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Dec 23, 2021
by Michael Butler Industry News / 10 Comments
Chevy's big SUVs will get some tasty upgrades for 2022.
The Chevy Suburban and Tahoe are two of the brand's most popular models, and are constantly at the receiving end of major updates and feature changes. The 2022 model year promises big changes, including exciting new features such as an electronic limited-slip differential and new exterior color options including Dark Ash Metallic, Auburn Metallic, and Evergreen Gray Metallic.
Now Chevrolet has announced even more changes for the upcoming model year; some are big, others small, and the overall effect will significantly change the ownership experience of these two vehicles.
The first addition to the Suburban and Tahoe is one that was removed from the features list due to the ongoing chip shortage. A year ago, Chevrolet removed the automatic engine stop/start feature from a large number of vehicles, including the Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Yukon, to reduce the number of microchips needed in each vehicle.
This feature will now return for the 2022 model year, with cars produced from 13 December 2021 onward getting it. The automatic start/stop feature is designed to switch off the vehicle when it comes to a stop, and then restart the engine when the driver removes their foot from the brake. This is done in order to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
The second, and most important change to come for 2022 is a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The new box will be fitted to either the 5.3-liter L84 V8 or the 6.2-liter L87 V8 gas engines. The new transmission will be paired with Chevy's controlled overdrive and a Traction Select System that offers individual towing and haul modes.
The old GM ten-speed auto will still be used in 2022 Suburban and Tahoe vehicles equipped with the Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. According to a GM spokesperson who clarified the difference between the new and old transmissions, the new gearbox "allows our manufacturing and dealer teams to more easily align the specific calibration needed for the transmission and can enable OTA updates in the future."
This is an important step for GM, as its new Vehicle Intelligence Platform/Global B architecture allows for over the air (OTA) updates that can fix bugs and improve performance over time.
