The Durant Guild, GM’s high-end imported vehicle platform in China, has announced plans to offer the refreshed 2025 Chevy Tahoe full-size SUV in the Chinese market. Notably, the Chinese-spec Chevy Tahoe will feature GM’s TurboMax 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, a powerplant that is unavailable in the U.S.-spec Tahoe. The Chinese-spec 2025 Chevy Tahoe will make its formal introduction at the Beijing Auto Show on April 25th.
Although The Durant Guild did not explicitly state that the Chinese-spec 2025 Chevy Tahoe would equip the TurboMax 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, a reference to GM’s “TurboMax” leaves little doubt as to what will be found under the hood, given the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B is the only powerplant in GM’s lineup to carry the TurboMax branding. As is the case elsewhere in GM’s lineup, the TurboMax 2.7L I4 L3B is expected to develop 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque when cradled by the Chinese-spec Tahoe.
GM Authority previously asked readers if GM should offer the L3B engine in its full-size SUVs. It’s possible the L3B engine’s implementation in the Tahoe for the Chinese market could serve as a litmus test for future applications in similar models globally. Stateside, the L3B engine is currently offered in the Chevy Silverado, Chevy Colorado, GMC Sierra, and GMC Canyon, pairing with the GM eight-speed automatic transmission. The L3B is also offered by the Cadillac CT4 and CT4-V, where it is coupled with the GM 10-speed transmission. With regard to the Chinese-spec Tahoe, GM is expected to pair the L3B with the GM eight-speed transmission.
While traditionalists may question the replacement of larger V8 engines, the torque figures of the L3B are compelling and suggest that this smaller, more efficient engine could indeed hold its own when motivating a full-size SUV. Check out the table below for a more thorough breakdown of specs for the L3B and how they align with engine specs for the U.S.-spec Chevy Tahoe:
Engine Type | Turbo 2.7L I4 | 5.3L V8 | 6.2L V8 | Turbodiesel 3.0L I6 |
---|---|---|---|---|
RPO Code | L3B | L84 | L87 | LZ0 |
Bore x Stroke (in / mm) | 3.63 x 4.01 / 92.25 x 102 | 3.78 x 3.62 / 96 x 92 | 4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92 | 3.30 x 3.54 / 84 x 90 |
Block Material | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum |
Cylinder Head Material | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum | Cast aluminum |
Valvetrain | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, VVT | OHV, 2 valves per cylinder, VVT | OHV, 2 valves per cylinder, VVT | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Fuel Delivery | Direct high-pressure injection with AFM | Direct high-pressure injection with DFM | Direct high-pressure injection with DFM | High-pressure common rail direct injection |
Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm) | 310 / 231 @ 5,600 | 355 / 265 @ 5,600 | 420 / 313 @ 5,600 | 305 / 227 @ 3,750 |
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm) | 430 / 583 @ 3,000 | 383 / 519 @ 4,100 | 460 / 623 @ 4,100 | 495 / 671 @ 1,500 |
Transmission | Hydra-Matic 8-speed automatic | Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic | Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic | Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic |
To note, the Chinese-spec 2025 Chevy Tahoe will also feature the latest iteration of GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system, as well as a sophisticated Virtual Cockpit System (VCS).
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Comments
electric vehicles are crushing ice vehicle sales and why would they buy such a big suv thats not even a plugless hybrid. at least they are not offering v8.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/04/chevy-dealers-in-china-had-the-highest-days-supply-in-march-2024/
this engine is appropriate for Chinese roads where you just sit in traffic and average only 10,000 miles a year, and never tow/haul. The 2.7 already struggles with fuel efficiency in the lighter Silverado. Stateside when every Tahoe/suburban comes equipped with 4wd, the 2.7 would post worse fuel economy numbers that the 5.3 and cost GM more in EPA fines. It’s not coming stateside
I average 25 mpg in my ’23 sierra 2.7L, my best on my drive home from work was 30.2 mpg and I had the a/c on. That truck doesn’t struggle at all. Also I drive about 15,000 miles/year and have towed with it a couple of times. It does great while pulling uphill
Brandon I agree with you I like the turbo 4 cylinder I just think that people are afraid that GM and Ford are going to do what Dodge did and not off the V8 engines anymore…I mean for the money these trucks cost you should have engine options not just a 4 cylinder a 6 cylinder or just V8.
considering they just dumped over $1 billion on the next gen small block that isn’t even out yet, I would imagine GM is going to be keeping the V8 around for a while
Amen. Americans like options or choices. We may all not want pickles on our burgers.
I don’t doubt it in a sierra. With the way you drive, you’d probably get that with the V8 as well. Fuelly averages show there is no benefit in the Silverado except for maybe 1mpg city in certain trims. That’s not on the SUV’s which add another 10% weight and an independent rear axle. That setup will tip the fuel economy in favor of the 8’s. Also, does china fine for every 0.1 drop in MPG like the EPA does or just have an HP tax like Europe?
Come on Steve, must you spout so much false information in a single post? Real world people are reporting better numbers, it can and does average better mpg than the 5.3 and it even tows better in most cases with the massive amount of torque down low. Some times trolls just can’t…
Biggest statistical data point we have for real world mileage is fuelly. Now, if you ignore that in 2019, the 5.3 was offered with the 6 speed transmission, in 2020/21 they removed AFM for supply chain shortages, and that there is a lot of Trailboss trims with the 5.3, and compare just RTS/LT trims, you’ll see that the 2.7 makes no noticeable difference over the 5.3 or 6.2, which reflects what the EPA ratings show. FYI, I’ve always beaten EPA estimates with the 5.3. 24-25 is manageable on the highway and I’ve seen 30 on country roads at 55-60mph.
Now, I like the 2.7. When you spec out an LT or custom trim with the single speed transfer case, 8 speed vs the 10 and the 4 cylinder, there’s a 200lb weight saving and significant cost savings. It’s a perfect runabout engine, and when it comes to Ramp rats/plant maintenance crew/water company service trucks, it’s the obvious choice. It’s not superior or a replacement for the 5.3 however, and for farmers, welders, plumbers and contractors, the V8 is a much better choice.
LMAO at Steve’s first comment! 😂😂
I would have bought a 2025 buick Enclave had it the 2.7.. The 2.5L is border line. Got a GREAT deal on a 2024 enclave v-6..😊. my 2017 gets 30.5 @ 65 – 70 hi-way. Would have kept the 2017 not for what may be coming by 2030..
Bunch of idiots here, as usual. The 2.7 can and will replace the 5.3 in the next generation of GM trucks. GM is actually watering down the 2.7. The 2.7 could easily produce 400 hp, and with the 10 speed it would be perfect. Will there be a Gen VI Smallblock V8? Yes. Will there be a 5.3? No. Why? Look to the past to predict the future. GM smallblock V8s get bigger with better technology every generation. The 5.3 will join the 4.8 in V8 heaven soon. Why does it happen that way? A large V8 with a conservative tune and lots of tech may get better fuel economy and emissions ratings than a smaller V8 with less tech. Why? A larger engine can run on less cylinders in AFM/DFM. Also, that 2.7 that all of you hate so much is going to help CAFE numbers for GM better than that old 4.3, meaning you can have more flex room for V8 emissions/fuel economy. The only real bad part about that 2.7 replacing the 5.3 and GM replacing the 6.2 with a 6.6, is that a 6.6 would likely be pushed so far up market that the average person wouldn’t be able to afford a V8 truck anymore. It’s not the 2.7 that’s your enemy V8 lovers, it’s your gov…
and you can buy all of them then.. all 600k units a year gm makes with this. step up
I do NOT think they will discontinue the 5.3 V8. If that was the case, what engines would fleet vehicles use? The 5.3 has a much better resale value on the used market compared to the 2.7T, and not everyone needs the power of the 6.2 V8.
what is this travesty.
I believe that tariffs are based on displacement. That’s why you they stuck it in there for CHIna.
China charge tariffs to import vehicles based on their engine displacement, for EVs which have no displacement at all, the overall tariffs whould be something around 46-47% (this is also why Tesla has factory in China, to avoid expensive tarffis and make their EVs economically competitive to domestic makers), and this is just the entry.
The highest tarffis is for cars above 4.0L displacement which is as high as 143-144%.
Yes, for large displacement vehicles, they charge tarffis more than the car’s actual price, so the real retail price would be more than double to what the car actually worth.
For 2.7 engine, falls into 2.5-3.0L segment, overall tarffis would be 66-67%, still heavy but much better than what the 5.3 v8 may cost (the highest, since the tarffis caps above 4.0L).
Note, above numbers only apply to import vehicles, this is also why so many car manufactures want to (or have to?) invest into China and build factory there, just make their product competitive.
I ended up here because i was googling whether the 2.7 would ever be offered in the Tahoe… have it in my silverado now, and absolutely love it. Ive owned nothing but v8 trucks – went from the Vortec down to this and will never look back. Context: i rarely tow. Its all just sports gear that gets tossed in the back.