1992-1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Road Test

Evolved from GM pickup trucks, full-size Suburbans might be fitted to haul either cargo or passengers. Step-in height is a lot lower than in earlier Suburbans. Even so, it's tough to get in and out from the back because the opening between door pillar and seat is narrow, and step-in height of 4WD Suburbans is still quite tall. Access to the optional third seat demands some serious stooping. Three can easily sit abreast, but there's not as much stretch-out leg room for adults in the back seats as the vehicle's size would suggest. Folding the 70/30 split middle bench is a two-step procedure, and a handy carpeted panel hinges down to create a flat load floor from front seatbacks to the front of the rear-most bench. Unfortunately, the rear bench's seatback does not fold flat. Though it's removable, that seat is heavy and cumbersome. Visibility is fine, from a carlike seating position. Controls are within easy reach, though the climate and radio buttons suffer from a haphazard layout. Cargo space is cavernous and loading is easy, because the load floor is more than two feet off the ground. Acceleration with the early 5.7-liter V8 is only adequate in town, and the transmission is reluctant to downshift. With its extra 50 horsepower, the Vortec gas V8 introduced for 1996 gives the Suburban a much-needed boost. That one is more lively off the line, and teams with an improved transmission to furnish better power for passing and climbing long grades. No longer is it necessary to push the pedal to the floor to induce a downshift. Fuel economy is no bonus, with any engine. Don't expect much more than the miserable 10.7 mpg achieved in mixed driving with a K1500. The big 7.4-liter engine is the choice for truly heavy towing, but most shoppers will be satisfied with a 5.7-liter V8. Suburbans are smooth and capable on the highway. Bumps are absorbed well, with only moderate floating over freeway dips--though turns at any speed are accompanied by noticeable body lean. Simulated panic stops induce pronounced nosedive, and occasionally a bit of rear-wheel lockup (despite the antilock braking system).

Value for the Money
Through the early '90s, Suburbans were virtually unchallenged in the full-size wagon segment. GM's Tahoe/Yukon offers much of the Suburban's brawn in a more manageable size. Still, those two cannot match the Suburban's payload ratings and towing ability. Neither can they seat more than six--a feat that's possible, however, in a Ford Expedition with third-row seating, as well as in a full-size van. Sales declined during 1996, for the first time in this generation. Some potential Suburban buyers evidently gravitated to the smaller Tahoe/Yukon. No rival can match the Suburban's 149.5-cubic-foot cargo capacity. Also, no engine is as powerful as the muscular 7.4-liter V8.