The Chevy Suburban, a name that's been around since 1934, holds the impressive title of the longest-running nameplate in automotive history. This iconic vehicle even earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019, thanks to its appearances in over 1,700 films. Renowned for its utility, durability, and spacious interior, the Suburban continues to be a popular choice for those seeking a reliable used vehicle. Its long-lasting value and truck-like sturdiness, combined with a covered cargo area, make it a standout SUV.
Originally introduced as the Suburban Carryall, the vehicle's name has been shortened over the years while its size has grown from a station wagon-style vehicle to a full-size SUV. Today’s Chevy Suburban is among the largest in its class, offering extensive cargo space and passenger seating. Now in its twelfth generation, each iteration of the Suburban has added new features, making it the exceptional vehicle it is today.
From one of the earliest sheet metal-sided vehicles in the 1930s, the Suburban has evolved to include four-wheel drive, rear-seat heaters and air conditioning, disc brakes on all four wheels, coil springs, torsion bars, and a front independent suspension. It remains one of the only SUVs to offer three-row bench seats, accommodating up to nine passengers comfortably.
People in Lexington, Louisville, Winchester, and Cynthiana often seek out the Chevy Suburban for its:
With its renowned popularity for recreation, the Suburban also gained interest from military and government outfits for both fleet use and armored transport for officials, going all the way back to the Suburban’s second-generation. More recent generations have come to be used for police vehicles, EMS and fire station vehicles, and FBI transport. With so much notoriety, the Suburban is a favorite vehicle of Americans who want the space for passengers and cargo while enjoying the full benefits of a rugged SUV.
In the last decade, the Suburban has gone through some intense upgrades, especially when you consider how much technology has changed in such a short time. If we look back to 2010, the top-tier LTZ trim had some great features that are still considered extras on many vehicles today. Even in that year, you had the option of rain-sensing wipers and power-folding second-row seats.
The best feature that year, though, was the active fuel management system, which reduced the number of cylinders in use while driving to save on gas consumption. For such a big rig as the Suburban, it helped make the gas mileage better, but you could still tow up to 9,500 pounds with the right equipment and the more powerful engine. This helpful fuel-saving technology was an excellent advancement, and fuel economy has only gotten better as the years go on.
In 2012, Suburbans could be equipped with the Bose Surround-Sound audio system in either the LT or LTZ models. This system tied into the infotainment system, which also came with wireless headphones, remote game plug-in, and realistic sound quality that caters to audiophiles who love music. Systems like this paved the way for the advanced sound systems and wireless smartphone connectivity we have now.
While music may have been on the menu for some, safety is a bigger focus for others. Arriving in 2013, OnStar became a regular tech addition in Suburbans across all trim levels as a service that allowed drivers to call for emergency assistance whenever they needed help. It also meant the system would automatically call for emergency services in case of an accident and would automatically unlock the doors so first responders could access the vehicle to help passengers in need.
2015 brought a full redesign to the Suburban, which included magnetic ride control only found on the LTZ trim at that time. With this new technology, the truck-like bouncing in the cabin changed to a more car-like and pleasant ride. Suddenly, the Suburban took on a more plush, luxurious feel on the road, no doubt lending itself even more to the luxury crowd.
In 2016, Chevy included the Driver Alert package of safety features as optional for the entry-level LS trim and standard for the upper two. It included a safety alert seat, lane departure warning and prevention, forward collision alert, automatic high beams (now known as Intellibeam), and power-adjustable pedals. For 2017, driver’s seat memory takes the cake as standard equipment on the mid-level trim, particularly for anyone who must share a vehicle with a driver who is much taller or shorter than you are. The ease of getting into the seat that remembers your settings could be considered one of the best creations in the auto industry, as it both saves time and keeps couples much happier.
Once we arrive at the newest Suburban in 2021, we are faced with a whole new machine. It’s hard to choose one particular feature as the best, but certainly, having an Alexa on board will be a game-changer. From home to car and car to home, your Alexa can transfer all your music, shopping lists, reminders, and even navigate you to the places you need to go. When heading home, Alexa can turn on the lights and open the garage, or when you’re still getting ready at home, it can start the car. The possibilities are virtually limitless.
If you’re looking to purchase a used Chevy Suburban, the year with the best value for your money is the 2017 LT trim equipped with the Sun, Entertainment, and Destinations package. The LT will fit up to eight passengers and has a long list of safety features like rear parking sensors, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, teen driver, and rear-seat reminder. The addition of the package will include the rear-seat entertainment system with a Blu-Ray player, a sunroof, and navigation, among other amenities. This is the best year to purchase if your goal is to keep your kids entertained with DVDs in the back seat.
With the folding rear seats in the 2017 Suburban, you also gain under-floor storage when the seats are in use, so the cargo space is larger than it may seem. You will also have plenty of the other technology features like the infotainment system loaded with Chevy MyLink, charging stations in all three rows, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more. Even better, you gain a trailer hitch receiver with wiring if you plan to tow a trailer up to 8,300 pounds.
For families looking for the most seating, any model year in the last decade can provide you with that coveted nine-passenger seating if you’re willing to buy the entry-level trim. Only the LS trim offers the option of choosing the bench seats in all three rows, but even the entry-level trim has plenty to offer in terms of luxury and desirable features, regardless of the year. The Suburban is a high-end vehicle that typically offers high-end options for any buyer. If you’re looking for the most cargo space, on the other hand, you want to go back to models before 2015.
When the Suburban was redesigned in 2015, it lost cargo space due to the inclusion of the rear folding seats, though the under-floor storage gains space when the seats are in use. Then again, if your goal is to have the ultimate amount of space regardless of the year or the price, you could spring for the new 2021 Suburban, which boasts a whopping 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space when all the seats are folded down. That’s the size of a tiny house. You could probably live in the back of your vehicle if you prefer the roving van life.