Growing Pains: Chevy Vehicles with More Functional Space

You need a truck. You want to buy used, but not old. While the fancy, stylish features on all of the newest models are really neat, you’re probably more concerned about functional space. Maybe you’re looking for a pickup to carry large cargo loads. Maybe you’re looking for an SUV to help make transportation more convenient for you and your family. Either way, what’s the point of buying a truck if it doesn’t give you the storage space you need? Before you find a used car dealer near you, let us help to educate you to make sure you have a road map as you navigate the world of used trucks. There are a lot of options, so we want to help you discover the used trucks with the most functional space.

Some of the vehicles here may surprise you, as Chevy’s functionality extends far beyond its trucks. You may find that your needs are better suited to an SUV, even a small SUV, than to a pickup truck. Regardless of which direction you go, Chevy is known for its generous cargo space, and we want to help you find the vehicle that works best for you. So, without further ado, here are some thoughts on the used trucks (and SUVs) with the most functional space.

2017 Silverado 1500

The 2017 Silverado 1500 came with an attractive new package called the High Desert, which was an innovator for pickup cargo storage. It provides two-sided storage bins due to its creatively-designed placement over the bed and is lockable with its three-piece cover. Additionally, the cargo riser can be raised or lowered, depending upon cargo needs. This won’t be your old, beaten-up pickup; it maintains a new, sleek look with its faded blue exterior, bronze trim, and an interior full of cocoa leather.

2019 Silverado 1500

The 2019 Silverado 1500 came with the Durabed and was once dubbed the “most functional bed of any pickup” in a press release from Chevy’s headquarters. The 2018 and 2019 Silverado boxes came in three sizes: short, standard, and long. The 2019 box sizes significantly improved upon those of 2018, with the short bed measuring in at 63 cubic feet (that’s the short box), standard at 72 cubic feet, and long at 89 cubic feet. This spacious bed is also incredibly strong.

The vehicle has the potential for up to 21 tie-downs, 12 being fixed with a strength of up to 500 pounds, and nine moveable. That’s a good pickup bed. While a 2019 model is by no means old, it will lose some of its value as we head into the 2022 model year, meaning potential lower prices for you.

2020 Suburban

The Suburban has always been a leader in the SUV market. The good news is that it is even bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. The 2020 Suburban is one of the best non-pickup vehicles for storage space.

The EPA passenger volume of 122.4 cubic feet provides a spacious interior and a comfortable ride for all seven potential passengers. If you have fewer passengers and need to do some seat folding to accommodate your cargo, the vehicle is able to offer up to 121.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Between the 60/40 folding rear seats and the folding second-row seats, the Suburban is well-equipped to carry large loads.

In addition to its interior cargo space, the 2020 Suburban has a towing capacity of up to 8,300 pounds with the 5.3 L engine and the NHT Max Trailering package. Functionality is a top priority for the Suburban, and the 2020 model demonstrates this ideally.

2021 Trailblazer

The Trailblazer? But that’s not a truck! You’re right; it’s not. But it is worth noting its functional space and cargo capacity because it can hold its own for a small SUV. With the 60/40-split rear seats folded, the Trailblazer reaches a cargo volume of 54.5 cubic feet and cargo length of 8.5 feet.

In addition to the 60/40-split rear seats, the Trailblazer also houses a flat-folding passenger seat. This allows for extra storage space and the potential for long, sizable items stretching from the rear trunk space to the passenger seat. So, if you happened upon this article because you’re looking for a vehicle with good, functional space without wanting to deal with a pickup, then the Trailblazer may suit you well.

2021 All-New Tahoe

Both the Suburban and the Tahoe were taken through major renovations for the 2021 model year. But, since we’ve already talked about the 2020 Suburban, let’s take a look at the All-New Tahoe. The 2021 Tahoe offers sixty percent more cargo room than its 2020 predecessor, with a max cargo volume of 122.9 cubic feet. But, more important than your stuff, your passengers will have a more comfortable ride with an additional forty percent of legroom, adding 10 inches to bring in a sum total of 34.9 inches of third-row legroom. This is all made possible by a lower load floor, a 4.9-inch increase to the wheelbase, and a 6.7-inch increase in overall length.

While we’re on the topic of wheelbase, the increased functional space is not the only new and exciting thing about the 2021 Tahoe. Its longer wheelbase, combined with new chassis technology, makes for a new, smooth ride like never before in the Tahoe. With this new technology comes the options of the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension system and Magnetic Ride Control, which is not found anywhere other than Chevy. To give you a better idea of the benefits of this new suspension technology, let’s read what Chevy HQ has to say about it:

“Tahoe and Suburban’s new multilink independent rear suspension, which is composed of three lateral arms, a large longitudinal arm, coil springs, and a robust stabilizer bar, offers the ride sophistication and isolating characteristics typically associated with smaller vehicles, but scaled for the superior capability requirements of full-size SUVs.”

So, the All-New Tahoe will be a better experience all the way around, with its significant changes in both the engineering and the interior functional space. This one will be harder to find used, but maybe you’ll take it for a test drive and realize that a new model is worth the extra money for its features.

Trucks (and SUVs) Provide Perfect Functional Space

Functional space is important. Maybe you deny that claim and say, “I don’t need much space; it’s just me.” That may be true at the moment, but what happens when you decide it’s time to move? It’s time to go on a road trip? It’s time to start a family? Wouldn’t you rather be well-prepared for all of these possibilities.

Now, let us repeat: you don’t need to buy a pickup to have generous storage space. You also don’t need to be consistently hauling oversize loads to be in the market for generous functional space. Families will most likely need just as much storage space in a small SUV as a farmer will in a pickup, relatively speaking. Chevy’s small vehicles, like the Trailblazer, are there to provide for your packing and passenger needs.

To those who are in the market for a pickup or a larger SUV, we will say this: you need not buy a new vehicle to get the best functional space. As you can see from our selections above, vehicles such as the 2019 Silverado 1500 are still in their youth and provide premiere features without costing you as much as a brand-new, untouched vehicle.