Chevrolet Suburban Diesel

The Chevrolet Suburban Diesel is a variant of the Suburban SUV with a diesel engine. It was first introduced for the 1982 model year, and has been produced across three generations.

Quick Facts

First Generation (Seventh-Gen Suburban)

The first generation Suburban Diesel made its debut for the 1982 model year – nearly ten years after the launch of the seventh-gen Chevrolet Suburban – with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LH6 diesel engine. Designed as a more fuel-efficient alternative to the gas-guzzling 454 V8, the 6.2L Detroit Diesel was also utilized in a variety of government and military applications.

From the beginning, the 6.2L Detroit Diesel was designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. The powerplant featured the same mounting points and attachments for transmissions as its gasoline powered-counterparts, making for an easy installation into existing platforms.

It’s worth noting that the first-gen Suburban Diesel’s torque rating was detuned due to the vehicle’s rear axle capacity.

Second Generation (Eighth-Gen Suburban)

Introduced a few years into the lifecycle of the first generation Chevrolet Suburban, the second-gen Suburban Diesel featured the turbocharged 6.5L V8 L56 Detroit Diesel.

While never designed to directly compete with the Ford Powerstroke or Dodge Cummins turbodiesel engines in regard to horsepower and torque figures, the 6.5L Detroit Diesel instead featured a simple design that delivered reasonable horsepower, decent fuel economy, and passed emissions requirements for half-ton pickups like the Chevrolet C/K 1500.

Interestingly, the 6.2L Detroit Diesel was first offered on 2500 models for the 1994 model year, then became available on both 1500 and 2500 models from the 1995 to 1999 model years.

Third Generation (Twelfth-Gen Suburban)

Making its debut in conjunction with the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, the third-gen Suburban Diesel was a far-cry from prior generations in regard to efficiency and refinement. The inline six cylinder configuration of the 3.0L LM2 turbodiesel Duramax engine enables reduced friction, striking the perfect balance of primary and secondary forces without the need for balancing shafts. The EPA rated the 2021-2024 Tahoe Diesel at 23 combined mpg, enabling a long driving range between fill ups.

The LM2 was available across most Suburban trim levels, with the notable exception being the off-road-focused Z71 trim, which wasn’t offered with the diesel motor due to packaging challenges.

The Suburban Diesel received the reworked 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax engine in conjunction with the introduction of refreshed 2025 Chevrolet Suburban. The LZ0 engine features a series of upgrades, including steel pistons with a revised combustion bowl, retuned turbo compressor, new fuel injectors, and improved temperature control features, all of which enable it to develop more horsepower and torque than the LM2 in the pre-refresh models. Notably, the aforementioned Z71 trim level became available with the 3.0L LZ0 diesel engine in conjunction with the 2025 model year refresh as packaging constraints were resolved.

Sales

See Chevrolet Suburban sales numbers for global markets.

Discussion

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