GM’s Big-Daddy SUVs: 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL

General Motors was patiently waiting for the press days of the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show to drop the curtains on is redesign crop of big SUVs from the Chevrolet and GMC brands.

The full size SUVs are the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and its longer Suburban sibling, and the 2015 GMC Yukon, Yukon Denali and Yukon XL, all of which share common bodies, mechanical and platform components, between themselves and their pickup truck counterparts, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. And just to make it a bit more confusing, the next Cadillac Escalade will be another by-product of the series…

Using a traditional body-on-frame architecture that makes them tougher and more capable when it comes to tackling off-road trails and hauling trailers, GM’s new duo of full-size SUVs sport fresh styling inside and out, newer and more fuel efficient EcoTec3 engines and a greater range of technologies.

The GMC Yukon, especially in Denali trim, is hands down the better looking of the crop, thanks to its more modern and expressive front end, side and rear trims. While the bodies are identical, Chevrolet went for a more utilitarian look on the front with an odd choice of headlamps that immediately bring to mind the latest Ford Explorer…

Inside, the GMC shows that it will be the higher priced SUV of the group (sans the next Escalade, of course), with a different instrument panel and choice of materials, especially in the Denali edition, though, the rest of the interior is virtually identical including the center console with the available eight-inch color touch screen for the infotainment system.

Available new and enhanced features for the 2015 models include fold-flat second- and third-row seats, two inches more legroom for 2nd row passengers, keyless entry and push-button star, forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

There are two new EcoTec3 V8 powertrains available, a standard 5.3-liter unit delivering 355-horses and 383 lb-ft (519Nm) of peak torque, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420-horsepower and 450 lb-ft (610Nm) that’s offered exclusively on the GMC Yukon Denali. Both are paired to a standard six-speed automatic.

Sales of all five models will begin in North America in the first quarter of 2014.

2015 GMC YUKON XL