Manoli Katakis 
This 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 you see before you was spotted by us in a parking garage, likely trying to keep away from smaller cars that are terrified of its presence. Its overall length is marginally longer than before, at just 1.3 inches. But when you factor in that the adaptive air suspension, as you see here, its imposing body rises above the wheels for that added intimidation factor. Or if you have to drive clear over a log in the woods.
MC&T decided to publish these photos of the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71, as the full-size SUV in this build configuration was absent from the December 2019 reveal at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan. If you look closely, you’ll notice a Texas license plate, where the Suburban is built.
The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban will utilize the General Motors T1 platform which first debuted under the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks –with one key difference– a fully independent rear suspension and a longer wheelbase. The improved architecture looks to make key improvements in the realms of passenger accommodations, cargo capacity, and driving dynamics.
The standard engine of the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 will be a 5.3L V8 rated at 355 horsepower. From there is either the optional 6.2L V8 rated at 420 horsepower. Finally, while it’s not offered on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71, a third engine is a Duramax 3.0L inline-six turbo-diesel available. The Duramax is rated at 277 horsepower and a robust 460 lb-ft of torque. Significantly, no other SUV in class offers a diesel engine, and it should give the new Suburban some of the best fuel economy ratings in the segment – which are TBA. All engines will be matched with a new 10-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift control.
The interior of the 2021 Suburban (and Tahoe) push the SUV family into new levels of premium with a 10-inch center screen, massive tablet-style rear seat entertainment screens, and the omission of a column shifter. We’re told that many of these interior updates will eventually be found on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra soon.
