Amid Climate Change Concern, GM Rolls Out Big New Chevy SUVs

Global concerns about climate change are not stopping General Motors from making large SUVs for U.S. drivers.

GM on Tuesday rolled out the next generation of its big truck-based SUVs with more space and features. They’re also heavier with only a small improvement in gas mileage.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban will come out in the middle of next year. They’ll be longer and weigh more, because customer research showed a need for more interior space.

“People wanted a greater ability to haul families and their cargo, so that was the baseline that set our decision-making process,” said Dwight Schoenefeld, lead development engineer on the SUVs.

But Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, a Washington environmental group, said GM and other automakers spend billions on advertising to convince people to buy the thirsty and highly profitable trucks and SUVs.

“GM claims that they are merely meeting consumer demand for gigantic vehicles, but most consumers don’t use their pickups and SUVs for lumber and machinery but to haul lattes home from Starbucks,” he said.

The length of the Tahoe will grow nearly 7 inches (18 centimeters) to almost 211 inches (536 centimeters). The Suburban gains just over an inch (2.5 centimeters) in length to nearly 226 inches (676 centimeters). The extra length, though, enabled engineers to raise the Tahoe’s cargo space behind the third row by 67% to 25.5 cubic feet (0.72 cubic meters). Suburban rear cargo space rose about 5% to 41 cubic feet (1.2 cubic meters).

Both also will have more legroom in the thirdrow seats, making them more comfortable for adults, GM said.