Specifications of Chevrolet Suburban (GMT T1XK) 5.3 V8 (355 HP) AWD Automatic
General characteristics of Chevrolet Suburban (GMT T1XK) 5.3 V8 (355 HP) AWD Automatic
The Suburban has a massive wheelbase. It's 134.1 inches, and the overall length is 225.7 inches. The overall width without mirrors is 81.1 inches, and it's 75.7 inches tall in the default driving mode. All in all, this gives it impressive interior dimensions. Base models use a standard coil spring suspension, while the Z71 and High Country gets access to Chevy's optional Air Ride suspension. On the standard steel suspension, the ground clearance is eight inches, while models with the optional air suspension can go up to ten inches in the maximum ride height setting.
The optional air suspension also has an impact on the off-road-related figures, though none of them are particularly impressive. At best, you're looking at approach, breakover, and departure angles of 34.5, 19, and 22 degrees, respectively. This SUV ain't going anywhere more adventurous than a dirt road. The lightest model in the range is the 2WD with the standard 5.3-liter V8 engine. It weighs 5,616 pounds, compared to the diesel 4WD's 6,072 lbs.
All engines are mated to the same ten-speed automatic transmission boasting the same set of gear ratios. First, second, and third exist to provide brisk acceleration, while eight, nine, and ten are cruising gears to improve fuel economy.
The naturally aspirated V8 engines are both carried over from the previous model, which is a double-edged sword. We know they're reliable, but they come with supercar-like fuel consumption figures. The 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 hp at 5,600 rpm and 383 lb-ft at 4,100 rpm. The 6.2-liter provides a nice 420 horses at 5,600 rpm, and 460 lb-ft at 4,100 rpm. What this means is that you have to keep both engines fairly high in the rev range to get access to full power. Thankfully, the Suburban's 10-speed auto doesn't hesitate to drop a cog or two to get you back in the powerband. We quite like the 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel. The claimed 277 hp isn't impressive compared to the gas engines, but it provides 460 lb-ft at an extremely low 1,500 rpm.
It's not good news for the V8 engines. The 5.3-liter V8 with 2WD has EPA-estimated fuel consumption figures of 15/20/17 mpg city/highway/combined, decreasing to 14/19/16 mpg with 4WD. The 6.2-liter V8 with 2WD consumes gas at a rate of 14/20/16 mpg, going down to 14/19/16 mpg with 4WD. Thankfully, the Suburban has a large 28-gallon tank, which means you can get around 450 miles on a tank even with the least efficient model. But, as gas prices in the US go up, this may not be good enough.
The turbocharged diesel makes a good case for itself when it comes to fuel efficiency. A 2WD model can do 21/27/23 mpg, while the 4WD is capable of 20/26/22 mpg. With the large tank, you're looking at a total range of 616 to 644 miles.
The new Chevrolet Suburban SUV was off to a rocky start last year. The 2021 model was recalled a total of seven times during its first year on sale. Reasons included incorrectly installed bolts for the front seats and incorrect bolts used, a front center seat belt that may not be secured, incorrectly routed third-row seat belts that could become damaged, an airbag warning light that may not indicate a malfunction, a loss of power steering assist, and failure of the power control module for the fuel pump. At the time of writing, the 2022 model was still recall-free.
The recalls reflect in the Suburban's J.D. Power Ownership Survey results. It scored over eighty in every category but quality and reliability, which scored only 70, dragging the overall score down to 78 out of 100. Still, it isn't an awful score and places it third in the segment behind the Chevrolet Tahoe (83) and GMC Yukon (81).
When you opt for the front bench seat in your Suburban, the airbag count is six. In every other configuration and trim, the Suburban comes standard with seven airbags. Other traditional items include tire-pressure monitoring, traction and stability control, ABS, a teen-driver feature, and a rearview camera.
Chevrolet includes more driver-assistance features as standard across the range. The list consists of a following-distance indicator, forward-collision warning, front pedestrian detection, and, from this year, standard front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning on all trims. Premier models also add blind-spot alert and lane-change alert. Lower trims can option on additional driver aids as part of the available packages. The two top trims can also be ordered with more enhanced driver-assistance systems at additional cost, including adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking.
The Max Trailering Package costs between $250 and $565 depending on trim, and adds various trailering-enhancing features that may include an integrated trailer brake controller, hitch guidance with hitch view, a two-speed transfer case on 4WDs, and a more hardcore radiator. The Driver Alert Package for base models retails for $495 and adds lane-change alert with blind-spot assist and rear cross-traffic alert to the trims below Premier. However from the LT trim and up, it also requires various additional features to be added, amounting to over $2,500 in total.
The LT model is highly customizable, as it will likely be the most popular model in the range. It's available with the LT Signature Package for $4,890 or the LT Signature Plus Package for $4,325. These two packages consist of everything included in the $2,525 Luxury Package, but with their own unique design features. The latter is the most important, as it adds memory settings for the front seats, a power-operated third row, a power-release second row, heated auto-dimming side mirrors, rear pedestrian alert, a power-adjustable steering column, an automatically heated steering wheel, and heated second-row seats. The Rear Seat Media System goes for $1,995 and includes dual 12.6-inch HD rear displays, wireless Wi-Fi projection, and wireless headphones. It is available on all trims except LS. The Luxury Package is available on the LT, Z71, and RST trims.
For the RST trim, the Sport Performance Package is new this year and bundles the 6.2-liter V8 engine with Magnetic Ride Control suspension and a dual-system exhaust with polished stainless-steel tips.
For the Z71, you get an Off-Road Package, which adds all of the niceties included in the Luxury Package, plus the Max Trailering Package and the Off-Road Capability Package. The full house option goes for $5,485. In case you just want the Off-Road Capability Package, it costs $2,995 and adds the adaptive Air Ride suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, and Magnetic Ride Control.
Premier models have access to model-specific packages. The $4,485 Premium Package, for example, adds a panoramic sunroof, rear camera mirror washer, rear camera mirror, the Max Trailering package, and adaptive cruise control. At the top of the range, the High Country has a few optional packages, including a High Country Deluxe bundle for $5,055 that includes the adaptive Air R
