Used 2020 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban remains a staple of big families everywhere. Its massive interior, sturdy construction and powerful V8 engine make it the ideal do-it-all full-size SUV.

With an all-new Suburban scheduled to arrive in 2021, this 11th-generation giant is beginning to show its age, failing to meet the standard horsepower, towing and fuel economy of the newer Ford Expedition Max. Then again, Ford has nothing to match the Suburban’s available 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8.

Still, as no one else other than GMC and Cadillac builds an SUV with similar dimensions, the Suburban isn’t too worried. From its handsome, clean exterior to its downright plush accommodations, there’s a reason Suburban families return to Chevy dealerships time and time again.

Despite its vast size, the 2020 Chevy Suburban is an impressive vehicle both on long stretches of highway and curving mountain roads. It’s not a sports car by any means, but Chevrolet’s masterful working of the Suburban’s suspension, engine and transmission combine to create a 3-ton SUV that rides and handles very much like a large luxury sedan, albeit with a bit more height and a lot more weight.

Rounding tight curves at medium-to-high speeds produces minimal lean and roll, and the Suburban’s steering feels tight and direct, with just the right amount of weight applied to the thick-rimmed steering wheel. The Premier Plus Edition and RST Edition Performance Package employ magnetically adjustable shocks capable of adjusting to varying road conditions in a fraction of a second.

The standard Suburban is pulled by an impressive 5.3-liter V8 good for 355 horsepower and a respectable 23-mpg highway fuel-economy rating, while the Premier Plus Edition and RST Edition Performance Package elevates both power and performance, delivering 420 horsepower through an advanced 10-speed automatic transmission.

Chevy’s 2020 Suburban may be a family hauling machine, but that doesn’t mean its interior has to be boring. Even the base LS has a handsome dash, wide comfortable seats and plenty of cool features. Fit-and-finish is first-rate, and little touches like reclining rear seats make long trips a bit more comfortable. The third row can actually accommodate two adults, but for long journeys it’s still best to put the kids back there.

We do wish the 2nd-row seats could slide fore and aft, and that there was some kind of vented window for those farthest back, but A/C vents throughout the cabin are a big help. The Suburban’s cargo floor is slightly elevated to accommodate the folding 3rd-row seat, but it does feature a handy hidden storage space beneath.

The Suburban’s exterior shares nothing of design or components with its Silverado pickup-truck counterpart. Chevy’s exterior designers had a lot of space at their disposal and used it well; this big SUV has a presence that is decidedly commanding. Long, flowing lines emphasize the Suburban’s considerable length instead of hiding it, and the broad front face owns the traffic lane. Dimensionally, the 2020 Suburban is about the same size as all those versions of years past, but then, when you’re talking about full-size SUVs, an inch here or there doesn’t make much of a difference.

SUPERB INTERIOR
The 2020 Chevy Suburban’s interior leaves nothing to be desired, especially on the upper Premier Plus and RST Editions. The wide seats are supportive on long trips, and there’s plenty of head- and legroom in all three rows, plus a pretty big cargo area even with the 3rd-row seat in place.

REAR-SEAT REMINDER
This simple feature might also be one of the most important on the Suburban’s long list of safety equipment. Simply put, Rear Seat Reminder alerts the driver to remember to check the rear seat for pets or children before exiting the vehicle.

Standard on all Suburbans is the 5.3-liter V8 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and a cavernous interior. The base-level LS trim has cloth seats, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and the standard Chevrolet MyLink 8-inch diagonal touch screen that includes Bluetooth streaming audio, apps and other features.

The mid-range LT trim has forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and the availability of features not offered on the LS.

The Premier models add rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot alerts, up-level audio, heated and cooled seats, programmable power liftgate, 20-inch wheels and a boatload of other items.

The Suburban’s available-equipment list is extensive. Order the LS trim level with the front bench seat and Chevy’s biggest can haul nine people to the movies. Any trim can be equipped with the Driver Alert Package that adds low-speed forward automatic braking, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, driver-alert seat and power-adjustable pedals.

For the LT version, we like the exceptionally comprehensive Luxury Package that adds many of the Premier’s luxury touches, and the Sun, Entertainment and Destinations Package that bundles navigation, a Blu-ray rear-seat entertainment system, a power sunroof and many other items.

Chevy’s standard powertrain for the Suburban is a fine one: the very well-proven 5.3-liter 355-horsepower V8 with a 6-speed automatic. The 5.3 makes plenty of power, cranks out 383 lb-ft of torque, features direct fuel injection and Active Cylinder Management and, if not a fuel-economy leader, delivers efficiency that is at least reasonable, considering the big Suburban’s muscular capabilities.

The smooth 6-speed automatic does a good job of keeping the engine in the best part of its power range and 4-wheel drive (4WD) is optionally available. Maximum towing capacity with 2-wheel drive (2WD) is 6,300 pounds, but the Max Trailering package pushes that figure to a healthy 8,300 pounds. Opt for the Premier Plus Edition or RST Edition Performance Package and you’ll get a 6.2-liter V8, 10-speed automatic transmission and a sport-tuned suspension plus an increase in towing to 8,100 pounds.

5.3-liter V8
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (2WD), 14/21 mpg (4WD), 11/17 mpg (E85, 2WD), 11/15 mpg (E85, 4WD)

6.2-liter V8
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/23 mpg (2WD), 14/20 mpg (4WD)