2024 Chevrolet Suburban – chevrolet.com | Shop 2024 Chevrolet Suburban on Carsforsale.com
The Chevrolet Suburban is the brand’s answer to full-size three-row SUVs like the Jeep Wagoneer and the Ford Expedition. For the 2024 model year, it doesn’t get any upgrades though we expect Chevrolet to provide a big update in 2025.
Great 6.2-liter engine
Spacious cabin
Can tow tiny houses
Cheap interior
Expensive upper trims
Limited standard safety tech
An SUV in need of a big update
Buyers interested in the Suburban get to pick from three different engines depending on the trim they select. At the bottom of the totem pole is a 5.3-liter V8 that develops 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. It’s good for up to 17 mpg combined and we’ve found it to be dutiful and capable if not a bit drab. Still, buyers won’t find themselves in desperate need of more power with it. It’s capable of towing the most too with a maximum rating of 8,300 pounds.
Next is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel that sort of offers the best of both worlds. It’s by far the most fuel-efficient with a combined rating of 23 mpg. It also provides 460 lb-ft of torque which is tied for the most available in the Suburban. On the horsepower front, it only makes 277 but tradeoffs are unavoidable.
Speaking of tradeoffs, the top trim engine is a 6.2-liter V8 that is closely related to the same one found in the Camaro. It makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It’s legitimately fun and responsive. In fact, of all the big SUVs on sale today, the Suburban with this engine is the most engaging of the bunch. The chassis tuning is a cut above the rest too. Rear-wheel drive models are so snappy in fact that it’s not impossible to hang the tail end out on command. That said, it gets just 16 mpg combined.
All three engines mate to a 10-speed automatic that’s quick and eager to swap cogs as needed. Rear-wheel drive is standard across the lineup with one lone exception being the Z71 trim. Four-wheel drive is standard on it and available across the rest of the trims.
The cabin of the Suburban is all about providing maximum interior space and it does that very well. Every very large adults should have no issue getting comfortable in either of the front two rows of this SUV.
The seats are wide and don’t feature much in the way of lateral bolstering either. Forward visibility is good but it’s worth noting that a blind spot on the right side requires a little more effort than normal to see around.
The dash is straightforward if not a bit old-school. Much of the real estate is simply blank so we’re excited to see if Chevrolet uses the space more effectively for 2025. As it sits, the cabin feels cheap due to the overuse of plastic.
The physical knobs and buttons are a nice addition but using them results in tactile feedback that is somewhat sloppy feeling. Surely, the refined tech from the latest Cadillac Escalade will trickle down but that can’t happen soon enough.
Cargo space is generous though with some 41.5 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. Fold those and the second-row seats down and you’ll find 93.8 cubic feet to work with. That’s downright cavernous.
The tech game isn’t particularly strong for 2024 either. The base Suburban comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen regardless of what other outlets might be incorrectly reporting. That’s almost comically tiny. Buyers who want the available 10.2-inch infotainment system have to pony up enough cash to buy the LT trim level. Thankfully, it also includes Googe Built-In along with a 12.3-inch driver information display and a nine-speaker Alpine sound system.
Interestingly, the tech sort of caps out at that point as even the most expensive Suburban trim, the High Country, also comes with the same infotainment system, the same gauge cluster, and adds only a single speaker for a total of 10. Notably, there are some additional ancillary systems that buyers can enjoy at that price like a surround-view camera system, a digital rearview mirror, and a heads-up display.
In terms of safety tech, the Suburban continues to lag behind as well. It comes standard with forward collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Considering that this is a huge vehicle with only a four-star crash-test rating from the NHTSA, Chevrolet would do well to provide its valued customers with features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-centering, and adaptive cruise control as standard features. After all, if other brands can, it should too.
The base Suburban comes with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a second-row bench seat.
The LT adds a hands-free liftgate, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver’s seat memory settings, a wireless device charger, leather upholstery, an upgraded 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.2-inch infotainment system with Google Built-In, and nine speakers.
The RST starts out as an appearance package with 22-inch wheels, unique exterior design flourishes, and special RST seats. Those who want some substance with their RST can opt for the 6.2-liter engine which comes with magnetic ride control and dual exhaust.
This off-road-focused version of the Suburban gets 20-inch wheels, unique bumpers to provide better clearance, a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, black exterior trim, and a front skid plate.
This is the first pseudo-luxurious Suburban and as such it gets magnetic ride control, ventilated front seats, second-row bucket seats, power-folding third-row seats, a 10-speaker sound system from Bose, and blind-spot warning.
This is the only trim that comes standard with the 6.2-liter V8. It also has a surround-view camera system, a heads-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and a rear-seat alert system.
The Suburban has probably the most rewarding engine in this segment in its available 6.2-liter V8. Despite that delicious icing, the rest of this cake feels a bit half-baked. The GMC Yukon XL is priced almost identically but gets better features. The Jeep Wagoneer is in a different league and costs the same too.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the price of the Suburban actually rose a couple of thousand bucks for the 2024 model despite Chevrolet adding zero content to the vehicle. That’s a good indication to us that one can find better value elsewhere. In fact, most buyers in this space would be far better off to buy a minivan.
2024 Chevrolet Suburban – chevrolet.com | Shop 2024 Chevrolet Suburban on Carsforsale.com
Chevrolet is planning a big update for the 2025 model year which goes on sale late in 2024. It’ll have a larger infotainment system along with many other interior updates. That’s a good thing because this one isn’t a good value compared to its competitors or even its past self. That would be different if the price were considerably lower or if Chevrolet offered an aggressive warranty package but neither is true. As it sits, this SUV will cost someone almost $900 a month after they’ve put over $9,000 down and that’s including new car incentives.
The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban seats seven or eight depending on seating layout.
The Chevrolet Suburban is officially 91 years old after its debut in 1933.
The Chevrolet Suburban is 75.7 inches or six-foot-three.