The Chevy Suburban is one of the biggest SUVs currently on the market. Some say it got its name because you can fit an entire suburb in it. While a convincing tale, the name truly comes from a term used to refer to station wagon-like vehicles. Chevy debuted the vehicle in 1933 during the beginning of The Great Depression, making it Chevy’s oldest model. Ever since its introduction, the Suburban has been a hit amongst consumers and car enthusiasts alike. The SUV has 80 years’ worth of engineering and innovation. The Suburban has seen many changes over the decades; the body has gone from being made out of wood to being made out of steel and plastic. There have been 12 generations of revisions, adjustments, and upgrades. Each advancement since its creation has led up to the modern 2023 Chevy Suburban.
Built for Families
One thing that hasn’t changed much since the Suburban’s first iteration is its large size. Ever since 1933, the Chevy Suburban has remained one of the largest SUVs on the market. The biggest appeal to these vehicles is that they are massive transportation machines. It did not get the nickname of the Suburban for nothing. The vehicle was designed when American morale was at an all-time low and the country was in the midst of an economic depression. People were focused less on materialism and more on spending time with loved ones. This perspective impacted what people wanted out of their products. Thus, the Suburban was born to be one of the largest capacity SUVs.
The 2023 Chevy Suburban is no slouch when it comes to capacity. That capability isn’t going anywhere. It comfortably seats eight people, with plenty of cargo space. Thanks to its new rear suspension, the back passengers have ample legroom. Both the second and third-row passengers will be able to ride comfortably. This makes the Suburban a must-have as a family vehicle. It will be able to carry the kids, their friends, and their sports equipment all at once.
Flexible Cargo Space
Older generations of the Suburban lacked a feature that seems nearly unthinkable to a modern SUV––they did not have folding rear seats. Instead, the third-row seats were completely removable. This was changed in 2015 with the addition of the 11th generation Suburban. This would also be the first time the SUV featured power-folding rear seats for added convenience. It was not just the third row, but also the second row! Compared to many of its competitors, this feature was an exclusive one. Folding seats from then on would become a standard trait in later models
Folding rear seats make the 2023 Chevy Suburban a good luggage carrier. With both rows of seats up, the trunk space is a spacious 41.5 cu.ft. It can store a drink cooler for a beach trip, along with everyone’s personal bags, with more than enough room to spare. With the third-row seats folded, the cargo space doubles in size to 93.8 cu.ft. With both rows of rear seats folded down, there is a total of 144.7 cu.ft. That is what one might call free real estate in the form of a vehicle. It allows the Suburban to function as a capable hauler, able to accommodate large items like bookshelves and refrigerators with ease.
Diesel Power
The 2021 model year was the beginning of the latest generation (the 12th). This generation includes many features that were absent in earlier models and introduced some much-needed ad-ons. One of the major criticisms about the Suburban (and most large vehicles) is its fuel efficiency. The 2023 model gets 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway with its standard 5.3L V8 engine. As gas prices continue to increase, this can turn some away from the Suburban. With the 12th generation, Chevy included a 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6 engine option. This increases the fuel efficiency of the SUV to 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. For those who are turned away from gas guzzlers, this might be the engine of choice. It still falls slightly short of the average vehicle’s MPG, but compared to other SUVs of its size, the 2023 Suburban does a good job.
Super Cruise Technology
A much-needed fuel-efficient powerplant isn’t the only thing the 12th generation Suburban included. It also added numerous standard safety features that were previously only present in more expensive packages. These items include front and rear ultrasonic sensors to assist with parking, warning you when the Suburban gets too close to obstacles or other vehicles. Fitting this behemoth into tight spaces requires all the extra help that comes standard with the vehicle. In addition to that, it has lane departure warning and lane keep assist. While it might be daunting to get used to the big size of the SUV, these features are bound to make it easier to manage.
The biggest addition to the new 2023 Chevy Suburban is Super Cruise, the world’s first true hands-free driving technology. While present in some older Chevy products, such as the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV, 2023 will be the first year that Super Cruise is an option in the Suburban as well. While it is not quite fully self-driving, this feature is far more advanced than standard cruise control or even adaptive cruise control. Super Cruise is a highway driver that will control the vehicle’s steering and speed, all hands-free! The system has detailed lidar maps that it references to navigate over 200,000 miles of highways across North America.
Super Cruise does more than just drive in a single lane. It is highly advanced and can make lane changes on the road with the flick of a turn signal. Before changing lanes, it will automatically check to see if the way is clear, keeping you safe. Additionally, Super Cruise will maintain its speed relative to the traffic; if there is a car in front, the system will adapt itself to the proper speed. Being stuck in highway traffic, while still boring, becomes slightly less tedious. No need to constantly fidget with going and stopping––Super Cruise will do it for you. All it requires from you is your attention.
Seriously, you have to keep your eyes on the road with this feature. Super Cruise has sensors on the wheel that will monitor the driver. If the driver takes their eyes off of the road for too long, the system will warn you to look by flashing lights that turn from green to blue, to red. When it changes to red, the seat will vibrate, and the Super Cruise will shut off. The system forces users to be diligent as a safety precaution.
The Suburban Has Come a Long Way
The Chevy Suburban has come a long way since its first model. Initially, it was created in 1933 for a generation of people who cared about transporting family, loved ones, and cargo. And while the 2023 Suburban is still up for those tasks, it is better than ever before. Since its inception, the Suburban has remained in the public sphere for decades as one of the biggest full-size SUVs. Every new generation has managed to include a feature that would become standard for the model.
