2019 Chevrolet Suburban

The entry-level Suburban LS trim enters the market with a starting MSRP of $50,800, followed by the mid-level LT trim which is priced at $55,800. The top-level Premier trim is smacked with a sticker price of $65,500. Equipping the all-wheel-drivetrain to any of the models, ups the price by $3,000 for all trims. On the Premier model, upgrading to the optional 6.2-liter V8 is done by means of adding either the RST Performance Edition package for $2,720, or equipping the comprehensive Premier Plus at a cost of $11,675. These prices are all exclusive of Chevrolet's destination freight charge of $1,295 as well as tax, registration, and licensing fees.

Over typical roads, the Suburban generally rides comfortably and feels smooth; its large, heavy chassis remains well-controlled and menial road imperfections are suitably absorbed by its all-terrain tires. However, larger road imperfections and typical undulations do notably rattle the rear of the cabin. Nevertheless, the interior is impressively quiet, isolating almost all exterior noise at all speeds. It handles pretty well too, considering its hefty weight and enormous chassis; its bulkiness is inescapable in terms of feel, but it remains composed right up to the limit and when taken around bends. There's not much feedback communicated through the steering, and the turning effort feels overly light, and - while responses to inputs are sluggish - the large SUV is still easy to guide through the streets. Fortunately, the Suburban's brakes provide some confidence; they feel reliable and effectively stop the hefty SUV in good time while keeping it stable. Although equipped with a locking differential, low-range transfer case, and all-terrain tires, the Suburban isn't a natural off-roader. It's fitted with standard running boards to ease ingress and egress for passengers as more of a luxury-focused vehicle and its extensive wheelbase lends itself to this end instead.

The 2019 Chevrolet Suburban is an excellent vehicle, despite having less than ideal safety ratings and a rather low predicted reliability. It remains a favorite due to it's inherent luxurious and practical nature, making it ideal for extended road trips with the entire family. For such a large-sized SUV, it rides smoothly and with confidence thanks to the two burly, yet refined, powertrain options. It isn't very economical at all, but with a giant 31-gallon gas tank, it will still get to where it needs to be without having to refuel too often. Its cabin is immaculate, quiet and comfortable, clearly prioritizing passenger-conveniences as an SUV with all the necessities and luxuries required to keep everyone suitably entertained. It offers great versatility with seating for up to nine people, and seats that fold down flat to expand cargo capacity to a cavernous 121.7 cubic feet behind the front seats. On top of that, practicality is impressive too, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,300 lbs; some rivals offer a bit more in this regard, though, but not necessarily as part of such a balanced package. The Suburban can be difficult to maneuver through the city streets because of its massive size, and it isn't as economical or comfortable on the highway as many of its rivals - but overall, and taking its impressive legacy into account, it remains an ideal family hauler and road trip ally.

We recommend opting for the top-of-the-line Premier trim as it is the most versatile option in terms of performance, and the best value for money proposition in terms of standard included features. While retaining the base 5.3-liter V8 engine allows the Max Trailering Package to be equipped to the SUV, giving it a maximum towing capacity of 8,300 lbs, the exclusive 6.2-liter V8 engine improves its overall straight-line performance, but can only be had on the Premier. As the optional engine is available within two packages, if you do choose to opt it in, we suggest going all in and selecting the Premier Plus Edition package which also equips a head-up display, an eight-inch enhanced driver info center, a power moonroof, rear-seat infotainment system, and a trailer brake controller to name just a few. We also suggest sticking to the rear-wheel-drive system as it benefits acceleration, economy, and towing capacity.

With a base trim line MSRP of $48,000, the Tahoe is around $2,800 cheaper than the entry-level Suburban. It's a little shorter than the Suburban too, which means less than half the trunk capacity and less rear cabin legroom; but, it doesn't lose out completely in the way of practicality, as it offers a greater maximum towing capability of 8,400 lbs. The two models are otherwise almost identical in every other regard, from the standard features and cabin interior to the powertrain options and even trim levels. The Suburban does offer slightly more in terms of luxury with a better audio layout featured in the Premier, and a few more drivers-assists too. But a decision will ultimately come down to whether you'd want to take advantage of the Suburban's class-leading in-cabin and trunk room, or the Tahoe's marginally improved towing capacity and slightly lower price tag.

The Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition stand head to head as core rivals in this segment. They are both venerable long-standing class leaders as full-size SUVs and are both offered as similarly purposed packages, with very similar pricing points to one another. The Expedition offers a more powerful turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of churning out 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It performs much the same as the Suburban's base 5.2-liter V8 engine but doesn't quite match up to the 6.2-liter V8 option available on the Suburban Premier, which handles the SUV's weight with aplomb. The Expedition does, however, come standard with a better ten-speed automatic transmission as standard throughout the lineup, which is only available on the top trim of the Suburban. The Ford Sync 3 infotainment system is also favored over Chev's already highly intuitive IntelliLink interface, and - together with Expedition's 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen Play audio system - it certainly outranks the offerings from the Chev. The Expedition can only seat a maximum of eight passengers, so if you need space for nine, the decision is easy; but, if towing is your priority, you will need to opt for the Expedition with its higher towing capacity. Seating and towing capabilities aside, the Expedition takes the win as the slightly more premium offering, delivering better value for money overall.