Used 2022 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size 3-row SUV with plenty of room for a large family, all the stuff they want to take with them, and the towing ability to bring the boat along as well.

This current generation of Suburban was all-new last year. It’s based on the shorter (by 15 inches) Chevy Tahoe, which also entered a fresh generation in 2021. So all the tech is bang up to date.

This is also the most spacious and comfiest Suburban ever. By replacing the old solid rear axle with an independent suspension, Chevrolet added benefits that include a lower load floor, more efficient use of space, and greater refinement to the ride quality. So even though the Suburban can accommodate up to nine occupants, it doesn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable

Don’t think that the Suburban has just one trick, though. The lineup covers distinct “flavors” spanning from respectably well equipped to bordering on luxurious, taking in the visually impactful RST and off-road-oriented Z71 along the way.

A Buckle to Drive feature debuts this year. It keeps the vehicle in Park until the driver’s seat belt is fastened. Once that’s in place, getting the Suburban into Drive means pressing a button instead of moving a traditional shifter.

The regular 5.3-liter V8 generates enough push to deal with the majority of duties and actually enables the maximum towing figure. It’s worth considering the V8 for families who live in the mountains where the extra torque would make those uphill stretches easier. Or take a look at the optional diesel engine for useful muscle and kinder fuel bills.

Magnetic Ride Control is available from the RST trim level. It’s an advanced suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers that adjust their settings in mere fractions of a second to suit the conditions. This can be enhanced by an adaptive air suspension providing the most cushioned ride the 2022 Suburban is capable of delivering.

LS trim offers seating for nine, thanks to a 3-person bench seat up front. The usual setup, though, is two separate front seats. Once at the next-up LT trim, the 2022 Suburban has the option of a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row. These become standard at the Premier level.

Cabin materials are of decent quality, with upholstery ranging from cloth in the base LS to perforated leather in the high-class High Country. The 2022 Suburban also offers a powered sliding center console with a lockable storage compartment.

Compared with the already spacious Tahoe, the extended Suburban increases third-row legroom by about a couple of inches to 36.7. The really dramatic difference, however, is in cargo space.

Not that the Tahoe falls short in this area by any stretch of the imagination, but the Suburban goes from 41.5 to 144.7 cubic feet, depending on how many seats behind the first row are folded.

This large SUV could transport a rock band, their tour manager, plus things like a drum kit, amps, speakers, guitars, and spare leather pants. The Suburban life has its attractions for all sorts of people.

Every new Chevy Suburban comes with roof rails. The lower trims have fixed side steps — power-retractable side steps with perimeter lighting are available in the top two variants.

Starting this section with small details is a gentle way of bringing the 2022 Suburban into the bigger picture. A picture that requires a huge frame. There aren’t many family vehicles bigger than a Tahoe (named as one of KBB’s top family cars of 2021), but the Suburban is one of them, adding a longer body.

Looks-wise, the front end resembles the Silverado pickup, which shares its body-on-frame platform with the Suburban and the Tahoe. This could be a good thing if personal tastes lean that way. Aerodynamics take a third-row seat at best, but that’s not what the Suburban is all about.

RST doesn’t stand for “rock star treatment” but it does go for black exterior elements. The Z71’s front skid plate is shaped in a certain way to optimize approach angles when off-roading. It also offers 10 inches of ground clearance.

INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN
From the cheapest trim to the most expensive, the 2022 Suburban comes with a decent-sized 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. It controls a user-friendly system that has Wi-Fi as standard.

DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER
New this year and standard in all but the base trim, this digital/analog display contributes to the modern feel of this fresh-generation Suburban.

LS trim kicks off the 2022 Suburban range with plenty of standard equipment. This includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, heated side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, remote start, keyless entry/ignition, two 120-volt outlets, 3-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, and a programmable Teen Driver key.

Among the safety features are front/rear parking sensors, rear seat reminder, automatic high beams, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance/lane-departure warning, and trailer sway control.

The infotainment system is controlled by a 10.2-inch touchscreen (the same size is fitted throughout) and includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite radio, six USB ports, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

Impressive, but we think the next-up LT model is a smarter call. It’s eligible for more options, while adding the 12-inch driver’s display, heated front seats (with memory settings for the driver’s side), wireless charging, navigation, 9-speaker Bose audio system, self-dimming rearview mirror, garage door opener, and hands-free tailgate operation.

It’s worth spending the extra $495 for the Driver Alert package that’s optional in the LS, LT, RST and Z71 trims, standard in the Premier and High Country models. It adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which is a boon with a vehicle of this size.

Four-wheel drive and the diesel engine are also available in the LS. Plus 22-inch alloy wheels, and a Max Trailering package that includes extra cooling.

LT can be ordered with those extras as well, while also becoming eligible for a Luxury package that includes a power-adjustable/heated steering wheel, heated outboard second-row seats, power-folding second-row and third-row seats, 360-degree camera system, and a rear Pedestrian Alert. This package applies to the RST and Z71 trims as well.

A new Sport Performance package for the RST brings the 6.2-liter V8, Magnetic Ride Control, and polished stainless steel tips for the dual exhaust system.

The same tips and engine make up the new Off-Road Performance package for the Z71. An additional Off-Road Capability package brings Magnetic Ride Control, adaptive air suspension, and an electronic limited-slip differential.

Up at the almost-top is the Premier trim, packing a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system, heated/ventilated front seats, powered/sliding center console, driver’s-side memory settings, Magnetic Ride Control, and many items in the aforementioned Luxury package.

A Premium package adds adaptive cruise control and a powered panoramic sunroof, while an Enhanced Display and Alert package brings the 360-degree camera system, the digital Rear Camera Mirror, rear pedestrian alert, and a head-up display.

The High Country comes with almost everything as standard, including the bigger V8 and 22-inch alloy wheels. One of the main options is the High Country Deluxe package, including the panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, adaptive air suspension, power-retractable side steps with perimeter lighting, and the Max Trailering bundle.

A twin-screen rear-seat entertainment system is available in all trims from the LT and up.

A 5.3-liter V8 is standard in all versions except the top High Country trim. It develops 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as the default configuration. Four-wheel drive (4WD) is available in each version of the 2022 Suburban, although it’s standard in the Z71 model.

The High Country has a 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine is also available as an option in the three trims directly below: RST, Z71, and Premier.

An alternative offered in every model except for the Z71 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-6 — making the same amount of torque as the 6.2-liter gasoline V8, yet using less fuel.

A 10-speed automatic transmission is employed across the range. The 5.3 V8 uses regular gasoline, the 6.2 runs on premium.

5.3-liter V8
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg (RWD), 14/19 mpg (4WD)

6.2-liter V8
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 mpg (RWD), 14/19 mpg (4WD)

3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6
277 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg (RWD), 20/26 mpg (4WD)