The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban/Tahoe Will Have A 277-HP Duramax Option!

These full-size SUVs are the talk of the town after the announcement from General Motors. After an extensive redesign for 2021, both the Suburban and the shorter Tahoe are covered in new options including a huge interior, independent rear suspension, and a new engine option over the popular 5.3-Liter and 6.2-Liter gasoline options. That’s right, the inline-six 3.0-liter Duramax has a home in the SUV’s, too!

As the Chevrolet and GMC pickup truck line evolves, the Suburban and Tahoe have typically followed suit. With the latest Silverado and Sierra released, say hello to the 2021 Suburban and Tahoe. Both of these SUVs will come with the option of nine different shades of color at their launch and you may notice they look physically bigger. That’s because they are.

“With an increasing number of SUVs on the market, we knew the all-new Tahoe and Suburban needed to reach higher than ever,” said Tim Herrick, vice president, global product programs. “We transformed Tahoe and Suburban to offer all-new technologies and features and deliver a better driving experience while staying true to the versatility and capability that have earned people’s trust for generations.”

Other huge changes to the SUV’s are the missing solid axle. From here on out, or so we hope, the late-model SUV’s will be equipped with multi-link, independent rear suspension. With the removal of the solid axle, GM’s guaranteeing a smoother ride for all seven passengers inside. The MRC (Magnetic Ride Control) and ARAS (Air Ride Adaptive Suspension) are available to further better the ride of your new rig.

Bigger and flashier is better, right? With either of the bow tie SUVs, you have five different display options on the head unit. This includes the standard-issue, largest in the segment per GM 10-inch infotainment screen. An optional digital instrument cluster is among them, along with a big head-up display and two 12.6-inch LCD displays for rear-seat passengers.

The even bigger news, and probably what you’re here for anyway, are the engine options. Under the hood of these machines are what you’re after. The well-known 5.3-liter V8 engine carries over from older models as the standard engine option with the same 355-horsepower. If you’re wanting a little bit more, you have the option to upgrade to the 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine.

If you’re here, though, you’re going to want the inline-six 3.0-liter Duramax turbo diesel engine. That’s right, this beloved engine has made its way into the world of SUV’s and we can’t wait to see how they do. The 277 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque powerplant is everything you want more comfort and power. While fuel economy figures aren’t available for any of the engine packages just yet, we do know the 10-speed automatic transmission will help with maximum mileage and it’s 3.23 gear ratio.

Inside this aluminum 3.0-liter, Duramax engine block are iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, and pistons developed with a special silicon/aluminum blend for greater heat resistance and reduced expansion.

The 3.0-Liter Duramax engine is available on all models except the Z71 package. It is a clean-sheet engine design developed for full-size truck and SUV applications where torque means everything for confident, on-demand power and trailering capability. no full-size SUV competitor offers a diesel engine and this is expected to give some of the highest fuel economy ratings in the segment.

ENGINE

3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbo-Diesel
Bore & Stroke (in / mm): 3.30 x 3.54 / 84 x 90
Cylinder Head and Block Material: Cast aluminum
Valvetrain: Dual-overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder
Fuel Delivery: High-pressure, common-rail direct injection (36,250 psi / 2500 bar); electronic throttle valve
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): 277 / 207 @ 3750 (GM estimated)
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 460 / 623 @ 1500 (GM estimated)

TRANSMISSION & AXLE
Type: Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio: 3.23 (with all engines)

You can expect to see 2021 Suburbans and Tahoe’s in dealerships around mid-2020 but there are no confirmed prices just yet. The Premier Edition model was listed at $69,795 so if you’re wanting a High Country, chances are it’s going to run you over $70,000. While maybe a few years ago this seemed like a ridiculous number, new vehicles are just in that price range these days. Don’t expect that to go anywhere.

Stay tuned to Diesel Army for the latest on diesel news. Once we get more information containing pricing and mileage figures for these models, we will update you.