2017 Chevy Suburban Review

Standard features for the LS include 18-inch alloy wheels, active grille shutters for better fuel economy, heated mirrors, automatic wipers, cruise control, remote keyless entry, remote ignition, rear parking sensors, trailer hitch receiver with wiring harness, rocker-sill passenger steps and cargo rails for the roof.

In the cabin, you get tri-zone automatic climate control, cloth seating upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable driver seat (six-way-adjustable front passenger seat), 60/40-split folding second- and third-row bench seats, a leather-wrapped tilt-only steering wheel, teen-driver monitoring with control over certain settings, convex mirror to monitor rear seat passengers, OnStar emergency telematics with navigation, Wi-Fi hot spot, a household-rated power outlet, MyLink infotainment system, an 8-inch touchscreen interface, rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a six-speaker CD player with mobile apps, HD radio, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five USB ports, and auxiliary audio input.

The optional Enhanced Driver Alert package adds forward collision alert with automatic low-speed braking, a vibrating safety-alert driver seat, automatic high beams, lane keeping assist and power-adjustable pedals.

The LT trim includes all of the above, along with a power-operated liftgate, leather upholstery, heated front bucket seats (thereby reducing passenger capacity to eight), 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, telescoping steering wheel, driver-seat memory functions, auto-dimming rearview camera, universal garage-door opener and a nine-speaker Bose audio system.

The optional Luxury package adds a hands-free power-operated tailgate, power-folding mirrors, auto-dimming driver-side mirror, foglights, front parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, keyless entry and ignition, heated second-row seats, power-folding second- and third-row seats, a heated, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and wireless charging pad. The Texas Edition package is equipped identically, although it adds badges, plus crossbars for the cargo rails mounted on the roof.

The Premier trim includes the Luxury package and adds 20-inch wheels, xenon headlights, an adaptive Magnetic Ride Control suspension, ventilated front seats, a navigation system with real-time traffic, 12-way power front seats and a 10-speaker premium Bose surround-sound upgrade.

The LT and Premier trims are eligible for second-row bucket seats (thereby reducing seating capacity to seven). In addition, the Sun, Entertainment and Destinations option package includes a sunroof, a navigation system for the LT trim, extended satellite radio and traffic service, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with input for HDMI and MHL. Adaptive cruise control with automatic braking, power-retractable rocker-sill passenger steps and a head-up display are available only on the Premier trim.

Offered on all trims are 22-inch wheels. The Max Trailering package can also be had on all trims, and it includes a special rear-axle ratio, electronic two-speed transfer case (for 4WD models), a trailer brake controller, and an auto-leveling suspension for non-magnetic suspension vehicles. The Z71 Off-Road package is available only on the LT trim, and it includes all-terrain tires, unique cosmetic elements, tubular-type rocker-sill passenger steps, underbody skid plates, an off-road suspension calibration, electronically operated two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, front parking sensors and rubber floor mats.

Many of the standard features offered by the top trim levels of the Suburban are available as options for the lower trim levels.

Powering all 2017 Chevrolet Suburban models is a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produces 355 hp and 383 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Rear-wheel drive with a locking rear differential is standard, and four-wheel drive with a single-speed transfer case is available as an option. A two-speed transfer case comes with the Max Trailering and Z71 Off-Road packages.

Towing capacity maxes out at 6,300 pounds for rear-drive Suburbans and 6,000 pounds with four-wheel drive. The Max Trailering package increases towing capacity by 2,000 pounds.

In Edmunds performance testing, a rear-wheel-drive Suburban accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is quick for the class. A 4WD model with the Z71 package turned in an identical result. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 19 mpg combined (16 city/23 highway) for rear-wheel-drive models and 18 mpg combined (15 city/22 highway) for four-wheel-drive versions. These estimates are better than other full-size SUVs in the class.