Motor Trend Glimpse: 7 Tech Highlights of 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban

All of us here on staff at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse fully agree that the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator are the very stiff competition for the T1-generation 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban. Motor Trend took a close look this week at a few of the highlights that will make these two new vehicles stand out, and ways in which the engineering team pulled out all the stops. There is less of the new model shared with the pickup truck it's based on then with many other years, but the forward part of the frame and a large amount of the body crush structure are shared.

The lower control arms feature a crossbar, that is not present on the Silverado. The Independent rear suspension plays a huge role in the achievement of improved ride comfort, sharper handling, and increased passenger and cargo packaging space. The load floor is now lowered by as much as 5.3 inches because what is known as the differential “pumpkin” now is mounted on the chassis. This makes the frame much more rigid, the driveshaft doesn't require as large of a plunge joint as the model before it.

Another very awesome and advanced feature is the small compressor attached using rubber mounts back near the spare tire. It fills a reservoir that is situated just below the middle-row pasengers feet next to the transfer case. Both the new Tahoe and Suburban have the ability to process 4.5 terabytes of information per hour – five times more than the outgoing model. Just to give you an idea of that sheer amount, its equal to 980 stored two-hour movies. In regards to gems from the big screen, there are now two 12.6-inch rear seat displays available, as well as a 10-inch diagonal central infotainment screen, and a 15-inch head-up display, the longest in existence for the category.

All of the cameras are upgraded to high-def 1-megapixel standards, and over-the-air updates can be accessed through the onboard 4G cellular connection. The previous-generation Tahoe-Suburban bodies were situated with the front structure bolted on, but the new T1 “body-in-white” includes the front crash structure already welded in. This greatly simplifies the assembly process and shows great improvements in crash performance.

The plant in Arlington, Texas that will build all Tahoes and Suburbans can crank out 240,000 annually, and the body shop that just received 1,450 new robots that now have the ability to stamp aluminum panels. This new body shop will play a part in easing the transition from K2 to T1 generation production. The paint shop now also gets a new thin-film metal prep process, boasting way more environmentally friendly traits than the acid etching system in place before it. These two vehicles are the perfect choice for anyone with an entourage, and we are excited to see the wide reception of the many new features these two heavy-haulers brandish for 2021!