The Suburban is the perfect example of what happens when engineers share the “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality.
Many things have changed in the last couple of decades. But, none more than the way young and old folks interact and communicate. For example, I recently found out that our 13-year-old daughter doesn’t know what a fax machine is or does, yet she masters every kind of app and social media platform like her life depends on it. (She actually thinks it does.)
One thing that hasn’t changed at all, is the way families go places. I’m not talking about far-away vacations, although those play a big role in buying a family vehicle, but I’m referring to everyday driving. You know — school, work, soccer practice, and all that fun stuff. If you have kiddos, chances are you need to haul loads of junk, and possibly a few of their school buddies from time to time.
Much like the minivans that “hip families” hate nowadays, the Chevy Suburban hasn’t changed its recipe to please families across America. Since 1935, the Suburban has offered lots of room, comfortable seats, lots of ac vents, lots of cupholders, and a really big trunk. In order to get with the times and please the modern youth, more power outlets, cupholders, and even entertainment systems have been added throughout the years.
This proves that one must not reinvent the wheel in order to be successful.
Its Size
As we’ve already stated: families need room. The Suburban’s nearly 225” in length may be overkill for some, but completely necessary for others. Its 80” in width, and 74” in height means it has a towering presence on the road, and makes running boards a must-buy for little ones. Equipped with a 5.3L V8 engine, the Suburban is able to tow up to 8,300 pounds with the utmost confidence.
It’s Comfortable
In its simplest form, the Suburban features second and third row bench seats, meaning it can seat up to nine folks. The range-topping Premier model we tested featured two captain chairs in the second row, plus a 60/40-split bench seat in the third. All seating surfaces were wrapped in leather, and the driver, passenger, and second row seats were heated. (Front row seats are also cooled.)
Features Galore
In order to please the most demanding clientele, the 2017 Chevy Suburban features a plethora of standard and optional features.
- Available built-in 4G-LTE Wifi with connectivity for up to seven devices
- Up to 14 power outlets for smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, curling irons, etc.
- 121.7 cu. ft. of cargo room with all seats folded
- 39.3 cu. ft. of trunk space with all seats upright
- Additional insulation in the windows and doors for a quieter ride
- Center console is large enough to fit a laptop
- Power folding second and third row seats
- Available rear entertainment system with double screens, Blu-Ray disc playback, HDMI port, and wireless headphones
- Power retractable running boards
- Adaptive cruise control
Safety
Several accident-avoidance features are available in the 2017 Suburban, such as low speed forward automatic breaking, which can automatically apply the brakes to reduce the severity of a collision, or even avoid it. Of course, simpler safety features like backup camera, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring are also available.
Parents
Just because the Suburban is meant to haul the family, it doesn’t mean parents don’t get a few treats. Our test vehicle came in a sleek black interior with black leather, and gorgeous 22” optional wheels. Furthermore, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto help make every day life easier, while the Suburban’s elegant design give moms and dads something to brag about.
2017 Chevy Suburban 4WD Premier
- Starts at: $49,915
- Price as tested: $77,805
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