We drive the Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 4WD
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| The Suburban is big |
If your average SUV is not big enough for you, then you are in need of a Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban has been around for 80 years now and is in its 12th generation. Of course today’s version has little in common with the first one and the first one certainly did not have features like 4G connectivity and six USB ports but the new one does. After spending some time with the giant SUV, we found that the unique combination of space, luxury and capability is very useful.
The exterior design of the 2015 Suburban is more precisely sculpted and it is aggressive and bold. New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly improving the quietness of the interior cabin and contributing to improved aerodynamics. Lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels also enhance efficiency through reduced overall mass. HID projector headlamps and LED daytime running lamps were included on our LTZ test vehicle.
There are many other exterior features, some of which would not be noticeable to most people. For example, the windshield angle is raked forward more than before and is flattened at the corners, for better wiper performance. In addition, the B-pillar is moved forward slightly and the C-pillar is a little straighter, making it easier to get in and out of the vehicle, especially when climbing into the third row.
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| Dashboard |
The interior has also received many improvements to enhance functionality and comfort. The instrument panel has a very easy to read gauges and display including a 4.2 inch color driver information center in the middle of the cluster. Our LTZ model also included many other features such as keyless entry and push button start, power tilting and telescoping steering wheel, wireless phone charging, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, power folding third row seats and so much more.
With the wireless phone charging feature, a magnetic inductive charging system allows users to simply place their phone on a small mat in the vehicle, where it charges without the need to plug it in. The new hands-free liftgate feature allows a customer with a keyless entry fob in his pocket, and full hands, to open and close the liftgate by waving his foot under a sensor beneath the rear fascia. There are also lots of cubby holes and drink holders all over the place. The compartmentalized center console is large enough to store a laptop, iPad or a large purse. And you get 4G wifi that the vehicle occupants can share with a much more powerful reception that your average cell phone.
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| It's huge inside with the seats down |
Under the hood of the Suburban is a new EcoTec3 5.3 liter V8 that puts out 355 hp. It has lots of high tech features in order to save fuel such as cylinder deactivation, direct injection and continuously variable valve timing. These along with the use of light weight materials contribute to a 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway rating on our 4WD version. The engine is mated to a six speed automatic transmission that also helps squeeze as many miles out of a gallon of gas. While that may not sound like great fuel economy, you need to keep in mind that this thing weighs almost 6000 pounds.
That high mass makes the Suburban feel a little sluggish if you are trying to drive rapidly. In everyday driving you will be fine with the performance but as soon as you start trying to rush the Suburban it reminds you of trying to rush your grandmother. If you need more power, the GMC Denali XL and the Cadillac Escalade ESV offer a bigger V8 but they also add more weight as well.
What is really nice about the Suburban is that it is one vehicle that is capable enough to do almost everything. It can take up to eight kids to school. It can take you to Home Depot for all kinds of shopping with 122 cubic feet of room. It can take you to a luxury function with your business associates or you can go camping with a ton of gear to a remote location with its capable four wheel drive system. You can also do so while towing an 8000 pound trailer which can be an RV or a bunch of horses. Very few other vehicles can give you this much. But all of this will end up costing you money.
The Suburban starts out at $49,700 for the LS model. The LT will cost you $55,925 but the LTZ is the one that has all the good stuff which starts out at $65,505. Our LTZ with a few options came out to $71,180 which is a lot of money but it is actually pretty cheap when you consider that the competition can cost you a lot more.
The Suburban is not for everyone. It is very big inside and out and it can cost you a lot of money just for fuel. But maybe you can think about it this way. You can buy a small car and a truck and it will still not do everything that the Suburban does and it will probably cost you even more.