2017 Chevy Suburban Road Test and Review

2017 Chevrolet Suburban exterior hero ・ Photo by General Motors

The biggest of the Bowtie brand’s fullsize SUVs has a brand-new range-topping trim in its lineup: the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier. The Premier, A step above the LTZ, has more luxurious standard seating along with massive new 22-inch wheels. “Massive” is the word for the Suburban as well. It’s more than 224 inches long—6.75 feet longer than a Chevy Spark—and it can fit up to nine occupants in some trims. Its cargo hold is large enough to hold plenty of gear, even with all three rows of seats in use. Body-on-frame construction and available 4-wheel drive further improve the Suburban SUV's capabilities—complemented by premium Premier-trim luxuries.

Pricing

The MSRP for the 2017 Chevy Suburban Premier is $64,730, roughly a $14,800 increase over the entry-level Suburban. That said, the Chevy offers good value against a competitor like the top-of-the-line Ford Expedition Platinum EL. That rival is about $1200 more expensive than the Suburban Premier, and it comes without the Premier model’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension or wireless charging system for personal devices. Nor can Ford match Chevy’s standard mobile WiFi and 4G LTE connectivity or Android Auto/Apple Car smartphone integration. Moreover, the Premier packs much more standard content than the basic Suburban, from its leather cabin to its advanced driver-assistance measures. Four-wheel drive increases the cost of a Suburban by $3000, while also increasing its off-road capabilities.

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Power, Performance and Efficiency

All 2017 Chevrolet Suburbans feature a 5.3-liter V8 engine with variable valve timing, direct injection, and Chevy’s Active Fuel Management system. That technology can boost fuel efficiency by shutting off four of the engine’s cylinders when full power isn’t needed. As a result, EPA grades for the Suburban are noticeably higher than those for the EcoBoost-powered Expedition: Chevrolet’s SUV is rated at 16 MPG city/23 MPG highway/19 MPG combined with its standard 6-speed automatic transmission, yet the Ford only can manage 15/21/17. Yet thanks to 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, the Suburban also maintains impressive tow ratings of up to 8600 lb. (or 8400 lbs. with 4-wheel drive).

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Exterior Design and Lighting

Smooth and solid looking, the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier has a more-than-fullsize presence that’s complemented by standard 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels and high-intensity discharge headlights with a stacked appearance and dual-wing accents. Those are IntelliBeam headlights, which means they provide automatic high beams that turn on and off based on the presence of oncoming vehicles. At the back of the vehicle, a hands-free, power-opening rear liftgate is standard on the Premier edition and set off by large, vertically oriented taillight treatments that are standard across the lineup. Also distinguishing the uplevel Premier trim are standard heated exterior mirrors that integrate both turn-signal indicators and power-folding capability. Additionally, the standard side-assist steps are a major boon for access, and power-retractable steps are available.

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2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier: Interior Design and Capacities

As mentioned earlier in this Autobytel review of the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier, there are some Suburbans that can hold up to nine occupants in a 3+3+3 configuration. In the Premier, though, the first two rows are bucket seats, and the driver and front-row passenger enjoy heating, ventilation, perforated leather appointments, and 12-way power adjustability. The second-row seats also are heated, and the third row is split 60/40 and has a power-folding function for enhanced versatility. Speaking of which, the Suburban has 121 cubic feet of storage with all rear seats folded, but there are 39.3 cubic feet even with all of them in use. There are 76.7 cubic feet of space when the third row is tucked away.

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Infotainment and Audio

As the high-trim model, the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier is chock full of premium infotainment technologies, although two of them are standard on all Suburbans: a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot with 4G LTE connectivity, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. OnStar telematics and Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, and Bluetooth also are standard for all Suburbans. As for the Premier, it welcomes navigation and a Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound audio system that leverages 10 speakers and AudioPilot noise compensation technology. To handle carry-on tech, there's wireless device charging for PMA- and Qi-compatible devices, while five USB ports, five 12-volt power outlets, a 110-volt outlet, and an auxiliary input jack are sprinkled throughout the cabin.

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Safety Ratings and Technology

Untested by the IIHS, and recipient of a 4-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA, the 2017 Chevy Suburban Premier gains two new driver-assistance measures for the new model year. One is the Teen Driver suite of technologies for encouraging safe driving habits, another feature that’s standard throughout the Suburban lineup. Newly standard on Premier and LT trims, and available for the Suburban LS, is low-speed forward automatic braking. This feature can automatically apply braking power if a potential front-end collision situation is detected, even at slower speeds. Among the Premier’s other standard safety technologies are forward collision alert, front and rear parking assistance, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, side blind zone alert, a rear-vision camera, and GM’s Safety Alert driver’s seat.

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Available Equipment

There’s a surprising number of options available on this big SUV. With its ability to hold five rear-seat passengers, a particularly helpful option in the Suburban is the rear-seat Blu-ray entertainment system, and that can be bundled in the Sun, Entertainment. and Destinations package with a power sunroof and an extra nine months' worth of SiriusXM Radio and Traffic service; the sunroof and entertainment system also are available separately. The optional head-up display is handy for the driver, and the style department pitches in with multiple 20- and 22-inch wheel designs. Chevy then remembers the Suburban’s SUV roots with a variety of interior and roof-mounted cargo management accessories.

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2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier: Other Important Information

Customers who count on the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban Premier for its robust capabilities also can count on its trail-friendly hardware to tackle challenging terrain. An AutoTrac active transfer case and a heavy duty locking differential help in that regard, even while standard Magnetic Ride Control upgrades the Suburban’s on-road driving manners. Chevy also serves up a dedicated Z71 off-road package for the Suburban LT, delivering skid plates, a 2-speed transfer case, tubular assist steps, a high-capacity air cleaner and more. Finally, customers should keep in mind that if the Suburban is a bit too big—in terms of either size or cost—the 2017 Chevy Tahoe is about 20 inches shorter and about $2700 less expensive but is otherwise similarly equipped.

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Final Thoughts

A lot has changed since the original Suburban first set the template for the SUV industry back in 1935. Today, the 2017 Chevy Suburban Premier still furnishes body-on-frame construction and 4-wheel drive for more adventurous owners—just like its predecessor—but it also boasts the kind of technology, power, luxury, and performance that would have been unheard of back in the 1930s. In fact, some of those features remain unheard of among the Suburban’s competition right now. So despite all the differences that eight decades can bring, what hasn’t changed is that the big Chevy is still setting the pace for customers who prefer a fullsize SUV.

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