2025 Chevrolet Suburban First Drive Review: Updated Where It Matters Most

The Chevrolet Suburban is a nameplate that has been around since the mid 1930s; in fact, it’s claimed that the ‘Suburban’ is the longest-used nameplate in the world. It may have started as a station wagon, but it became the large and spacious SUV we know today in its twelfth generation.

It carries with it one heck of a legacy for hauling families and their cargo all over the country. It has three rows of seating with room for up to eight people in a cavernous interior loaded with amenities; there are three available engines, including a diesel, with a high tow rating for carrying the big toys that simply won’t fit inside the Suburban. We got to spend some time with the updated model recently. Here’s our first impressions of the 2025 Suburban.

First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on DrivingOnRoad for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon.

What’s New

This year, both the Suburban and the smaller Tahoe got a refresh that includes a new look, paired with an updated and upgraded interior. The Suburban has a new 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen as a standard feature with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, wider availability of Super Cruise hands-free driving, and an improved ride quality. The optional diesel engine gets a bit more grunt, too, while the gas engines remain unchanged.

Exterior: Fresh Fascia

This is a big vehicle, so it’s almost impossible to make this thing look subtle. Still, the Chevy design team did a great job of managing that size and giving it character. The design includes daytime running lights that are now more integrated to create a sleeker look. Nothing is going to make the Suburban look small, but this does help it look less unapproachable.

On the sides, dual C-shaped lights bracket the grille and keep the look consistent with the rest of the Chevy lineup. In the top Premier and High Country trims, there’s also welcome and walk-away lighting that not only adds a bit of illumination in dimly lit areas, but helps create a premium experience before you even open the door. Further enhancing the new look of the Suburban are available 24-inch wheel designs and unique design cues for each trim. The rugged Z71 has a look that includes skid plates and a modified front fascia with a better approach angle, while the luxurious High Country gets eye-catching black and Galvano chrome accents.

Interior: Focused On Finery And Tech

The most impressive changes to the Suburban are reserved for the inside. We’ve been pretty harsh on Chevy for its lackluster interiors in some of its vehicles. It sometimes feels like the brand loves hard plastic trims with no personality – but all of that changes with the Suburban.

It now shows off a beautiful combination of design, materials, and technology that make it a truly wonderful place to pass the time. Rich leather and high-quality trims create a more upscale vibe, with the High Country getting real wood trim for the first time. The lack of plastic everything and better attention to detail makes this a far more attractive interior – in any trim.

A Versatile Center Console

The massive center console is redesigned to include a repositioned wireless charging pad that accommodates even larger phones and holds them in place – you’ll have no worries about arriving at your destination after hours on the road only to find out that your phone slipped and wasn’t charging after all.

That center console has a huge storage area under the lid. Simply press a button overhead and the whole thing slides backward. This creates an additional storage area just ahead of the console for front passengers. It also pushes the cupholders on the back of the console closer to those in the second row and puts rear climate controls within easy reach, which is a qality of life feature we like.

Room For The Whole Clan

Three-row SUVs can be a mixed bag when it comes to comfort and room, but not this one. They say there’s room for eight people, and they are not kidding. The third row truly does accommodate three adults. Unless you’re planning to drive for days, adults can get comfy even if they’re taller than average.

The front seats are spacious and supportive with great adjustability, so it’s easy to see over the hood. Usually they’re the best seats in the house, but the second row captain’s chairs are absolutely lounge-worthy. Taking a break and swapping drivers, those captain’s chairs are the perfect spot for a mid-trip nap.

Two Large Screens Up Front, Two More In Back

The exterior refresh includes a standard 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted horizontally on the dashboard. It angles slightly toward the driver without going so far that it becomes an awkward reach for the front passenger. This sits next to an 11-inch digital instrument cluster to provide a cohesive look. There’s also a good balance of touch controls and physical controls, rather than going all-in on getting rid of buttons. That always sounds like a good idea, but it’s frustrating for volume and temperature controls.

Those in the second row have an available rear-seat entertainment system. There are headphones, too, so no one is disturbed by listening to something they don’t want to watch with two screens on the backs of the front headrests to make viewing content easy. This is a family vehicle that ensures everyone is comfortable and entertained.

Wider Availability of Super Cruise Hands-Free Driving

The Suburban offers Super Cruise hands-free driving technology currently available on over 400,000 miles of roads throughout the US and Canada. Every automaker has its own name for this type of tech and they all do the same thing, but with varying degrees of success. Super Cruise is the system used on GM vehicles, and we find it the easiest of the lot.

It clearly communicates when it’s available with an icon on the instrument cluster. Once the system is engaged, it flashes a brief message to make sure you know it’s doing its job and then lights the top center portion of the steering wheel green. It is incredibly easy to see when it is in use and is equally clear when the system needs the driver to take over. You can even use Super Cruise when you tow.

It also does the best job of mimicking a human driver. It engaged so smoothly, our passengers didn’t even realize it was working until they noticed our hands weren’t on the wheel. Lane changes were equally well-managed, whether initiated by the sytem or by the driver. It takes no time at all to get comfortable and trust Super Cruise, making it indispensable on long road trips.

Power: Three Engines, Including A Diesel

There are three engine options, starting with a 355-horsepower V8, which is the standard offering. There’s also a 420-horsepower V8 along with a 305-horsepower diesel. All three get a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the gas engines are carryovers from last year, the engineers at Chevy gave the diesel a bit more oomph this year with 10 percent more horsepower and 7.6 percent more torque, making it an even more solid option for those who tow heavy loads.

Drive Impressions: Smooth Like Butter

This is a big SUV, and it feels like one when you climb behind the wheel. It’s a huge step up and in – short people beware – but the power side steps do make that step a bit easier to manage. We spent our time in the Premier with the 5.3-liter V8 engine, and it was more than capable of handling the bulk of this SUV. There’s no need for a heavy foot on the gas. Acceleration is strong without having to mash the pedal, but if you do mash it when you’re getting onto the highway, it’s surprisingly peppy. Transmission shifts were smooth and went unnoticed by passengers dozing in the second row.

We drove the Suburban through the hill country of Texas over the course of a few days and truly enjoyed our time behind the wheel. It can be tough to get accustomed to a big vehicle, but the Suburban had such nice road manners that driving wasn’t a chore. It handled well on the twisting side roads that took us to some of the best BBQ we’ve ever had with the newly revised suspension system soaking up the bumps. About the only time its size was noticeable was on roads with lots of dips, which was, honestly, sort of fun.

During the longest stretch of our drive from Dallas to Fredricksburg, we had ample opportunity to experience Super Cruise. It’s easy to operate and easy to trust. It’s so good that no one realized it was engaged until the front passenger suddenly registered that our hands weren’t on the wheel. It’s that good, with no sudden stops, starts, or adjustments that feel unnatural and disconcerting. It made the long drive far less tiresome.

Verdict: Ideal For Families With Lots Of People And Lots Of Cargo

The Suburban is a vehicle that targets large families with heavy cargo needs. There are plenty of other three-row SUVS out there, but what makes this one different is its size. This isn’t small. This isn’t compact. This isn’t for city dwellers. This is a huge SUV that easily handles eight people and their cargo; with only a passenger up front, you get 144.5 cubic feet of storage space. But it’s roomy enough for adults to get comfortable, not just the kids, and it has a smooth ride. Road tripping in the Suburban is something to look forward to when vacation time rolls around.

A range of three powerful engines and a high tow rating provides plenty of versatility. If you tow regularly, then the diesel is the one to pick, but either gas engine will serve you well, too. Pricing has gone up for 2025, with the base model starting at $61,500 (an increase of $2,300 over 2024 base model); the High Country costs $1,800 more this year, while the Premier is $3,500 more. RST and Z71 model pricing goes up by $2,200 while the lower-rung LT is priced the same. Large families with a taste for adventure would do well to take the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban out for a test drive. Expect to see it at dealers by the end of the year.