2020 Chevrolet Suburban

An upgrade that refreshed everything for this aging SUV from its driving dynamics to minor details, it really carves its own niche in the industry. With massive dimensions and numbers on outside and inside of this SUV, it really looks like a giant from the past, still roaming on the face of the Earth. As a big, capable and roomy SUV, the car still reserves the fun in it. With a big driving position, that makes everything around it look small, the new ‘burban takes the driving experience to another level. Let’s find out if the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban can give a tough competition to its competitors.

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban comes in 3 trims, LS, LT, and PREMIER. The new suburban starts at a price of $52,095 and goes up to $69,795 for the topmost variant. The car comes equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard and an optional 10-speed automatic transmission with the Premier variant when Optional RST performance package is chosen.

Though the car comes pretty much loaded with many features, the upper trims get additional options and features which adds to the overall value of the car. The LS trim comes with all of the standard features. The LT trim comes bundled with leather-appointed seats and some other additional features. Finally, the PREMIER trim comes bundled with all of the advanced safety and luxury features at par with its rivals.

Trim	LS	LT	PREMIER
MSRP 2WD	$52,095	$57,095	$66,795
MSRP 4WD	$55,095	$60,095	$69,795
Key Features	Rear vision camera	Leather-appointed seats	Magnetic ride control
	Fold flat second and third-row seats	Heated front bucket seats with memory	Keyless entry with push-button start
	LED daytime running lamps	Power liftgate	Memory power tilt and telescoping steering column
	Remote vehicle starter system	Lane keep assist with lane departure	Rear cross traffic alert
	Rear park assist	Forward collision alert	20” aluminum wheels
	Chevrolet infotainment system with 8” touchscreen	Bose premium 9-speaker sound system	Optional 6.2L V8 with 10-speed A/T in RST performance pack

The base variation offers numerous highlights which would make many buyers fulfilled. The higher trims offer some extra highlights ranging from extra security components to increasingly premium highlights.

We recommend – To get the most out of your money, we recommend the LT variant as it offers a perfect combination of great features like Bose premium sound system, forward collision alert and great interior features like leather-appointed seats and heated front bucket seats to make the ride more comfortable.

“GM’s new direct-injected, gen-five 5.3-liter V-8 provides 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 35 horsepower and 48 lb-ft over the outgoing Suburban’s port-injected 5.3-liter V-8” – Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission-

Under the hood, the ‘burban comes with a big 5.3L V8 that churns out a decent 355 hp with 383 lb-ft of torque. All of the trims come with this engine as standard, but the topmost trim gets the luxury of an optional 6.2L V8 engine that produces a massive 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

It shares its 5.3L V8 engine with its brother from another mother, the GMC Yukon XL as they both have similar power output and torque. The burbling V8 engine feels heavy and lively and produces a great amount of thrust which makes it a decent performer among its rivals.

Models	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
MSRP	$55,095	$59,220	$50,100	$56,695
Engine	5.3L EcoTec3 V8	3.5L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.6L V8	5.3L V8
Transmission	6 Speed Automatic	10 Speed Automatic	7 Speed Automatic	6 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	355 hp@5600rpm	375hp@5000rpm	390hp@5800 rpm	355hp@5600rpm
Torque (lb-ft)	383 @4100rpm	470 @3500rpm	394 @4000rpm	383 @4100rpm

When compared to its rivals, the suburban share its power output with its brother, the Yukon and finishes at the last. Nissan Armada SV takes the pole position as it has the highest amount of power output of 390 hp, making it the most powerful SUV among its rivals. The Expedition follows it and finishes at second place with 375 hp under its hood.

The Suburban comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard, but gets an option for a 10-speed automatic with a more powerful engine in the Premier trim, along with the RST performance package.

Acceleration-

The powerful V8 manages to churn out enough torque to make this car reach 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. But when compared to its competitors, the car feels quite slow as Nissan Armada takes just 6.5 seconds to reach 60 mph, because of the big engine under its hood.

Models	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
0-60 MPH	7.1 sec	6.7 sec	6.5	6.8 sec
Quarter mile	15.5 sec	15.1 sec	15	16.7 sec
Engine	5.3L EcoTec3 V8	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	5.6L V8	5.3L V8 Gas
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	9.2	N/A	11	N/A

With around 6000 pounds on its chassis, the car manages to pull itself very well. The gas pedal feels slightly hard but is responsive. Though this giant SUV is not meant to be taken to a drag strip or a track, the SUV manages to cover the ¼ mile distance in just 15.5 seconds, making it a bit slower than the Expedition (15.1 sec), with Armada (15 sec) taking the pole position and Yukon (16.7 sec) finishing at last.

Braking-

Considering mammoth like dimensions of the Suburban, the braking performance is not like any sedan or sports car but manages to outperform its rivals by covering the least distance to come to a complete standstill from 60 mph.

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
Brake Front (in.)	N/A	13.9	13.8”	13
Brake Rear (in.)	N/A	13.6	13.8”	13.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5808	5815	5822	5846
60-0 MPH (ft.)	121	133	N/A	125

The Suburban comes to a halt in just 121 ft. closely followed by the Yukon, taking just 125 ft to come to a complete standstill. The Expedition covers the most distance of 133 ft to come to a halt.

Ride and Handling-

The SUV handles its weight very well and is barely felt while driving. The ride feels smooth and light though,at corners, it struggles to maintain its pace at high speed when compared to its competitors. Overall ride quality is quite cool, smooth and light and rolls really well with negligible body roll.

The steering column is quite is soft, thereby making the vehicle easy to handle. While off-roading, the articulation in the suspension system is considerable and can be felt. The cabin feels quiet and comfortable while riding on the interstate. Optional RST package adds magnetic ride suspension that increases the quality of the ride even more and makes it even better.

Towing Capacity-

A typical full-size SUV is expected to tow somewhere around 9000 lbs. the Expedition manages to this much and takes the crown with the highest towing capacity of 9000 lbs. The Armada follows it closely with 8500 lbs and comes at second place. The Yukon takes the third place followed by the suburban finishing at the last with just 8000 lbs of towing capacity.

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
Engine	5.3L	3.5L	3.5L	5.3L
Drive Train	4WD	4WD	4WD	4WD
Capacity (lbs.)	8000	9000	8500	8100

Whether driven on the city roads or on the interstate, the Suburban shares its fuel economy stats with its brother Yukon. Ford Expedition gives a great mileage of 16 and 21 in the city and highway respectively. The Armada has the least mileage and so it lands at the end of the pack.

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
MPG (city)	14	16	13	14
MPG (highway)	21	21	18	21
MPG (combined)	16	18	15	16
Range (miles) (city/highway)	434/651	453/594	338/468	434/651
Tank Capacity (gal)	26.0	28.3	26.0	31.0

“The first two rows are comfortable, with ample head- and legroom for most adults. The third row can hold adults in reasonable comfort for short trips. The second row does not slide, but it reclines” – cars.usnews.com

Seating and Comfort-

With gigantic doors, when opened, reveal big and spacious seats that can accommodate up to 9 passengers with ease. While on paper, the SUV looks very spacious and has similar interior dimensions as that of the Yukon, the Suburban feels more roomy and comfortable. With a great combination of quiet interiors and spacious cabin, the ride becomes really comfortable even when driven on a harsh surface.

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
Passenger capacity	8	8	8	8
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	42.8/64.8/45.3	42.0/64.9/43.9	40.9/63.8/41.9	42.8/64.8/45.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.1/65.1/39.7	40/64.8/41.5	40.0/63.4/41.0	39.1/65.1/39.7
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/62.6/34.5	37.4/64.3/36.1	36.4/60.5/28.4	38.5/62.6/34.5

The upper trims get some additional interior features that make the ride even more comfortable like heated and ventilated front seats with heated second-row seats and even a heated steering wheel. Though overall the interiors are spacious, the third can become a little cramped for the adults. 

Infotainment-

With a simple layout and having everything lined up on it perfectly, systematically and in reach of the driver, the dashboard looks quite minimalist and the upper trims also get an optional rear seat entertainment system.

The standard variant comes equipped with a host of features to make the ride fun-filled and keep the occupants entertained. All of the trims come with a standard 8” touchscreen along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and other features. The LT model comes with all of these features along with a high-end Bose premium 9-speaker sound system. The PREMIER variant comes equipped with Bose Surround sound 10-speaker system along with factory fitted GPS navigation system.

Cargo space-

With an insane amount of cargo space that Suburban offers, it really outperformers its rivals and definitely becomes the perfect choice for a big family on a long road trip. The cargo capacity increases to an insane 76.7 cu.ft. when the 3^rd-row seats are folded down and when 2^nd-row seats are also folded down, the cargo space increases to 121.7 cu.ft.

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	39.3	34.3	16.5	39.3

When compared to its rivals, the Suburban gives a great amount of boot space and shares its crown with the Yukon. The Expedition comes at second with 34.3 cu.ft. of cargo space. Finally, the Armada finishes at the last with the least boot space of just 16.5 cu.ft.

“With blacked-out SUV trend certainly popping off these days; much like GMC's Black Editions, the RST leans into it with dark trim replacing chrome bits across the body. Slather on a coat of black paint and you're left with an intimidating beast that'd look right at home running point for the president's Beast” – The Drive

Dimension and Weight-

The 2020 suburban comes with a boxy and muscular looking body that looks sleek yet muscular. A car with has enormous size, looks really big on the city roads when compared to smaller cars and sedans.

Chevy’s giant rolls on a large 130” wheelbase that makes most of its rivals feel small. With its overall length much larger than its competitors out there, the suburban looks like a giant roaming on the streets. 

Model	Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD	Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD	Nissan Armada SV 4WD	GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE
Curb weight (lbs.)	5808	5815	5822	5846
Length(in)	224.4	221.9	208.9	224.4
Width(in)	80.5	83.6	79.9	80.5
Height(in)	74.4	76.2	75.8	74.4
Ground clearance (in)	7.9	9.7	9.1	7.9
Wheelbase (in)	130	131.6	121.1	130
Track width (in) F/R	68.8/68.7	64.9/64.7	67.5/67.9	68.7/68.7

When compared to its rivals, the ‘burban shares almost all of its stats with the Yukon and is also a bit lighter than the Yukon. The Armada is the shortest car with Ford expedition leading it.

Exterior Features-

With a price like this, the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban doesn’t disappoint as it offers a great array of exterior features which prove their practicality in real life. Some of the external features include –

• 18” aluminum wheels
• Spare tire carrier lock
• Active aero shutters
• Black colored assist steps
• Black roof-mounted side rails
• Heated power outside mirrors
• Deep tinted glass
• Solar absorbing windshield
• Rainsense automatic wipers

When it comes to safety, the Suburban offers great safety features to make the car and the occupants feel safe at all times. The SUV also gets strong scores from NHTSA which increases the reliability of the vehicle.

Following are some of the safety features –

• StabiliTrak
• Electronic stability control with traction control
• Daytime running lamps
• 7 airbags
• Front onboard passengers sensing system
• OnStar & Chevrolet connected services
• Rear vision camera
• LATCH system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Warning tones

Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD v/s Ford Expedition Max XLT 4WD

The Ford Expedition, when pitted against the Chevy, gives it a tough competition in almost all of the segments. Be it Fuel economy, towing capacity or power, the Ford expedition gives a tough completion to its rival. The only thing that makes the Suburban a great car is that it gives most of the features with a cheaper price tag than the Expedition. Though both the SUV’s are great, the Suburban gets an edge as it has slightly beefed up dimensions than the Expedition, which makes it a worthy option. 

Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD v/s Nissan Armada SV 4WD

Whether it’s the price or performance or towing capacity, the Suburban gets a tough completion from the Armada. Toyota has offered its full-size SUV at a competitive price with a great array of features in it. But even with all those big numbers and great stuff, the Armada lacks at cargo space and fuel economy that makes it less practical as spending an extra $5000 can get you hooked up to a great SUV that can really perform well and can take on anything without breaking a sweat.

Chevrolet Suburban LS 4WD v/s GMC Yukon XL 4WD SLE

Brothers from another mother, both the SUV’s are almost identical under the skin but above it, they are from 2 different brands. With almost everything similar, from performance to the interior and exterior dimensions, the ball falls into the court of the buyer to choose what suits the driving style. 

The Chevy offers 3 trims in the latest iteration of the Suburban with a 5.3 L V-8 engine as standard for all the trims. If you are looking for something which is both luxurious and affordable and produces a decent amount of power, then the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is for you.

Luxury and practicality don’t always command a cheaper price tag, sometimes you have to bend the rules and Chevrolet has done the same thing with its Suburban. They are offering a great array of features along with a great engine and transmission combination which makes this car a complete bang for its buck. There might be other rivals out there surpassing this car, but with what Chevrolet is offering this car, the suburban really stands out.