HELP! I've been perusing the forums, planning on ordering a 2021 Denali soon. I'm torn between waiting for the adaptive air ride suspension (they've stopped production on anything with the air ride suspension option and are currently planning on resuming in April, per the sales manager) or just ordering it without. We don't need it for trailering but our roads are terrible (huge pot holes etc). It will mainly be for shuttling my kids around. Has anyone driven both and felt like there was a perceivable difference between the two? Worth the wait and extra cost? Thanks!!!!
2021 Denali air suspension or no?
- Thread starter sheltn
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TrueAt1stLight
Full Access Member
Here is a cut and paste from my original thread about ordering a 2021 Denali:
“Regarding the Adaptive air ride suspension, I test drove one with and one without back to back. A few findings:
When I first drove the Denali without adaptive air suspension I was concerned that it rode every bit as I figured a large SUV would: a bit soft, prone to diving in the curves and overall unrefined compared to my experience driving German SUV’s over the past decade. I just figured that’s what I had to come to grips with in order to have the size and space of the Yukon. Then I drove the adaptive air ride-equipped model and it was literally night and day to me. It rode so much more composed and had a brawny athletic feel to it while braking and taking turns. It literally rode like a big, heavy, solid German SUV and I was blown away by the ride quality.
Regarding ride "feel," I would not say the ride is “softer” with the adaptive air suspension- rather more planted, responsive and athletic. Bumps and jarring pavement imperfections, as well as aggressive steering inputs and abrupt braking didn’t cause it to be unsettled in the least.”
“Regarding the Adaptive air ride suspension, I test drove one with and one without back to back. A few findings:
When I first drove the Denali without adaptive air suspension I was concerned that it rode every bit as I figured a large SUV would: a bit soft, prone to diving in the curves and overall unrefined compared to my experience driving German SUV’s over the past decade. I just figured that’s what I had to come to grips with in order to have the size and space of the Yukon. Then I drove the adaptive air ride-equipped model and it was literally night and day to me. It rode so much more composed and had a brawny athletic feel to it while braking and taking turns. It literally rode like a big, heavy, solid German SUV and I was blown away by the ride quality.
Regarding ride "feel," I would not say the ride is “softer” with the adaptive air suspension- rather more planted, responsive and athletic. Bumps and jarring pavement imperfections, as well as aggressive steering inputs and abrupt braking didn’t cause it to be unsettled in the least.”
Goldenbear03
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You're not going to like waiting, but I feel that air ride is the only way to go. It's awesome!
Why did they stop production on anything with Air Ride???
TrueAt1stLight
Full Access Member
Micro chip shortage.
Yep, as TrueAt1stLight said, they have a shortage of the microchips used for that and, per the sales manager and confirmed by our friend at GM, they are having to put what little supply they have toward the trucks.
I really don't want to wait but I think we are going to put in the order including it. Our dealership said that they don't require a deposit and we can always change the order or put in a different order, if it hasn't been picked up due to the shortage and we get tired of waiting. They also said they will call if they have something come in that's close to our specifications while waiting on our order.
TrueAt1stLight
Full Access Member
The adaptive suspension was a big deal to me. That, coupled with the $456 Max tow package option (so cheap for extra capability) would have driven me crazy could I not have ordered it as such (the tow package, as you may know, is also affected by the chip shortage).
Love the air ride in my Denali. Currently in Fla with a rented base model 21 Tahoe and I can really tell the difference. Well worth the wait, especially if anyone has any physical challenges stepping up. The extra 2 inches lower really makes a difference.
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Oh really? What kind of issues?
