It's big, it's bad and it knows it. What a combination, right? Well, it is the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban and in my case I drove the four-wheel drive half ton LTZ version. Needless to say people did see me coming. Even better, in the right trim configuration you can also haul as many as eight of your closest friends.
The Suburban offers excellent towing, cargo space and a passenger load and you can actually hear everyone inside the vehicle talking since the ride is quiet too.
The 2016 Chevrolet Suburban is not messing around with a crossover moniker, this one is pure full-size SUV. There are three rows that are quite comfortable and even more room behind the third row if you need it.
The competition in the full-size SUV market includes the Lincoln Navigator, Ford Expedition and the Toyota Sequoia. Of course, there are also a few large crossovers, but in this market it is not the same.
There are three trim levels for the Chevrolet Suburban the LS, LT and the top-of-the-line luxurious LTZ. In some seat configurations you can only fit eight versus nine, but with the front bench in the LS you can get nine passengers or the captain's chair configuration only makes room for seven passengers.
The base LS has 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, roof rails, rear parking sensors and the heated folding mirrors. You can remote start the Suburban and once inside behind the wheel you have power front seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel and for safety a rearview camera. Conveniences run from the 110-volt power outlet to the OnStar system as well as the Chevrolet MyLink and five USB ports.
To upgrade the base trim opt for the Driver Alert package with safety goodies that are as diverse as power-adjustable pedals, lane-departure warning and a vibrating warning seat. There is also a Max Trailer package for heavy duty hauling needs.
On the LT you get the base and the Driver Alert goodies as well as a power lift gate, leather inside and heated front seats.
The Luxury Package comes extra on the LT with fog lights, parking sensors, a hands-free power lift gate and folding mirrors as well as a heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats. The second and third row seats power fold down and a Sun, Entertainment and Destinations package is what it sounds like, a navigation, sunroof and entertainment system addition that means you never even have to get out of your SUV. The extra Z71 Off-Road package means you can even navigate the apocalypse with 18-inch wheels and off-road tires, skid plates, tow hooks and hill descent.
For the LTZ you get everything from the LT with the Luxury package included as well as unique trim, bigger wheels, adaptive magnetic suspension and not only heated, but also air conditioned front seats. The high-end LTZ can also add the Sun, Entertainment and Destinations package or the Max Trailer package, in this case with 22-inch wheels and retractable running boards.
Under the hood the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban is a six-speed automatic with a 5.3-liter V8 offering 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. You can choose from two or four wheel drive models too.
This Chevrolet comes well equipped with a trailer hitch and you can tow up to 6,300 pounds with the two-wheel-drive and 6,000 pounds with the four-wheel drive. Don't forget about that Max Trailering package because that will give you another 2,000 pounds for towing.
The safety equipment includes the standard antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side and full-length side curtain airbags. The rearview camera, rear parking sensors and all the OnStar system goodies also come standard. If that is still not enough you can add features like front parking sensors, forward collision alert, lane-departure warning and even blind-spot monitoring.
I don't need to tell you the Chevrolet Suburban is big, but it is comfortable too and that's both as the driver or passenger. You get a luxurious feel inside with good quality material and depending on the trim there is high-end leather to make you feel like royalty. The knobs and dials are easy to use and it's easy to see what you need to do during day or night driving and the infotainment screen is eight inches. With all the seats in use you still have 38.9 cubic feet and when you remove the third row you get 76.7 cubic feet or with both the second and third seats folded down it's a big 121.1 cubic feet worth of space for hauling.
The Suburban is an easy drive, quiet, composed, strong and you will not want for power when you push the accelerator for more speed. I can get behind a vehicle I feel safe driving and there is likely nothing I wouldn't feel comfortable doing in the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. For the apocalypse you've got a friend with the Suburban, for powerful driving you are going to feel very at easy in this luxurious beast.
Miles Per Gallon: On the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD LTZ I drove the miles per gallon came in at 15 in the city and 22 on the highway.
Cost: The price tag on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD LTZ I drove was $72,735.
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