Chevy’s full-size SUVs, the Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban, offer six different trim levels, including the entry-level LS, the mid-range LT, the off-road-oriented Z71, the sporty RST, the penultimate Premier, and finally, the range-topping High Country. Each trim has its own unique arrangement of features, but interestingly, one trim stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of popularity.
According to the head of marketing for the Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban, Todd Brown, the off-roader Z71 trim level represents 23 percent of the total vehicle sales mix for Chevy Tahoe units, and 22 percent of the sales mix for Chevy Suburban units, making it far and away the most popular trim level of the six.
That stat could be somewhat surprising, given few customers are likely to take their Chevy Tahoe Z71 or Chevy Suburban Z71 off-road. Nevertheless, the off-road styling and the promise of capability in the rough stuff seem to be enough to drive demand.
So then, what exactly does the Z71 trim level actually have to offer? For the 2024 model year, highlights include a performance front skid plate, two front-mounted red recovery hooks connected directly to the frame, 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and a unique high-approach-angle front fascia. Customers are also offered available adaptive air ride suspension with selectable ride height settings, while four-wheel-drive is included as standard.
Looking ahead, demand for the Chevy Tahoe Z71 and Chevy Suburban Z71 is expected to grow with the launch of the 2025 model year, as GM will offer both off-roader SUVs with the new-for-2025 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax engine. Arriving as a replacement for the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel, the LZ0 produces more power and more torque than the outgoing LM2, rated at 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 10 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. The LZ0 also offers greater refinement (no long crank).
Prior to the 2025-model-year refresh, the Tahoe Z71 and Suburban Z71 were not available with the diesel engine option. Now, with the launch of the LZ0, that’s no longer the case.
As a reminder, both SUVs also offer the naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L84 gasoline engine and the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, and both ride on the GM T1 platform. Production takes place at the GM Arlington plant in Texas.
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Comments
Only because that’s what dealers choose to stock.
Exactly. And if they would stock more, it would be the LS trim at $10k cheaper than an LT. Can’t do that though, not enough profit….
More likely its because thats what GM chose to build, after the supply chain issues the constraints have been tough and you could only order essentially what GM gave you to.
The percentage would be a lot higher if GM didn’t put heavy constraints on allocations for the Z71. It’s what the people want, so why wouldn’t dealers order more of these? That’s the way it works….
Not exactly how it works. With Tahoes and other groups of limited allocation (pretty much everything since the COVID supply chain issues started), GM issues bi-monthly allocations to dealers, and then tells us week-to-week what trim levels we’re able to order for those allocations, or rather what trim levels and options we’re NOT able to get (called “constraints”). Frustratingly for us, but understandable for them, GM has notably favored building the higher-end trims over the midrange trims (our profit difference between trims is nearly negligible but theirs isn’t). And when the midrange trims are orderable, it will usually be with heavy restrictions (i.e. no sunroof on LT, no air ride on Z71, no luxury package on RST, etc.)
I couldn’t be more happy with my Z71 Tahoe. I ordered it Nov 21 only took 7 months to be built and delivered but worth the wait. Plenty of power, smooth air ride and for country folk like me built for dirt roads when needed. I’ll buy a 2025 refresh when they come out.
Oh you like the air ride? No issues with compressor noises or anything?
Ours doesn’t have it but I’ve heard good things especially when paired with the magnetic shocks. Might order the next one with that.
I really want the AT4 Yukon with the air ride, diesel, and adaptive cruse. Unfortunately that combo has been impossible to get so far.
Looks awesome. We have a Yukon XL now and we love it.
We will probably trade our other car in for a Yukon AT4 when it’s available with the diesel. GM/Isuzu really did well with the new diesel.
Really like the new Suburban front end. Might be hard to decide between the two (Yukon or Suburban).
Isuzu had nothing to do with the design of the 3.0 diesel. It was codeveloped between GM and Opel.
I dont see it on the roads but that is what i bought because it was either z71 or high country for 86k
i bought at a bad time. my tahoe is just LT base. couldnt get an LS at that time either. might end up getting rid of both soon, ins is absolutely killing me (it has doubled).
Build me a 2door RST and I’ll trade my ZR2
Interesting that they claim that the LZ0 has a shorter crank time than the LM2. We just traded our LM2-powered Sierra for an LZ0-powered ’24 model. Our new one cranks noticeably longer than the LM2. Not a big deal, but it caught my attention.
The LT trim level has been perfect. I have a Suburban LT and my wife took delivery of a Tahoe LT last May. Those are wonderful vehicles.
I love my premiere 23 Suburban, all the bells and whistles without the stupid high country seats
And that is mostly due to what the dealers are ordering and making money hand over fist on. I rarely see an LS or LT. I’ll just bet that if more LS and lT models were on offer the sales figures would go up on them.
I think that will become a lot more likely since inventory is beginning to rise. At a certain point the trimflation models will either have to come down on price, which will keep them at a higher % of vehicle trims sold, or in order to make sales, GM will have to start making more LS and LT.
I think the higher trims will have to give way to lower trims if GM wants to keep sales quantity (which hasn’t been the focus for a few years now) in this high interest economy.
Now if you factor in human nature, higher trims may still remain strong. This guy I know bought a lower trim Chevrolet Tahoe, but was coming from a Yukon Denali. This was last Fall, but somehow he found that lower trim (comparatively speaking) Chevy and couldn’t find another GMC. Fast forward to Christmas and he is lamenting the lack of fancy do-dads on the Chevy. I’m thinking he will trade in the Chevy in the near future if finances allow.