Aug. 25, 2006
 
ON THE ROAD: 2007 Suburban Maintains Big Reputation
 
By Richard Williamson
Scripps Howard News Service
 
It's a shame about those high gas prices.
 

If not for $3 per gallon, the redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Suburban might have found a growing line of buyers. (SHNS photo courtesy Chevrolet) Click to Enlarge

If not for $3-per-gallon gasoline, the redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Suburban might have found a growing line of eager buyers. Given current conditions, however, the beautiful behemoth could be a tough sell. Through July, sales of Suburbans were down nearly 28 percent.
 
For those who really need a full-size sport utility vehicle that seats nine and can tow 8,200 pounds, the venerable Suburban remains the class act in the category.
 
Chevrolet even found a way to improve efficiency through an Active Fuel Management system and variable valve timing. Expecting to blanch upon reading the EPA ratings on the review vehicle, I was somewhat surprised to see that the nearly three-ton SUV could travel 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. For now, estimated annual fuel cost is less than $2,000.
 
Another surprise was the performance and handling of the big brute. Powered by a 320-horsepower Vortec V8, the Suburban responded with alacrity to pressure on the accelerator. Measuring more than 18 feet in length and 6.5 feet in width, the Suburban is not exactly a toe dancer. However, I found maneuvers in a crowded parking garage quite manageable. One tremendously helpful option is the rear camera system that automatically projects on a video screen in the center dash a remarkably sharp color view behind the vehicle. For only $195, the rear camera system is highly recommended. On city streets, I continually wondered whether I was filling more than my lane of traffic. Fortunately, the huge side mirrors confirmed that I was driving inside the lines.
 
New safety features include optional head curtain side air bags and standard StabiliTrak stability control system that also reduces the chances of a rollover.
 
Like the Silverado pickup whose platform it shares, Suburban is offered in a wide array of permutations. LS, LT and LTZ trim can be obtained in rear-drive or 4-wheel-drive formats in 1500 or heavy-duty 2500 series.
 
Base prices range from $36,290 for the rear-drive 1500 LS to $41,025 for the 2500 LT.
 
With a 130-inch wheelbase, the Suburban's base is 14 inches longer than that of its sibling Tahoe's. If you are loyal to the GMC brand, you can get a Yukon XL that differs from the Suburban only cosmetically.
 
The trucks are built at GM plants in Arlington, Texas, Janesville, Wis., and Silao, Mexico.
 
Suburban 1500 models are powered by the 5.3-liter V8. An all-aluminum 6-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management and variable valve timing will be available later in the production cycle. A 6-liter engine with an iron cylinder block is sold on 2500 models. Several engines run on E85, a renewable fuel made of 85 percent ethyl alcohol and 15 percent gasoline.
 
While the Suburban 1500 can tow up to 8,200 pounds the 2500 series can tow up to 9,700 pounds.
 
The Z71 Off Road appearance package features more prominent fog lamps and specific grille texture, platinum chrome grille trim and 18-inch wheels with off-road tires.
 
While General Motors has recently broken out of its stuffy styling mode in recent years, the designers showed appropriate restraint in redoing the Suburban. Generally speaking, the slightly more rounded corners make the SUV seem less barge-like in appearance.
 
A large Chevy gold bowtie on a twin-port horizontal grille broadcasts the Suburban's parentage. Fog lamps and headlamps bejewel the front end. Wheel options range from 17-inchers to 20-inchers. The paint palette includes Greystone Metallic, Dark Blue Metallic, Sport Red Metallic, Bermuda Blue Metallic, Black, Summit White, Gold Mist Metallic, Amber Bronze Metallic and Silver Birch Metallic.
 
Thanks to an attractive side running board, access to the Suburban's passenger compartment is quite agreeable. The large cargo compartment is accessible through a liftgate that can be opened automatically if you add the $350 power option. You can also open only the glass portion of the rear gate.
 
If you love roomy interiors, the Suburban is definitely the SUV for you. Passenger space has grown, with more shoulder space for rear passengers. Behind the first-row seats, Suburban offers 137.4 cubic feet of cargo room.
 
One knock on the current design is the lack of a fold-flat rear seat. Ergonomically, the Suburban gets an A-plus. Chevy designers did not play games with the instrumentation but stuck to their successful formula of providing large, visible knobs for sound and ventilation systems, sturdy cup holders and well-placed arm support from the padded center console.
 
As a vehicle that has been around since 1936, Suburban hauls a huge heritage for Chevrolet. The newest version certainly maintains the image. Given the current dicey economic conditions and falling demand for super-sized vehicles, buyers who really need this kind of capacity should get a heck of a deal from their local dealer.
 
WHAT'S NEW: Redesigned exterior, improved seating comfort, stronger chassis, Gen IV small-block V-8 engines.
 
PLUSES: Power, capacity, comfort, ergonomics, utility.
 
MINUSES: Fuel economy, maneuverability.
 
BOTTOM LINE: Best of the full-size sport utility vehicles.
 
Richard Williamson writes about automobiles for Scripps Howard News Service.