So much interior space. The Chevrolet Suburban has always been one of the larger SUVs on sale, but the full redesign in 2021 saw the SUV grow even larger in size. At nearly 19 feet long, few garages will be able to house the Suburban. Additionally, shoppers looking for an SUV that’s easy to drive and park should look somewhere else.
While the Suburban is difficult to drive, the result of an SUV that’s this big is an enormous cabin. The large SUV manages to be comfortable for all nine passengers, even the ones all the way in the back of the vehicle. Passengers in the second row are treated to up to 42 inches of legroom, while the third row has 36.7 inches of legroom. The seats themselves are plush, especially when outfitted with the second-row captain’s chairs.
Of course, cargo capacity is equally as impressive. The Suburban has some of the most cargo capacity of any SUV on the market. The SUV offers up to 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats while folding the third row down opens cargo space up to 93.8 cubic feet. Behind the front seats, the SUV offers up to 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Powerful engines.Chevrolet offers the Suburban with a trio of powerful engines. The standard engine is a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produces 355 horsepower. It may be the standard engine, but the 5.3-liter V8 doesn’t feel like a compromise. The engine offers plenty of pep to get the massive SUV down the road.
For even more grunt, there’s the available 6.2-liter V8 engine. It’s rated at a mighty 420 horsepower. Despite being tasked with getting the Suburban up to speed, the 6.2-liter V8 engine does so with authority. For 2022, the 6.2-liter V8 engine is now optional on the Z71, RST, and Premier trims.
We don’t recommend trying to save money on fuel with the Suburban, but if you feel compelled to do so, the Duramax diesel engine is the best choice. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel only makes 277 horsepower, but generates 460 pound-feet of torque, which matches the 6.2-liter V8 engine. The diesel engine is rated to get up to 23 mpg combined.
Towing capacity for the Suburban ranges from 7,400 to 8,300 pounds. That’s an impressive figure, but the Ford Expedition has slightly better figures.
Impressively modern. The Suburban comes with impressive tech features that are easy to use, which is exactly what you want when driving eight people around. The SUV comes standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight USB ports, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The standard infotainment system is easy to use and features physical buttons and knobs.
Chevrolet offers an impressive list of available tech features with the Suburban. Two 12.6-inch touchscreens are available as part of a rear-seat entertainment system. Other available features include a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, navigation, and a 10-speaker audio system.
When it comes to safety features, the Suburban comes with a long list of standard safety features. Forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear-seat alert, and parking sensors are standard. Available safety features include blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, a surround-view parking camera, and a rearview camera mirror.
It’s a good list of overall features, but we wish adaptive cruise control was standard on an SUV that starts at $54,495 with destination.
Bold and purposeful. Making a large SUV look good is a difficult task. Chevrolet’s designers did a good job, as the Suburban is a good-looking people carrier. With its blocky design, bold grille, and stylish headlights, the Suburban highlights why the majority of people have decided not to purchase a minivan.
The interior isn’t nearly as nice as the exterior, as it puts functionality over design. We think it’s a good compromise, but the Suburban does share an overall interior design that matches the brand’s pickup trucks. Cabin materials range from decent to luxurious, which is to be expected, but the range-topping High Country certainly isn’t cheap, as it starts at $74,990.
Final thoughts. Combining the interior space of a minivan with the chunky styling of a pickup truck, the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban looks better than the majority of other people carriers. Of course, it has a spacious interior, a good amount of tech, and powerful engines, but the Suburban also has a comfortable ride and plush seats. Obviously, people that aren’t comfortable with driving something that’s almost 19 feet long and guzzles fuel at an alarming rate should consider another vehicle.
The Ford Expedition Max is the Suburban’s largest competitor. It has a similarly spacious cabin, an efficient twin-turbo V6, and an impressive towing capacity. The Jeep Wagoneer has some seriously upscale features, is incredibly capable off-road, and is a refined cruiser.
