With many automobile manufacturers offering their full-size SUVs in the market, Chevrolet, in 2020, has offered a big answer to these manufacturers out there, in the form of its new Suburban. With over 8 decades into its existence, the Suburban has always been not just a car, but like a family member for many American families.
An SUV which still retains its fundamental ideas, on which it was built, comes back in its new avatar. With a ton of space in it to accommodate up to 9 passengers along with great cargo capacity and a mammoth like towing capacity, the new Suburban stands like a big mountain against its competitors.
Though this car is new, it still continues its legacy with its utilitarian nature embedded deep within its DNA and drives so grandly with all the road manners in it, and stands as a perfect car for many big families and executives who love to look classy and sassy at the same time.
Gas pedal feels lazy and makes the base engine feel weaker
Needs bigger parking space
What's New?
New RST performance packs come with optional 6.2-Liter V8
10-speed automatic transmission with optional 6.2-Liter V8
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$52995
bodystyle
4dr SUV
passenger capacity
8
drivetrain
rear wheel drive
engine type
displacement
325
horsepower
355 hp @ 5600 rpm
torque
383 lbs.-ft. @ 4100 rpm
transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
chassis
suspension front
Independent front short and long arm suspension
suspension rear
Rigid axle rear multi-link suspension
dimensions
wheelbase
130 in.
length
224.4 in.
width
80.5 in.
height
74.4 in.
curb weight
5586 lbs.
ground clearance
7.9 in.
capacity
cargo volume
121.7 cu ft.
maximum towing capacity
8300
payload
1690
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
15/18/22 mpg
highway range
682.0 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
3 yr./ 36000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
5 yr./ 60000 mi.
corrosion warranty
6 yr. /100000 mi.
roadside assistance
Yes
Pictures
exterior
interior
Trims
LS $52,995 onwards
355 hp @ 5600 rpm | 5.3 L | V-8 | flex-fuel (unleaded)
LT $57,795 onwards
355 hp @ 5600 rpm | 5.3 L | V-8 | flex-fuel (unleaded)
Premier $66,795 onwards
355 hp @ 5600 rpm | 5.3 L | V-8 | flex-fuel (unleaded)
Colors and Styles
Black
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Features
8.0
Engine And Performance
7.6
Fuel Economy
3.0
Interior
7.9
6.6
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
6.6
Overall Rating
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.
8.0/10 Features
7.6/10 Engine and Performance
3.0/10 Fuel Economy
7.9/10 Interior
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Features
8.0/10
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.
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Engine and Performance
7.6/10
“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
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Fuel Economy
3.0/10
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
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Interior
7.9/10
“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 3rd-row seats are folded down and when 2nd-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.
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Exterior
“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
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Safety
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
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Competition
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.
2020 Chevrolet Suburban Final Verdict
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.