2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Debut in New York

While Autobytel’s West Coast team was in Los Angeles for the launch of the 2015 GMC Yukon family,* the General also was showing its Chevrolet counterparts—the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban—on the East Coast, in New York City. All four of the vehicles are all new, and they represent the first of the mainstream full-size SUVs to get the next-gen treatment. Of course, they also may be the last ones, too.

None of the other three remaining players in the segment, which also includes the Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada and Ford Expedition, has been confirmed as making the leap to a post-meltdown model. On the other hand, all three do remain committed to the full-size pickup segment, providing them with the kind of vehicle foundation they would need to bring their entries up to date with the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban.

And make no mistake, despite their old-school body-on-frame construction, the Bowtie brand’s big SUVs will showcase a wide range of cutting-edge content.

“There are several new features and enhancements at the core of the all-new 2015 Suburban and Tahoe that will extend the legacy Chevrolet has built as the segment leader,” said Tim Mahoney, Chevrolet global chief marketing officer. “Customers will experience greater refinement, efficiency and safety with the same capability that has made Chevrolet the go-to brand for full-size SUVs.”  

Proof of that “go-to” reputation: Chevy sold a combined total of almost 11,000 Suburbans and Tahoes in August alone, when the former expanded deliveries by 29.4 percent and the latter advanced sales by 24.9 percent. Also, through the first eight months of the year, the two have combined for 86,641 sales and a 15 percent jump in volume.

Slated for production at GM’s truck plant in Arlington, Texas, the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban will go on sale in the first quarter of 2014 and offer ….

(*See:  http://www.autobytel.com/gmc/yukon-denali/news/2015-gmc-yukon-denali-yukon-xl-slt-unveiled-119109/.)

2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban: Quick Spec Check

Wearing noticeably sharper styling than in the past, highlighted by a nicely intricate headlamp design, the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban will offer customers:

• Next-gen Chevy MyLink technology, backed by an eight-inch color touchscreen, along with media-friendly features like multiple USB ports and power outlets, and rear-seat entertainment systems with Blu-ray capability
• Power-folding second- and third-row seating, with the second row also benefiting from an additional two inches of legroom
• High-tech driver-assistance measures such as forward collision alert, front park assist, lane-departure warning, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and GM’s Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to indicate the direction of potential crash threats

At this stage, Chevrolet has announced just a single powertrain for the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, with the trucks relying on the 5.3-liter V8 from the new EcoTec3 family. It’s tuned to make 355 hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing a max tow rating of up to 8,500 lbs. And while EPA ratings have yet to be released, it’s worth noting that the 2014 Chevy Silverado with that engine is capable of up to 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway/19 mpg combined, and odds are that the Tahoe, at least, will match that mark. To put those numbers in context, the Chevy fuel-efficiency advantage would then range from 3 mpg/6 mpg/4 mpg against the thirsty Sequoia to 2 mpg/3 mpg/3 mpg as compared to the Expedition.

Yet there is another, bigger member of that EcoTec3 roster, a 6.2-liter V8 that ups the power ante to a best-in-class 420 hp and 465 lb.-ft. of torque in the range-topping Silverado models, as well as in the Yukon Denali, and Chevrolet will likely be hard-pressed to keep that powerplant out of future premium versions of the 2015 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban.

“The Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban will continue to be dominant forces in the marketplace and provide great value for our customers, Chevrolet and General Motors," said Dan Ammann, GM executive vice president and CFO. "This is an important and profitable segment and we have set the bar high to ensure we provide our customers with great quality and performance they expect and deserve."