XXL Sized-Vehicle Fans’ Spooky Pre-Halloween Comparison: How Do Newer Suburbans Stack up Against Older ones?

Large-sized SUVs such as the Suburban are practical as well as righteously road-owning for so many of our well-appreciated customers at West Chevy of Knoxville, as the more your family or business interests grow, the more you need to haul! The Chevy Suburban is one of the nation’s favorite rides of all time and holds the acclaimed honors of being the longest-running model in American history. The Fast Lane Car put together an awesome test video on YouTube that offers up a bit of a pre-Halloween and hauntingly good comparison between the old and new. 

We’d have to admit that both models would be the ultimate means of getting the kids around the neighborhood for trick or treating, and any other invigorating pumpkin patch outing or family fall event! As shown in the video, the older Suburbans still make for amazing and very loyal vehicles, with one owner proudly claiming a trusty 296,000 miles on the odometer. Its notably large size, comfort, and all-around usefulness still yielded the family around 19 mpg, which is not at all shabby for a large and heavy old V8 number.

The older version then goes all-in and takes on an off-road style test course and impresses with its handling chops and fluid but durable driving style. The new 2022 Suburban uses an air-suspension equipped 10-speed top-of-the-line SUV with a capable and always road-ready 6.2-liter V8. Boasting 420 horsepower as well as heavily updated engine, there are more tech features and design touches that make it stand out from the old Suburban. Even though the older model has a tried-and-true sense of accomplishment and long-haul stamina, the 2022 model is going to give you a superior boost in terms of safety and infotainment goodies.

The updated model offers the luxury of a nice stitched interior trim, an infotainment display, and many other modern features like electrically dropping rear seats. For the instances when a Home Depot run is unavoidable, a 4x8 piece of wood still fits, proving solidly that its practical and “getting it all done” nature is still very much intact. During the very telling off-road portion of things, the 2022 model smoothly navigated the pothole-filled track easily, proving that the Suburban’s winning formula of ample space, practical chops, and rugged off-road ability is a winning combo as usual.

At the end of this necessary all-out comparison, the verdict not surprisingly favored the new model. Billed as “A Simple and Effective Beast with a Simple Mission”, the Suburban continues doing what it has been since 1935 with a distinct style and the same authenticity along with a 7,900-lb towing capacity. You can still easily fit 9 passengers across its three bench seats as you could during its early days, while enjoying the same visceral design language shared with the Silverado pickup and Tahoe SUV. 

We’d have to wholeheartedly recommend the Premiere Trim as well: it adds the useful assistance of blind-spot monitoring, lane change alert, front and rear parking sensors a 10-speaker Bose stereo, and navigation features all as standard equipment. You’ll also be traveling with the extra confidence and comfort of upgraded seating, power-folding second and third-row seats, ventilated front seats, and dual second-row captain’s chairs. The Luxury Package provides the enjoyment of a panoramic sunroof, rear camera mirror with integrated washer, and trailer brake controller.  

2021 Suburban Comes With Top Tier-Technology and Comfort so Lavish You'll Love Being a Passenger

 

Jim Rossman of The Dallas Morning News is a technology review professional by trade and got a chance to try out the 2021 Suburban. His employer deemed the Suburban well-loaded enough with new technology for Rossman to take it for a spin himself. Coming in at 18.8 feet long and 6.75 feet wide, he quickly realized that it did not quite handle like his tiny sedan, but he began to have a love for its commanding presence on the road. 

He enjoyed the extras that the High Country Deluxe edition package adds through the panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, power-retractable running boards with perimeter lighting, air ride adaptive system, trailer brake controller, and advanced trailering system with hitch view. The review vehicle also came equipped with the “mother load” of features as far as the passengers looking to stay entertained are concerned, with the rear seat media system that has 12.6-inch color touchscreens. 

The very handy power-sliding rear console can slide back up to 10 inches to bring the rear cupholders closer to those in the back and has a small shelf inside where personal belongings can be stowed away during the ride. The onboard safety tech was one of the main reasons that Jim was reviewing the brand-new Suburban, and the list began with automatic emergency braking with forward collision alert, which will warn you of an impending collision and even stop for you if you do not take action quickly. Lane-keep assist uses a forward-facing camera behind the rearview mirror to helpfully scan lane markings on the road below, then provides a green-lit icon as a warning while nudging the wheel safely back to the center of the lane. 

The Suburban will offer the ideal solution for many who are taking a long trip, which is a well-deserved festive holiday activity and perfect time to spend together! Counting the miles until you see your loved ones is that much better when you are sprawled out in a vehicle offering this much comfort. The side mirrors are equipped with blind-spot warnings, which are a lifesaver when you want to quickly see if the lane is clear. If you need to wait for a second to safely switch lanes, a bright yellow light will alert you. Another ingenious use of modern safety technology is placed directly in the rear bumper: there are sensors here to warn you if cross-traffic is approaching before you back up, preventing many a busy neighborhood or grocery-store parking lot mishap.  

As we are now entering an era that is going to see various levels of autonomous driving become more and more sophisticated, it's features like adaptive cruise control that have definitely paved the first patches of the exciting journey. It not only keeps your speed but will slow down if you happen to approach a slower vehicle in your lane. While this does NOT allow for you as the driver to drift into territory where you are not completely alert, it will undoubtedly save lives and be of great assistance for those not keeping proper track of their busy surroundings. When it comes to greats like the new Suburban, it is true that “you didn't have it this good when you were a kid,” and maneuvering with this larger-sized vehicle is still considerably simple for the size.

Sizzling Summer World-Building Opp: Tahoe and Suburban Configurators are up and Running

Autoblog is one of our favorite news authorities here at West Chevy of Knoxville when it comes to the most current scoops, and they recently alerted us to the fact that the configurators for the 2021 Suburban and Tahoe are fully functional! As the temps heat up and it can feel good to stay inside for hours on end, you can build your optimal-featured vehicle, and learn about the two new models while you're at it. One interesting example that the testers used was that of an airport or Uber SUV chauffeur for the Tahoe.

They began with the basic black entry-level LT spec in 2WD and then added the Luxury Package for the driver convenience and assistance features. They then threw in the Rear Seat Media and Navigation package for the passengers' entertainment, then added a locking center console, cargo shade, and black Bow-tie emblems, after swapping up to 20-inch wheels for greater curb appeal. Years ago many customers would have to spend a greater amount of time at the dealer trying to figure out what worked well for them in the long run, and simply looking at pamphlets didn't always convey the finished product.

 

The initial Suburban build was for a man who runs survivalist and outdoor courses and began with the Z71 trim, Shadow Gray Metallic exterior, and Dark Atmosphere interior. With the Z71 package, you are locking in a spec of Max and Advanced Trailering packages, and black Bow-tie emblems. Then, without getting completely out of control, they stuck with the Luxury and Rear Media and Navigation packages.

For another Tahoe build, the customer was a typical Midwestern family. They began with 4WD Premier trim, and Graywood Metallic paint and Jet Black and Maple Sugar perforated leather interior to match. The Premium Package offers up convenience features like the 15-inch heads up display and the trailering tech for its ability to easily tow a boat. They then up the ante to 22-inch Carbon Flash wheels, and Rear Seat Media for the kids as well as a factory-official rooftop tent. It will be perfect for Minnesota lake weekends, and the High Country Trim offers power with the heftier 6.2-liter V8.

We love the fact that you can dig in deep and think about all of your options when it comes to these two, and customize the vehicle that will be your daily driver in the future. The Suburban is one of those iconic vehicles that has displayed a track record of reliability that is for the most part unprecedented, and the two are a pair to be reckoned with as far as any form of competition at all is concerned. We hope to see you soon here at West Chevy where we can answer any questions about ownership and financing, and selection of the model that is a perfect fit for you.

2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Display Exciting Improvements to city MPG

It has been a week of big announcements and excitement here at West Chevy of Knoxville, and one of them was regarding our extremely popular pair of amazing haulers for any family or business: the Tahoe and Suburban. The 2021 EPA-estimated fuel economy numbers for the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban have just been announced and reflect an increase in city-driving fuel economy. These three GM SUVs are powered by either a 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V-8 engine, with the option of a turbo-diesel inline-six.

 

Both the Suburban and GMC Yukon are completely redesigned from the ground up for the 2021 model year, and they now feature an independent rear suspension which allows for more very precious cargo space and are available with a choice of two gasoline V-8s or a turbo-diesel inline-six, all paired up nicely to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The EPA has released fuel economy for the pair, and the 2021 Suburban with the 5.3-Liter V8 is up 1 mpg in city driving compared to the 2020 model. Its combined EPA fuel economy is 18 mpg for rear-wheel drive models and 17 mpg with all-wheel drive.

Suburban’s that are deriving power from the 6.2- liter V8 nail down a combined 17 mpg for the rear-drive model and 16 mpg with all-wheel drive. The 2020 rear-wheel drive Suburban gets a 1-mpg increase in city-driving fuel economy, and “any gain is great” when you are dealing with a long-and-trusty vehicle such as these two. The review staff on duty at Cars.com claimed that “Chevy has saved the best for last” in terms of the Tahoe and Suburban, and that both new models are exceptional. This is due to packaging innovation, more space than ever before, and a new powertrain option.

The new look is a bit of a spin on the redesigned 2019 Silverado 1500 pickup, sporting indented headlights and split-level grille that creates a face slightly less aggressive than the truck's appearance. The powerful pair looks and feels just as massive as ever, and inside feels much more modern than in the sworn rival in the form of the Ford Expedition. We have now moved to push-button shifters mounted high on the dash, so there is no more constant hunting for buttons on the low end. The second-row seats do not just simply fold up and down; when they are returned to their upright position the mechanism elevates them a bit, making for better foot room when it comes to third-row passengers.

Since recent pickups are a reasonable gauge to go by, Chevy’s recent attention to vehicle dynamics overall is likely going to pay off for the Tahoe and Suburban just like it has for our beloved Silverado truck. These are two models that are about as good as it gets for anyone wanting to move passengers or cargo around town in extreme comfort, durability, and along with massive safety features and warranty options!

2021 Tahoe and Suburban Crush Numbers in MPG + Towing: Motortrend Offers up Raw Data

For the vehicles out there that are already a bit larger than average, it is always an exciting event when big improvements are looming on the horizon! Everyone here at West Chevy of Knoxville has always had a great love for these “two in troupe”, and their solid reputation for reliability. Both the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Full-size SUVs were featured on the Motor Trend blog this past week in an article highlighting fuel efficiency and towing stat improvements across the line. On top of more third-row legroom and cargo space, both heavy haulers will see a new multi-link independent rear suspension that drastically improves ride quality.

Brandishing the standard 5.3-liter V8, the Tahoe is now estimated to offer up 16 mpg in the city, 20 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. These figures mostly improve on the old Tahoe's, which with an earlier 5.3-liter V-8 topped out at 15/22/18 mpg (city/highway/combined) with rear-wheel drive and 15/21/17 mpg in 4-wheel drive. When putting to use the 6.2-Liter V-8, the 2021 Tahoe sees 15/20/17 mpg (city/highway/combined) with rear-wheel drive and 14/19/16 mpg with 4WD.

The gas engines carry over from the previous model year, but also see the benefit of new fuel management technology. The 5.3-liter V-8 cranks out 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2-liter V-8 resides at 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. In the ever-important hauling category, the 5.3-liter V8 gives the Tahoe's standard towing capacity an extra 1,400 pounds, and the final number for towing capacity on the Tahoe is 8,400 pounds.

Both models will provide many of the awesome towing technologies we've seen on the Silverado, including rear camera guidelines for easy hitching, trailer tire pressure and temperature monitors, an integrated trailering app with remote trailer light test, and enhanced side blind zone alert for trailering. What many people are waiting to see is if the upcoming 3.0-Liter Turbodiesel engine will help us to beat sworn rival Ford Expedition's towing capacity of 9,300 pounds, as well as keeping it a step ahead of the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade stats.

When you are visiting us for a test drive of these two new models, keep in mind that there is a new Z71 trim level for the Suburban, and the top of the line High Country trim level is added to the lineup. It’s a bit like taking the old Suburban and creating a hybrid with the newest Silverado 1500 pickup truck, and the RST is one to keep your eye on: the custom sport model with unique front styling, a black ice grille finish, black and black chrome exterior detailing, and large wheels for a different sense of style and flavor!

2021 Suburban Deemed by Kelley Blue Book as “Class-Leading, Capable and Rugged”

Customers who are keen on seating for up to nine, power derived from a big V8, six trims to choose from and optional diesel engine have been coming in droves to snag up the massive Chevy Suburban for around 85 years now. The staff on duty at Kelley Blue Book are usually a pretty sure source of great information for anyone coming to look for a new vehicle here at West Chevy of Knoxville, and they cranked out a fantastic feature last week outlining the finer points of the 2021 Suburban model.

The Suburban comes standard with rear-wheel drive, with 4-wheel drive optional. Z71 Variants now offer it as standard. These trusty and hard-working vehicles are made in Arlington, Texas, alongside the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. This particular year marks the absolute full revamp for this sport utility vehicle whose name dates all of the ways back to 1935, and it's the largest SUV from this brand that outstretches its full-size relative in the form of the Tahoe. If you have a big, busy family in tow, this is going to be a go-to vehicle for you, still possessing the sturdy feel of a truck and boasting very powerful engine options that make it ideal for hauling duties.

The KBB staff claims that the new version of the Suburban has a larger amount of appeal due to fresher technology on board, additional safety features, and enhanced ride manners. Independent rear suspension is a huge help with the newly smoothed-out ride, and the Suburban further stands above the masses with its V8 engine as opposed to the Ford Expedition's twin-turbo V6. If it's your style, you can still opt for the GM 6-cylinder turbodiesel that is regarded for its efficiency and stellar towing ability.

There's absolutely a reason why huge hauling machines like the Suburban are the tried-and-true rulers of rural roads, wide-open spaces, and locations such as the Lone Star State, where the pastures, skies, and rivers are all that much bigger. Low-end grunt, amazing efficiency, and rigid body-on-frame design will always be traits of this model that arrives at the dealer in a variety of tastes. It has been decades since the Suburban was offered with a diesel engine, and this new one has the output and modernized steam-engine stance within the powertrain that many have been after. Cargo room is another category where the Suburban really sets itself apart: There is an enormous 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space even with the third row up.

Audio and climate controls up front have very visible and easy to use dials, and the standard touchscreen has followed current trends by growing to 10 inches. There is also a digital rearview mirror that uses a camera feed for a wide-open view and power-operated storage console situated in between the front passenger and driver. All models except the base LS now receive a hands-free power-operated liftgate, the High Country is by all means where you want to set your sights. This is the trim that provides for you the 6.2-liter V8 engine we love so much, a head-up display, surround-view camera, digital rear camera mirror, and rear pedestrian alert feature!