GTPCW: 1992-2000 General Motors GMT400 SUV

[Snikle]

Poll 1404: 1992-2000 General Motors GMT400 SUV nominated by @GranTurNismo

Body Style: 3-door SUV, 5-door SUV, 5-door extended length SUV, 6-door SUV
Engine: 5.7L TBI V8, 5.7L Vortec V8, 6.2L Detroit diesel V8, 6.5L Detroit diesel V8, 7.4L L19 V8, 7.4L Vortec V8
Power: 160-290hp
Torque: 310-430 lb-ft
Weight: 1715-2500kg
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic, 5-speed manual (Blazer only)
Drivetrain: front engine, rear wheel drive, front engine, all wheel drive
Additional Information: Nomination includes:
1992-1994 Chevrolet Blazer
1992-1999 Chevrolet Suburban
1992-1999 GMC Suburban
1995-1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
1995-1999 GMC Yukon
1998-2000 Holden Suburban
1999-2000 GMC Yukon Denali
1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade
Since the aforementioned SUVS are all petals of the same flower, being (almost) mechanically identical to each other, it makes the most sense to include these variants under one nomination. The GMT400 trucks are not included. 2500 versions of the SUV are included, however. The GMT400s were the first SUVs to feature an independent front suspension in the United States. Only the Blazer was available with a manual transmission. The Yukon Denali/Escalade had dual rear "barn doors" hence being considered a 6-door SUV. GM's approach for their next generation full-size SUV range was to place an emphasis on family and everyday use as opposed to strictly for towing and heavy-duty purposes. This strategy paid off, since over 1.4 million GMT400 SUVs having been sold throughout its production run in America, and Suburban sales more than tripled, selling nearly 200,000 units certain years, making it by far the most successful Suburban generation. The Suburbans received a facelift in 1996 which made them nearly seven inches taller in height (from 68.0 to 74.6 inches high), despite being only 0.5 inches longer.

Spoiler: Additional Pictures

 

[Snikle]

I know its just an old SUV, but I can't bring myself to vote uncool. The Yukon and Escalade aren't great looking but the earlier GMT400s have sort of a '90s charm to them. Meh it is.

 

[GranTurNismo]

This was GM's successful product of the 1990s; GMT400s were everywhere during their heyday and still are relatively common today, a testament to their reliability/general build quality. The Suburban, the most popular of this generation, was more spacious than anything on the market, had a generous fit-and-finish, truck-like towing capacity, all at an attainable price, hence it being such a winning formula. But the real winner of the GMT400 generation was the Escalade; despite being $4,500 more than the Yukon Denali yet having virtually no differences other than Cadillac badging (and about $15k more than the regular Yukon/Tahoe), it sold very well and was able to revive Cadillac from approaching rock bottom. Out of all the Escalades, I'd say the 1st gen is freest from the ghetto/drug dealer stereotype; most people I see driving 1st-gen Escalades are horse people, or the same folks who bought them new.

GMT400s are still meh though. A pretty respectable family hauler, but they're little more than that.

 

[JohnBM01]

Even if this General Motors machine looks plain by today's standards, I still think it has been an enduring and stylish vehicle. In no way do I see this as generic and uninteresting. I will go with Cool for this SUV. "Meh" would be disrespect to it, but understandable.

 

[Snikle]

Bump, this poll's been a bit buried.

 

[Tornado]

These get nicer and nicer looking as the ones GM makes today get more and more grotesque.




They also seemed significantly less cost-cut than the GMT800s.

 

[05XR8]

Big difference with tyre size, compared to Bronco in the other poll.

The 2-door Blazers were fine. Too much of a gangster vehicle in The Bronx. Couple of workmates had an Escalade and Yukon when I was with NYNEX.
Seen more 454 SS as "tow trucks" though.

 

[Centroid]

The two level headlights are a nice feature. Everything else is boring. Meh.

 

[MisterWaffles]

I don't really have anything witty or clever to say, I just have this incredibly deep, irrational hatred towards these kind of gigantic 90's SUVs.

 

[ZGBox]

This family of SUVs are exactly what I think of when I'm reminded of how much they improved on the efficiency and quality side of things.
But I have to respect that trucks like these will probably outlast the majority of modern SUVs and they have that incredibly 90's charme about it, plus some models look legit great, so a very low cool for me.
I would love to see one of these here, they are impossibly rare in my neck of the woods