Crossovers and small SUVs may be the hot-selling vehicles in the automotive world today.
Yet this doesn’t mean that full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe are out of the equation.
In fact, the Bowtie brand just unveiled the latest generations of these two erstwhile models.
The Suburban, in particular, now marks its 85th year of production that dates back to 1935.
With the world still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression, General Motors offered a vehicle that would meet the demands for comfortable transport of many families and individuals of the time.
Fast-forward to 2020 and we witness a bolder and more sophisticated pair of SUVs that would still look at home in many a suburban driveway (no pun intended), as well as play back-up security to top government officials.
For their latest iterations, the Suburban and Tahoe boast exterior flanks that retain that dignified look—squarish yet powerful.
To make things more interesting, both receive a new pair of headlight designs flanking the trademark Chevy Bowtie grille—this time in an hourglass shape.
More character lines break up the otherwise slab sided panels, while the rear gets a clean yet elegant look.
With dimensions growing once again for this generation, both SUVs now get even more room inside teir up to 9-passenger cabins.
This means increased room for passengers and cargo, along with added goodies to keep everyone comfy and entertained while on the move.
The driver, for instance, benefits from large displays within the instrument cluster, as well as a standard 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Rear seat occupants also get a pair of 12.6-inch headrest-mounted monitors that can each have their own content. This means the kids can watch a different cartoon on either side, not to mention share this with one another and even with their folks up front.
There is also wireless phone charging, a plethora of stoage and cubbyholes, and the like.
But the biggest change for the new Suburban and Tahoe arguably lies under the sheetmetal.
First up is the new Independent Rear Suspension.
This is the first time such a setup appears on these two GM SUVs, promising better ride and handling, as well as more interior room especially for third-row occupants.
Apart from this, a new 3.0-liter inline-6 turbodiesel makes its way here with 277hp and 623Nm of torque.
This mill joins the two gasoline engines on offer—a 5.3-liter V8 with 355hp and 519Nm and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420hp and 623Nm of twist.
And yes, the new Suburban and Tahoe get a slew of safety gear such as automatic emergency braking, forward collusion alert, 360-degree camera, pedestrian alert, lane change alert and lane keep assist, front and rear park assist, and trailer guidance systems, just to name a few.
Yes, the 2020 editions of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe have indeed come a long way from how they began life in 1935.
The Suburban has even received its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—a testament to the numerous movies it has appeared in over the decades.
Yet they still retain that American SUV heritage that has long been a hallmark—even before the term and concept were coined.
And by the looks of it, GM will be keeping them in production for many generations to come.
