Used 2019 Chevrolet Suburban

Now in the fifth year of its 11th generation, the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban may be an old-timer, but it’s definitely not getting old. This popular full-size SUV continues to serve big families, offering an enormous cabin, a powerful V8 and so many features and options it’s hard to keep track. Ford’s new Expedition Max is close on the Suburban’s bumper, however, with an additional 1,000-pound towing capacity and a level rear floor featuring flush-folding seats. Still, the Suburban’s upscale interior and choice of available V8 engines hold powerful sway over some buyers. With no extended versions of the Nissan Armada or Toyota Sequoia, outside the Expedition the only other Suburban competitors are its corporate twins, the GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade ESV.

Despite its vast size, the 2019 Chevy Suburban is an impressive vehicle both on long stretches of highway and curving mountain roads. It’s not a sports car by any means, but Chevrolet’s masterful working of the Suburban’s suspension, engine and transmission combine to create a 3-ton SUV that rides and handles very much like a large luxury sedan, albeit with a bit more height and a lot more weight. Rounding tight curves at medium to high speeds produces minimal lean and roll, and the Suburban’s steering feels tight and direct, with just the right amount of weight applied to the thick-rimmed steering wheel. Premier and RST trims employ magnetically adjustable shocks capable of adjusting to varying road conditions in a fraction of a second. The standard Suburban is pulled by an impressive 5.3-liter V8 good for 355 horsepower and a respectable 23-mpg highway fuel-economy rating, while the RST elevates both power and performance, delivering 420 horsepower through an advanced 10-speed automatic transmission.

The 2019 Suburban’s upscale interior grabs your attention from the moment you step inside; its artful shapes, high-end materials and excellent fit-and-finish seem more appropriate for a luxury sedan than a full-size SUV. The 2nd-row’s comfy seats recline but, unfortunately, don’t slide fore and aft. The third row has enough foot- and legroom for adults, at least for shorter trips, and kids will be fine. A high cargo floor provides space for the flat-fold 3rd-row seats, but that space is not wasted — under the floor is a handy hidden storage area.

The Suburban’s exterior shares nothing of design or components with its Silverado pickup-truck counterpart. Chevy’s exterior designers had a lot of space at their disposal and used it well; this big SUV has a presence that is decidedly commanding. Long, flowing lines emphasize the Suburban’s considerable length instead of hiding it, and the broad front face owns the traffic lane. Dimensionally, the 2019 Suburban is about the same size as all those versions of years past, but then, when you’re talking about full-size SUVs, an inch here or there doesn’t make much of a difference.

SUPERB INTERIOR
Wide supportive seats, a handsome dash and meticulous attention to detail make the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban’s interior feel more like riding in a high-priced luxury SUV. The cavernous interior includes ample head- and legroom, plus loads of space for cargo, even with the 3rd-row seat in place.

REAR SEAT REMINDER
With so much on our minds today it’s easy to get distracted when exiting a vehicle. The Suburban’s Rear Seat Reminder helps mitigate a potentially dangerous situation by alerting an exiting driver to check the rear seats for pets, valuables or a sleeping child.

Standard on all Suburbans is the 5.3-liter V8 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and a cavernous interior. The base-level LS trim has cloth seats, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and the standard Chevrolet MyLink 8-inch diagonal touch screen that includes Bluetooth streaming audio, apps and other features. The mid-range LT trim has forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and the availability of features not offered on the LS. The Premier models add rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot alerts, up-level audio, heated and cooled seats, programmable power liftgate, 20-inch wheels and a boatload of other items.

The Suburban’s available-equipment list is extensive. Among the choices: Order the LS trim level with the front bench seat and Chevy’s biggest can haul nine people to the movies. Any trim can be equipped with the Driver Alert Package that adds low-speed forward automatic braking, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, driver-alert seat and power-adjustable pedals. For the LT version, we like the exceptionally comprehensive Luxury Package that adds many of the Premier’s luxury touches, and the Sun, Entertainment and Destinations Package that bundles navigation, a Blu-ray rear-seat entertainment system, a power sunroof and many other items.

Chevy’s standard powertrain for the Suburban is a fine one: the very well-proven 5.3-liter 355-horsepower V8 with a 6-speed automatic. The 5.3 makes plenty of power, cranks out 383 lb-ft of torque, features direct fuel injection and Active Cylinder Management and, if not a fuel-economy leader, delivers efficiency that is at least reasonable, considering the big Suburban’s muscular capabilities. The smooth 6-speed automatic does a good job of keeping the engine in the best part of its power range and 4-wheel drive (4WD) is optionally available. Maximum towing capacity with 2-wheel drive (2WD) is 8,300 pounds, so the 5.3 is more than willing and able. Opt for the new RST Performance Package and you’ll get a 6.2-liter V8, 10-speed automatic transmission and a sport-tuned suspension.

5.3-liter V8
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (2WD), 14/21 mpg (4WD)

6.2-liter V8
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/23 mpg (2WD), 14/20 mpg (4WD)