirely new systems tailored to the needs of today’s SUV drivers and passengers.
The rear sweep of these new-generation SUVs is reminiscent of their predecessors that debuted over two decades before, though that was less pronounced. The previous three generations retained a flat beltline. With their latest iteration of its full-size SUVs, GM for the first time differentiates the side profile of its regular-size models and the extended ones. That way, at first glance, you know which is which, and makes for a more individual style for each size.
Yet, there’s something smart looking about a flat beltline over the more car-like vibe of the rear sweep.
Should GM have keep things flat across the board, or does the rear sweep and different look work?
Check out our side-by-side comparisons between the current models and our respective proposed rendering.
2021 Chevy Tahoe
2021 Chevy Tahoe
2021 Chevy Suburban
2021 Chevy Tahoe Rendering by GMA
2021 Chevy Tahoe Rendering by GMA
2021 GMC Yukon
2021 GMC Yukon
2021 Yukon XL
2021 GMC Yukon Rendering by GMA
2021 GMC Yukon Rendering by GMA
2021 Cadillac Escalade
2021 Cadillac Escalade
2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2021 Cadillac Escalade Rendering by GMA
2021 Cadillac Escalade Rendering by GMA
Take Our Poll
Do like the new sweep at the rear, or should GM stick with a flat beltline across its models and sizes? Let us know by voting in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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I’m still looking for Waldo….
Agreed, I’m still looking too. Must be a really slow news day.
Me too! cannot tell the difference.
Don’t. See or understand the difference
I really could care less about this “issue”. It took me five minute of looking to notice the minor difference where the top edge of the back doors swoop up a little on the Tahoe vs straight across on the Suburban. More effort should go into the workmanship and quality of these trucks, and less into minor design details like this. Thankfully GMA has no part of decision making for GM, at least I hope they don’t, as they should be concentrating their efforts on more important aspects of production (and journalism).
I find these mythical “renderings” on this site to be silly and a waste of time.
FOG LIGHTS! Where are the fog lights on the Tahoe and Suburban?
Interesting topic but what about visibility, especially when backing?
What’s the difference in visibility in regards to this either/or question?
My first car was a ’69 Camaro soft top and, ever since, I have had a soft spot for Camaros but the current version of the Camaro has an abominable rear visibility problem, again, especially when backing.
Doesn’t matter, backup cameras have been required by law since 2019. You don’t need to see out the back (e.g. work vans, cutaways), and if you cared, the rear mirror camera works so much better anyway.
An improvement to my eye…I like it.
However, the real eye-sore in profile is the mess of vertical lines where the rear door meets the c-pillar…made even worse on the Escalalde by the chintzy 80’s like trim on the c pillar….which lowers the Escalade to the school of “let’s throw some chrome on a Tahoe/Cavalier/Corvette and call it a Cadillac”. Fortunately the front and rear and dash are much more comvincing. Back to the subject, and regardless of the model, whomever was looking over the c-pillar design element (which, I guess is indriectly related to the sweep up) was mailing it in, imo.
100% agree with you.
I have tried to discern the difference, but the photographer should take identical pictures of the 2 differing designs. A design change that is indistinguishable is not a design change unless it has a safety purpose. You guys need more to do, you are wasting time, energy and money.
GM should spend more time and money on quality control and less on trivia. However, since we are talking about appearances, there needs to be less sharing of sheet metal between the brands. A Cadillac should not look like a Chevrolet with tall narrow tail lights. But, I do like those tail lights.
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Don’t you think they should worry about delivery than this small stuff..i have been waiting a long time..vehicle made but sitting somewhere waiting for a part or??
I see it right away because I never liked the kick-up on that beltline. The change is good
For shorter vehicles it’s fine. However, I’m happy my 2021 Yukon XL Denali has the flat beltline.
I agree with a lot of you. GM should be concentrated on building “complete” vehicles before worrying about style choices for a rear door line.
“Belt-line?” Heck, call me Old-fashion, but I would just like them to have an engine like the “Old-en-Days” that WAS reliable! GM sure CAN’T run that ad stating; “The MOST reliable Truck out there!” (THEY CAN’T RUN THAT AD) Who cares about the “belt line?” How about “the lifters?” The “Stupid electronics” that will let the engine run on “One cylinder.” They should have learned that on the Old Cadillac. Why should WE have to buy a “do-dad” that will shut OFF the electrics to the Lifters, SO THE DAMN MOTOR will Last!? 500 bucks…so I can run on ALL 8-CYLINDERS….(Isn’t that why WE paid more, to GET the V-8?) Screw the Belt-line….
IMO, I have not liked the overall look of these vehicles since they were introduced and I really love the last gen much more. My problem is that they all look top heavy and like they are bowed upwards with a narrow looking track. Even from behind, I’ve noticed they place the names (Tahoe LT for example) more inward instead of out towards the sides. All these little things make me not like the styling. So anything that they could do to make them look more wide and lower (or whatever you would call it) would be an improvement to me. But then again, they are selling very well and I’m not a buyer, so who cares.
IMO, I have not liked the overall look of these vehicles since they were introduced and I really love the last gen much more. My problem is that they all look top heavy and like they are bowed upwards with a narrow looking track. Even from behind, I’ve noticed they place the names (Tahoe LT for example) more inward instead of out towards the sides. All these little things make me not like the styling. So anything that they could do to make them look more wide and lower (or whatever you would call it) would be an improvement to me. But then again, they are selling very well and I’m not a buyer, so who cares.
Today’s minivan. They all look like crap. No style at all. As utilitarian as a pickup truck.
I’m usually not a fan of these renderings, but this small change makes a huge difference. Instead of that awkward bend where multiple lines come together, the proposed line looks MUCH cleaner.
I like the sweep on the shorter wheelbase SUV’s…it makes them look less chunky in the back, which on the longer wheelbase is accomplished by scale of length.
For those that can’t find it…
Lower aft corner of the rear door…took me a while, too.
This has gotta be a joke. . . . Huge GMA fan, but this is ridiculous. As the first poster states “Where is Waldo?”.
Minor issue with me. How about focusing on fitting the Duramax in the AT4?
I still don’t understand the lack of chrome trim around the back side windows. Kinda like a older Cadillac with no white walls. Just looks like something is missing.