2015 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, 2015 GMC Yukon revealed

Fans of GM SUVs, rejoice: We've just had our first look at the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, 2015 Tahoe and 2015 GMC Yukon. Early Thursday, Chevy took the wraps off the Suburban and Tahoe in New York. Meanwhile, GMC revealed the Yukon range, which includes the Yukon XL and Yukon Denali, in Los Angeles.

Like the full-size Sierra and Silverado pickups, the Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon are built in the old-school body-on-frame fashion -- but GM says the SUVs don't share lighting elements or a single bit of sheetmetal with the pickups.

The current Chevy design language is most readily apparent in the Tahoe and Suburban's front fascias. As on the Impala, a large gold bowtie sits smack in the middle of a grille composed of horizontal chrome bars (though the trucks' faces are, as one might expect, more muscular).

Similarly, the Yukon grafts the front end spotted on the likes of the Terrain and Acadia to a body virtually indistinguishable from the Suburban's aft of the A-pillar. Of course, the Yukon Denali gets the fine mesh grille seen on other products in the Denali range.

The trucks seem to have followed the Impala's lead toward a more premium-looking looking interior as well; expect to see wood trims and nicer seats on the range-topping Yukon Denali. All the SUVs get fold-flat second- and third-row seats -- a functional touch sure to be appreciated by those who actually use their trucks to haul stuff.

Freshening the look of the trucks was important, but the redesign also gave engineers a chance to improve the vehicles' aerodynamics -- crucial to boosting fuel economy. We're not sure what that fuel economy is yet (preliminary specs list only “TBD”), but GM expects the trucks to deliver the best V8 economy in the segment.

Direct-injection EcoTec3 engines contribute to that effort, as well. For now, Suburbans and Tahoes get a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. That's up 35 hp and 20 lb-ft over the 5.3-liter in the 2013 models of the trucks. The standard Yukon and Yukon XL get that same 5.3-liter, but step up to the Yukon Denali and you'll enjoy a 420-hp, 540-lb-ft 6.2-liter V8. All models share a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2015 Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon should be hitting dealer lots in early 2014. We'll be sure to bring you any further details on the big SUVs in the meantime.

2015 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe

Drivetrain: 355-hp 383-lb-ft V8; RWD or 4WD, six-speed automatic

Curb weight: 5,576-5,815 lb (Suburban), 5,349-5,585 lb (Tahoe)

Fuel economy: TBD

On sale: Early 2014

2015 GMC Yukon

Drivetrain: 355-hp 383-lb-ft V8; 420-hp, 450-lb-ft V8 (Yukon Denali only); RWD or 4WD, six-speed automatic

Curb weight: 5,349-5,746 lb (Yukon/Yukon Denali), 5,576-5,981 lb (Yukon XL, Yukon XL Denali)

Fuel economy: TBD

On sale: Early 2014

By Graham Kozak