The Suburban, like its Tahoe cousin, is a hefty, truck-based SUV that is old school in its approach. The truck’s styling hasn’t changed much in recent years, which speaks to the timelessness of the design and the staying power of its clean, strong lines. Three trims fill out the lineup: LS, LT and Premier, and the sporty RST package is available on LT and Premier. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is optional. 

2020 Chevrolet Suburban
The longest-running nameplate in the automotive industry, the Chevrolet Suburban hasn’t veered from its mission of hauling people and their stuff since its 1935 debut. Chevrolet

In a time where many automakers’ designs are becoming busier by the day, the Chevrolet Suburban’s conservative profile and clean lines are a refreshing change. Exterior badging is minimal, and there are very few outward indications of trim level or feature set. The Premier trim has tasteful chrome accents and is almost Cadillac Escalade-like in its refined appearance.

Inside, the Suburban offers a surplus of uncluttered and usable space. The dash is symmetrical, and switchgear and controls are placed well within reach. The 8-inch touchscreen is mounted high in the dash and provides excellent screen brightness and intuitive graphics. 

Though the interior design is a few years old, its core design remains relevant and the switchgear functionality is intuitive.  Chevrolet  

For a massive SUV that weighs in at nearly three tons, the Suburban displays some impressive footwork. The standard powertrain is a 335-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission. A 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic is an option on the top Premier trims. The smaller V8 is a good match for the imposing Suburban.  Acceleration is healthy, if not tire-meltingly impressive, which is fine for a vehicle of this size. The larger V8 engine that comes with the RST Package offers a lot of power, much more than most buyers will need.  

The six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard with the 5.3-liter V8 is a smooth-shifting unit that is at least proven and familiar if not on the cutting edge of technology. (The 10-speed comes standard with the available 6.2-liter engine and will be an option on the 5.3 on the 2021 model.) Rear-wheel drive is the standard offering and four-wheel drive is available. 

There’s nearly 40 cubic-feet behind the third row, which expands to 121.7 cubic-feet with the middle and rear seats folded flat. Chevrolet

Thanks to decades of refining the large SUV format, the Suburban rarely feels as big as it is, though maneuvering in urban environments can be hairy. On curvy roads, the truck’s size becomes more apparent, but few, if any, Suburban buyers have delusions of sporty driving dynamics. The suspension does a decent job of soaking up the worst road imperfections and keeping Suburban on track, but severe craters can send a shockwave through the cabin. Upgrading to the RST package not only adds the 6.2-liter, but also brings General Motor’s lauded magnetic ride suspension, which helps manage the Suburban’s heft even more. 

Though it’s not the ideal choice for a dedicated off-road rig, the Suburban can hold its own, particularly when equipped with the optional Z71 Off-Road Package. The big Chevy excels at hauling people and is a legitimate towing machine as well, with up to 8,200 pounds of pulling power when properly equipped.

The largest SUV in the Chevrolet lineup, the Suburban seats up to nine passengers and can tow up to 8,300 pounds when properly equipped. Chevrolet  

With a bench seat up front (yes, it’s an option), but most are configured with first-row bucket seats. The more common bucket seats are soft and supportive and beg for long road trips. Legroom and headroom are plentiful, as expected, and the power-adjustable front seats offer a high degree of movement to find a commanding driving position. The materials and construction of the Suburban’s interior are top-notch, as everything within reach of the front passengers is either covered in either leather or a soft-touch material. 

Passengers in the second row enjoy nearly the same level of padding and comfort in their bucket seats as those in the front. The bucket seats offer just as much head and legroom as they do in the first row, and passengers in the second row can enjoy a movie with the available rear-seat entertainment package.

People with children will find that the Suburban’s interior space is a blessing and a curse when it comes to kids in their car seats. Loading and unloading is a breeze, thanks to the massive rear door openings and expansive back seat area, but shorter parents will find it hard to lift kids into the somewhat tall Suburban. Additionally, all the extra space inside makes it hard to reach second-row passengers without unbuckling and twisting around, and any dropped toys or binkies are will have to wait until the driver stops to mount a formal search.

While the refreshed 2021 Suburban is scheduled to hit showrooms before the end of the year, the current model offers the same blend of attributes that have made it a favorite for over 70 years.  Chevrolet

All four Suburban trims offer a reasonable amount of creature comforts, including six-way power driver’s and front passenger seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, power locks and windows and remote start. The Premier gets available head-up display that remained visible and bright, even while wearing polarized sunglasses. An 8-inch touchscreen is mounted high in the dash and is easily visible from all angles, and all controls are within reach. Chevrolet’s infotainment software is simple, colorful, and easy to use, and the learning curve is small compared with rivals.

The Suburban hasn’t been rated by the IIHS, other than its LATCH car seat anchors, which were rated “Marginal” for their ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Suburban a four-star rating, with no other significant safety concerns listed.

Numerous safety features are available, including forward collision alert, lane-keep assist with lane departure warnings, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alerts. Nearly all of these are options on the LS, and the rest are available in packages on the LT. The Premier includes most of them, but adaptive cruise control with emergency braking and the head-up display are stand-alone options.