When households want a car that may present huge space for storing, ample energy, and supreme consolation, a sacrifice must be made someplace, and it is often on gas financial system. However not with the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. It is a car with gargantuan proportions, as much as 460 lb-ft of torque, and obtainable air suspension for supreme consolation, so it checks the entire packing containers for a big household street journey car.
With each of the obtainable V8 engines barely getting 20 mpg on primarily freeway driving cycles, that practicality is offset by poor gas financial system. However Chevy additionally provides this SUV with a Duramax diesel engine that will get as much as 27 mpg on the freeway. To place that into perspective, that is the identical gas financial system ranking because the smaller Traverse with its V6 engine, and it is higher than the Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade handle. In a car this huge, that is extremely spectacular.
DrivingOnRoad spent per week driving the top-spec 2023 Suburban Excessive Nation with the Duramax engine to find all of the the explanation why that is, in actual fact, the final word long-distance household cruise.
700-Mile Diesel Vary
All of our previous experiences with GM’s full-size SUVs have been paired with both a 5.3- or 6.2-liter V8. The latter is an outstanding engine, however we would not relish the gas invoice with solely 16 mpg mixed. Enter the three.0-liter turbocharged inline-six Duramax diesel, an intriguing choice for house owners who plan to cowl many miles. This engine is ideal for fleet clients (equivalent to limo providers) or anybody who travels continuously throughout a number of states with their household in tow.
It is obtainable on all however the Z71 trim as both a $1,000-odd improve over the 5.3-liter V8 or a reduction of between $1,500 and $2,825 in comparison with the 6.2-liter V8. On the Excessive Nation, it represents a $1,500 financial savings over the V8. Energy is approach down at simply 277 horsepower in comparison with 420 hp within the V8, however the torque is similar at 460 lb-ft.
The trade-off in energy is nicely price it for the gas financial system, which is rated at 21/27/23 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed with rear-wheel-drive (one decrease mpg per cycle with 4WD). In our testing, we noticed as much as 29 mpg on the freeway within the 4WD mannequin, so 30 mpg might be attainable with 2WD. That means that if the celebrities aligned and you can cruise at a gentle tempo with none interruptions (and with out having too heavy a proper foot), you can theoretically drive for round 700 miles with a full 28-gallon gas tank. Sadly, nobody might handle that distance while not having a toilet break.
Who Wants An Escalade?
Having pushed each full-size GM SUV with the 6.2-liter V8, we really feel certified to say the Duramax diesel is a worthy various. No, it does not present that candy V8 growl, however the great torque retains it from ever feeling underpowered. And you will have a preconceived notion of diesel engines being loud and obnoxious, however this one is so quiet, it could possibly hardly be heard at idle. As all the time, GM’s 10-speed computerized transmission is a stand-out, delivering clean shifts with no awkwardness.
As for the Suburban, it feels much like its siblings, the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. The steering is exact sufficient for a car this huge, and the obtainable Adaptive Air Experience Suspension ($1,000) soaks up bumps. This suspension builds on GM’s already wonderful Magnetic Experience Management and delivers superior consolation. The Yukon and Escalade supply extra premium options, however after spending per week within the Suburban Excessive Nation, we might most likely take the fee financial savings of the Chevy and deal with our household to a nicer trip. It is all the luxurious a household wants.
Nice New Know-how
Final yr, Chevy added its Google-powered infotainment to the Suburban and its smaller Tahoe Sibling. The bottom LS trim will get an eight-inch display screen, however all different Suburban variants obtain a bigger 10.2-inch unit. Even this bigger display screen appears to be like a bit diminutive sitting within the Suburban’s expansive dashboard, however the graphics are clear and the person format makes it simple to navigate with only a slight studying curve. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal, and the entire system may be managed by saying “Hey Google” adopted by a voice command. It might not have the most important display screen within the class, however that is amongst our favourite infotainment methods to make use of.
As with different GM autos, that display screen supplies as much as 13 digital camera views, together with a useful trailer view. LT trims and above additionally profit from a 12-inch digital gauge cluster. New for 2023, the Suburban can now be geared up with Tremendous Cruise, GM’s wonderful hands-free driving help expertise. If the spectacular vary did not promote you on the Suburban’s street journey pedigree, stress-free on the freeway with no arms on the wheel ought to do it. We must always be aware that is the newest model of Tremendous Cruise, which might overtake slower visitors on the left and transfer again over to the correct lane by itself.
Room For A Massive Household
Even with the latest introduction of an extended-length Jeep Wagoneer L, the Chevy Suburban is among the largest SUVs on the street and one of many premier household haulers. The Excessive Nation trim provides seating for seven with comfy captain’s chairs within the second row. Our tester got here geared up with the rear leisure system ($1,995) with twin 12.6-inch touchscreens, which supply Hulu and YouTube along with two HDMI ports for a gaming console or different machine. We might prefer to see full Amazon Hearth TV integration with extra streaming providers, like Ford and Jeep supply, however that is nonetheless a reasonably good approach to hold the children entertained over the miles between fill-ups.
We think about your youngsters will name dibs on the heated captain’s chairs, however the siblings who get caught within the third row nonetheless have a beneficiant 36.7 inches of legroom (0.1 inches greater than the Wagoneer L). They may even have entry to their very own cupholders, air vents, and USB-C ports again there.
Great Cargo Capability
Consumers who plan to make use of the third row usually however nonetheless want house behind it for cargo will need to go for the longer Suburban over the Tahoe. House behind the third row grows from 25.5 cubic toes within the Tahoe to 41.5 within the Suburban. Solely the Wagoneer L has extra space behind its third row (42.1 cubic toes), however that is the place the Jeep’s benefit ends. The Suburban packs 93.8 cubes behind the second row (85.3 within the Jeep) and 144.7 with the second and third rows stowed (130.9 within the Jeep).
Space for storing for the entrance passengers is beneficiant, too, with ample door pockets, a wi-fi charging pad, and an electronically sliding heart console with a hidden drawer.
Excessive Nation Worth
The Chevy Suburban Excessive Nation is actually a luxurious SUV, and it comes at a luxurious value. It begins at $80,445 with the extra environment friendly diesel engine or $81,995 with the V8. As-tested, our Suburban checked in at $90,105 with choices. Buyers who can reside with out as many creature comforts can nab a Suburban LS with the Duramax beginning at round $60k with 2WD.
GM recommends premium gasoline for its 6.2-liter V8, which prices round $4.235 on-average throughout the US. based on AAA knowledge (as of this writing); comparatively, diesel prices round $4.676. We will not even try and calculate a break-even level right here as a result of the diesel engine is definitely cheaper than the V8, which means it should prevent cash immediately, and much more as you rack up the miles. The truth is, by our fast calculations, in very best circumstances, the Suburban might get throughout the complete United States utilizing 4 tanks of diesel; certain, a straight-line cruise with out stops or the nuances that have an effect on gasoline mileage is not seemingly, however it’s nonetheless a formidable concept.
Ford and Jeep do not supply a diesel engine or something that comes near netting what we achieved on the freeway on this section. Mixed with the Suburban’s class-leading cargo capability, wonderful consolation, Cadillac-level luxurious, and hands-free Tremendous Cruise expertise, it is simply the final word household street journey car for beneath $100,000.