2021 Chevrolet Suburban Premier Diesel 4WD: The Brand’s Powerhouse 9-Seater

Highlight: The Suburban is available with an optional Duramex 277-horsepower engine, which pushes out 460 lb-ft of torque.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $77,370 (Base Price: $57,095)

Seating Capacity: 8 or 9

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a tire pressure monitoring system; rear view camera; a forward collision alert system; a front pedestrian braking system; a rear parking assist system; a hillstart assist system; a stability control system; 17-inch spare tire; rear intermittent wiper; assist interior handles; a teen driver safety system and OnStar

Standard Equipment (LS): 18-inch wheels; a 10-speed automatic transmission; rear wheel drive; an automatic start and stop system; a premium smooth ride suspension system;  a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system; in-car Wi-Fi system; a tri-zone ventilation system; a rear a/c; a cargo management system; a push button ignition system; a keyless door system; a remote start system; cloth seats; power front seats; driver’s seat with lumbar; a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; a leather wrapped steering wheel; a trailer sway system; acoustic laminated glass; black assist side steps; deep tinted glass; a manual liftgate; automatic headlight beams; heavy duty 800 cold cranking amps battery; automatic rain sensing wipers; carpeted floor covering; carpeted floor mats; illuminated first row vanity mirrors; and manual 60/40 third-row bench seat

Standard Equipment (Premier): 20-inch wheels; navigation system; 220-amp alternator; 3:23 rear axle ratio; 7,500 GVWR; automatic emergency braking; external auxiliary transmission of cooler; external engine oil cooler; magnetic ride control system; mechanical limited-slip rear differential; bright roof-mounted side rails; handsfree power liftgate; upper active aero shutters;  12-power front seats; memory setting seats; leather seats; an automatic heated steering wheel; a 10-speaker BOSE audio system;  an electronic precision shift system; a following distance indicator; heated and ventilated first row seats; heated second-row seats; lane change alert with side blind zone alert system; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; power split folding third-row seats; a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; power release second-row bucket seats; a rear cross traffic alert system; safety alert seat;

Options: a power panoramic sunroof; a radar activated cruise control; enhanced emergency automatic braking; a rear pedestrian alert system; rear camera mirror washer; multicolor Heads Up Display (HUD); trailering brake controller; hitch guidance with hitch view; a rear seat media system; Duramax turbo diesel engine; power sliding center

Other Trim Levels:

LT

RST

Z71

High Country

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a 6-speaker audio system with AM/FM/HD with SiriusXM

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years or 100,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 5.3-liter, 8-cylinder engine/355-hp

Towing Capacity:  8,300 lbs

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Standard Fuel Mileage 2WD: 16-city/20-hwy

What’s New:  The brand’s three-row SUV has been reworked inside and out for the 2021 model year.

Why: 

Seating for up to 9, depending upon second row seats

Three engine choices: two eight cylinders and one diesel

The cost to add the diesel engine is less than $1,000 – this is a steal!!

A fuel-efficient turbo diesel available, allowing maximum towing power

Diesel engine offers best in class mileage: 21-city/27-highway

Trailing capabilities max out an 8,300 lbs

An optional tire pressure and temperature sensors

Built-in wi-fi

Maximum cargo of 144.7 cubic feet

A radar activated cruise control – only available on top trims

22-inch wheels on available on higher level trims

An available 15-inch HUD (Heads Up Display)

Best in class second-row leg room

Best in class cargo volume

Easy to access roomy third-row seats

Even with all of the passenger seats in use, there is still room behind the third-row seat for storage

Almost a self-driving SUV, depending on features

 

But: 

Its a lot of vehicle to navigate … thank God for the back up camera

The seating is too firm, when compared to the Expedition Max.

Even with magnetic ride control system the vehicle still drives like a truck.

Verdict:  The newly restyled Suburban is basically the extended version of Chevy’s popular Tahoe. The full body on frame SUV is a direct competitor to Ford’s Expedition Max. Chevy’s fullsize SUV rides on a rear wheel drive or a four-wheel drive configuration.

In fact, the Suburban offers three engine choices, while the Expedition Max only offers one, which is a 6-cylinder gasoline engine.

When compared to the Ford Expedition Max, the Suburban offers a diesel engine. With the diesel engine, the Suburban gains a slight increase in fuel mileage and a longer driving range, before the vehicle lands on empty, according to fueleconomy.gov.

Moreover, when comparing the base price of both the Chevy and the Ford, the Expedition Max has a starting price out the gate, which is literally $3,000 more than the Suburban. Ironically, while the Chevy has a lot of items in its favor, the Ford rides and drive more like a car-based crossover than a truck, although the vehicle is built on a truck frame just like the Chevy.

Lastly, the Suburban is available in a variety of trims and technological enhancements. The all-new Suburban gives the Expedition Max, which lacks an off road package a run for the money and another option for consumers seeking a full frame extended SUV for hauling, towing and the like.

Competition:  Ford Expedition Max and GMC Yukon XL