The Family Bus
Chevrolet's long-running Suburban SUV is still a capable hauler, but now it's adept at carrying people.
The Suburban was recently redesigned with increased refinement in mind. As before, it’s a clone of the GMC Yukon XL and the flashier Cadillac Escalade ESV.
The Chevrolet Suburban is offered in three trim levels — SLE, SLT and the well-equipped LTZ — in rear- and four-wheel-drive versions. While it remains a large and rectangular-shaped vehicle, with what appear to be minor exterior styling changes, the new Suburban brings several key enhancements to the table, including added power and increased fuel economy.
The previous generation’s 320-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 engine is still standard, but it now includes General Motor’s Active Fuel Management technology, in which half of the engine’s cylinders are deactivated during low-stress driving in order to save fuel. A 366-hp 6.0-liter V8 is optional.
Of particular note if you live in the Corn Belt is the FlexFuel engine, which is capable of running on ethanol-based E85 or a mixture of E85 and gasoline. It comes standard on four-wheel-drive models and is optional on rear-wheel-drive models.
The heavy-duty Suburban, designated "2500," as opposed to "1500" for the regular version, offers a 352-hp 6.0-liter V8 that produces a strong 383 pound-feet of torque for extreme towing and hauling.
Unfortunately, the 5.3-liter and 6.0-liter engines in the standard Suburban remain saddled with the carryover four-speed automatic transmission; the similar Yukon XL Denali offers a six-speed automatic that is light-years ahead in terms of smoothness. The heavy-duty Suburban features a more sophisticated six-speed automatic to help it cope with hauling hefty loads.
The Chevrolet Suburban rides on a reworked chassis with a fully boxed frame that’s stiffer than before, for added refinement with reduced noise, vibration and harshness. A wider track and a lower center of gravity contribute to enhanced on-road stability, while the suspension provides a compliant ride.
The LTZ model adds the otherwise optional autoride suspension, in which electronically controlled shock absorbers make on-the-fly adjustments according to changing road conditions to help maintain a smooth and controlled ride.
GM’s stability control system is standard across the line for added security. If it determines a rollover is imminent, it incorporates rollover mitigation technology that can deploy the vehicle’s head-curtain airbags before a crash occurs.
The Suburban’s two-tone interior is crafted from high-quality materials. Redesigned seats slide farther fore and aft to accommodate long-legged riders in the first or second row. The instrument panel is positioned low for easy visibility.
A third-row seat is standard. Depending on the seating configuration, the Chevrolet Suburban can carry as many as nine people, but that requires forgoing separate chairs for a bench seat in which a third occupant must squeeze into the center position.
With the second-row seats folded flat and the third row removed, the vehicle boasts a mammoth cargo capacity of 137.4 cubic feet. The downside is that the third-row seats don't fold into the floor like on other SUVs and must be removed from the vehicle for maximum cargo capacity. That's because the Suburban has stout frame rails under the floor that are needed for the heavy towing and hauling capabilities.
The Suburban comes well equipped, even in its base version. Optional features include a power rear liftgate, heated front- and second-row seats, power-release second-row fold-and-tumble seats, power-adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers, remote start, rear parking assist and a Bose premium audio system with XM satellite radio compatibility.
An optional Z71 off-road package offers upgraded 18-inch wheels and tires, larger tow-hook openings on the front bumper, more prominent fog lamps and a unique front grille.
Is the Chevrolet Suburban for You?
| Buy the Suburban if | You require a full-size SUV for serious towing or hauling; you need seating for up to nine but don’t want a minivan; fuel economy is not a huge concern. |
| Keep Looking if | A smaller and more fuel-efficient model fits your character, budget and lifestyle; your garage isn’t oversized. |
| Who Fits? | A front bench seat is standard and can seat three across, as can the second row. There's space for a trio of kids in the standard third row. |
| Closest Competitors | |
| Did You Know... | Chevrolet’s original SUV, the Suburban, has been around since the 1930s. Back then, a variety of automakers used the word “suburban” as a generic term to distinguish wagon-like vehicles they assumed were used for family transportation in the sprawling suburban communities beginning to develop at the time. source:www.forbesautos.com |
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