2022 Chevrolet Suburban

Chevrolet’s Suburban is the original big truck-based SUV, dating all the way back to 1935. It’s still based on the Silverado, but last year’s total redesign saw the big ‘Burb depart from tradition in an important way. The pickup’s leaf springs and live axle rear suspension were binned in favor of an independent multi-link setup, which made this vast machine a much better handler and created more interior room. Even roomier second and third rows now greet passengers and the maximum 144.7 cubic-feet of cargo space is rivaled only by giant vans.

For 2022, Chevrolet has made the new ‘Burban even better with more active-safety features, updated infotainment software and expanded availability of its powerful 6.2-liter V8, among other upgrades. That 6.2-liter engine was formerly exclusive to the top-trim High Country, but it’s also shared with the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. While Chevy breaks out its standard-size Tahoe as a separate model from the Suburban, the other members of General Motors’ biggest SUV brigade are sold as the Yukon XL and Escalade ESV.

The Suburban’s mile-long options list means it’s possible to load up this SUV to the point of being nearly as expensive as those two, but Chevrolet is primarily aiming for mainstream customers, and there aren’t too many other SUVs this big. The closest analog is Ford’s Expedition Max, which is to the regular Expedition as the Suburban is to the Tahoe: stretched. Other big SUVs like the Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada and Jeep Wagoneer are Tahoe-sized, though the Wagoneer is a little bigger than the Tahoe inside and a stretched version, the Wagoneer L, arrives this fall. 

Suburban buyers can choose from two familiar gas-powered V8s (of 5.3 and 6.2 liters) or an optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel six, but this year RST, Z71 and Premier models can be options with the 420-horsepower 6.2. The Suburban is a neutral handler for something so huge, but you never forget its sheer size. The 6.2 yields the fastest vehicle but for towing the 5.3 is tops, with an 8,300-pound tow rating. The optional turbodiesel is the most efficient by far, with up to 23 combined mpg.

Every Suburban offers optional four-wheel drive (4WD) except for the off-road-oriented Z71, which is 4WD-only and also comes with different front-end styling, skid plates and hill descent control. The SUV’s sheer size, however, 225.7 inches long on a 134.1-inch wheelbase, limits what it can do in the rough and makes maneuvering a chore, even with the optional surround-view cameras (highly recommended). But on comfort, passenger room and cargo space the Suburban is the king of the SUV jungle, at least until the Wagoneer L arrives.

Chevrolet has added more active-safety gear this year, improving the Suburban’s value proposition, but some things like adaptive cruise control remain pricey extras on only the top trims. GM has also done a good job with the infotainment update. The system is still easy to use, but has lots more functionality. The Suburban’s ratio of size per dollar is hard to beat, but go easy on the options list. The Suburban’s top trims just aren’t as luxurious as their prices suggest and Chevrolet makes many features extra-cost.

Performance: 11/15

There are three different available engines, though they’re not all optional on every Suburban. All versions use a smooth-shifting ten-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with 4WD a $3,000 option on all but the 4WD-only Z71.

Most trims come with Chevrolet’s familiar 5.3-liter V8 standard, making 335 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The 5.3 gets the highest tow rating, 8,300 pounds, and it also offers the cheapest cost of entry. It feels a little underpowered in this heavy vehicle, but no more so than in past Suburbans This year RST, Z71 and Premier versions can be had with the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 that was formerly exclusive to the top-trim High Country. With 420 hp and 460 lb-ft on tap, it’s the best performer of the group and sacrifices only 100 pounds of tow rating to the 5.3, but it also gulps down fuel.

New last year and from a fuel economy standpoint transformational, the third option is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six cylinder making 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The diesel is standard on the High Country but a $845 to $900 option on most other Suburbans except the gas-only Z71. For $1,500 more, High Country buyers can have the 6.2 instead. The diesel gives up 200 to 300 pounds of max towing capacity and it is a sedate performer, but it offers better fuel economy than any other vehicle this size.

For a such huge vehicle the Suburban handles fairly well, but the optional surround-view monitoring system is a big advantage when maneuvering. The Z71 offers a shorter front bumper for a better approach angle as well as skid plates, tow hooks and hill descent control and both the Z71 and High Country offer an adjustable suspension that greatly boosts ground clearance. But the Suburban’s size limits where it can go on serious trails.

Fuel Economy: 12/15

The standard 5.3 and 6.2-liter V8s return strictly average gas mileage among large SUVs, with 16 and 17 mpg combined ratings with rear-wheel drive and only 16 with 4WD, but that’s still ahead of some smaller rivals like the Nissan Armada or Toyota Sequoia and about even with the Expedition Max.

The optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six returns amazing mileage considering the Suburban is the size of a tiny house. The EPA rates the four-wheel drive diesel at 21 mpg city, 27 highway and 22 mpg combined, but we’ve actually done better in our own testing. In late 2021, we drove a diesel Suburban that returned 30 mpg highway in the real world. Nothing else of this size and capability gets mileage that good, not even Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 9/15

The 2022 Suburban hasn’t yet been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but it does earn a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This costs it some points in our evaluation, but on the active-safety side things have improved, with some handy new features becoming standard this year.

All Suburbans now get forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings with lane keep assist, automatic high beams, a following distance indicator and forward collision warnings. GM’s buckle-to-drive seatbelt interlock system is also included. An even larger slate of gear is optional, including rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alerts, rear pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and surround-view monitoring. Sadly some of these goodies (primarily adaptive cruise control) are only available on the top two trims, and they don’t come cheap.

The Suburban also offers an excellent trailer monitoring system with many different camera views and trailer blind zone monitoring. Next year will bring limited availability of GM’s Super Cruise system to the top trims and that might be worth waiting for if you’re in the market for the fanciest of Suburbans.

Comfort & Room: 15/15

The Suburban is roomy in every seating position, although 6-footers are better off in rows one and two. The second-row bench seat has better cushioning and shape than competitors like the Expedition, and the way-back third-row is genuinely spacious. Against all this goodness, the feel of the cockpit trim and leathers is nice, but there are more cheap plastics than there should be at this price point. The $50,000 Kia Telluride, among others, feels a little richer.

Most Suburban buyers need the third row, and at 36.7 inches it has the most legroom in its class. The Expedition Max isn’t far behind but its wayback seats are more upright. The Jeep Wagoneer may be Tahoe-sized on the outside, but its efficient use of space means that its third row is very nearly as roomy as the Suburban’s (36 inches of legroom) and just as comfortable.  The smaller Volkswagen Atlas and Chevy Traverse, both crossovers rather than traditional SUVs, each offer about 33 inches of third-row legroom.

Infotainment: 13/15

Except for the base model LS, every 2022 Suburban gets a customizable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (previously seen on the 2021 High Country) and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. GM has also updated the Suburban’s infotainment system to integrate many new features, and all but the LS get Google Built-in capability, though it requires a data plan. The system now incorporates familiar Google apps like Maps, Assistant and Play. Happily, the interface looks and functions almost exactly as it did before, easy and intuitive.

All trims offer a Wi-Fi hotspot and satellite radio, but both require subscriptions after the initial trial periods (1 month and 3 months, respectively). Wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a head up display and surround-view monitoring are all optional and that last option (often part of an expensive package) is one we highly recommend, but very few of these things are optional on the base LS. That model makes do with an older 8.0-inch infotainment screen and lacks the Google compatibility of the larger unit, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board.

Cargo Space & Storage: 15/15

The Suburban’s suspension redesign increased cargo space considerably, and aside from the similar GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade ESV there’s no other SUV that can carry more stuff. There’s 41.5 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row, 93.8 with the third row folded and a spectacular 144.7 cubes in total with all seats folded. If you need more space than that, you’ll have to step up to Chevrolet’s Express Van or a Ford Transit. Even the Chrysler Pacifica minivan falls short, and the Expedition Max has 16% less cargo volume overall.

Style & Design: 7/10

The related Chevrolet Silverado came in for some stylistic criticism when it was new in 2019, but the Suburban has a cleaner and more upscale look than its pickup cousin. More of the vehicle’s footprint is now devoted to passenger and cargo space, so even though it’s a little bigger, the proportions seem a little taller and stubbier, particularly the hood. The scowling face is still a matter of opinion but generally, the giant ‘Burb looks as fit for the country club as the more expensive Yukon and Escalade.  

Inside, the ‘Burb falls victim to more than a few cheap plastics, but the overall feel is clean and utilitarian. The top trims bring more color choices and nicer materials, but the Suburban can’t hold a candle to the Escalade’s furnishings and the top trims’ prices seem a little out of step with the feel of the cabin.

Is the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban Worth it? Which Suburban is the Best Value?

There are six Suburban trims starting at $56,395 (including a $1,795 destination fee) for the base LS, which is basic indeed with cloth seats and acres of gray plastic, though it is the only Suburban with seating for nine passengers. This isn’t a “cheap” vehicle, but other SUVs this size start out at similarly high prices.

Since you can’t order most of the best gear on the LS, so it’s worth upgrading to the $61,895 LT if you need the Suburban’s space but don’t want to break the bank. The LT adds a power passenger’s seat, nicer interior materials, a nine-speaker audio system (to the LS’ six-speaker setup), the larger infotainment unit and digital drivers’ display and unlocks the vast majority of desirable optional extras.

The $65,395 RST is probably the best value in the lineup as it adds equipment that the LT lacks and a sportier exterior with big 22-inch rims and can be had with the turbodiesel, unlike the $67,395 Z71. That model has nice off-road upgrades that are useful if you live down a long dirt road or want to do some light off-roading, but the Suburban isn’t the greatest off-road rig. We’d choose the RST in rear-wheel drive with the diesel and, the max trailering package and the luxury package (which includes surround-view monitoring, rear pedestrian detection, a heated steering wheel and several other goodies) for a total of $69,330.

At the top of the lineup are the Premium ($70,145) and the High Country ($76,995). These models layer on luxury materials, more color options and more available technology, including adaptive cruise control. But even here many desirable features are extra cost, which can launch the price north of $80,000 for the High Country, which is almost as much as a base Escalade. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Chevrolet Suburban?

The Suburban’s Insurance costs are comparable to other large SUVs. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,335 for a Suburban High Country (the priciest version), though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,382 for a Ford Expedition Max Limited, $2,433 for the GMC Yukon XL AT4 and $2,399 for the Jeep Wagoneer. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.