In a tumultuous and ever-changing world, some things are a comfort to us all. One of those is yet another incarnation of the Chevrolet Suburban, which is already the longest-running nameplate in the history of the automotive industry. The 2021 High Country model includes a 6.2L V8 engine and new 10-speed automatic transmission.
Let’s dive in to look at what worked and what didn’t in the latest Suburban, but first, a quick snapshot:
2021 Chevrolet Suburban: Snapshot
Base price: $51,700
High Country trim price from $76,595
Engine: 6.2L V8
Power/Torque: 420 hp / 460 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Interior More Refined Than Ever:
The all-new Chevy Suburban isn’t exactly a luxury vehicle, but it does offer all of the high-end creature comforts you’d expect, like heated/cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, and a full panoramic view glass roof. The fit and finish of the Suburban has never been outstanding; having said that, Chevy has taken a few steps with this new generation to remedy the problem by using more soft-touch surfaces, less plastic, and a more cohesive design language on the interior with accent stitching plus western fabric piping around the seats.
Some significant interior additions include a generous 10.2″ infotainment touchscreen, which is pretty intuitive, user-friendly, and responsive. Furthermore, while some things are added, others are taken away. For instance, the column shifter has departed, and now you’ll find shift buttons on the instrument panel, clearing up space and eliminating that cluttered look.
One area we can’t fault is the cargo volume. Even with all three seating rows up, there is 42 cubic feet of cargo space. You can augment that by an impressive 145 more cubic feet if you flatten the rear seating. The 42-cubic-foot rear is a whole 6 feet greater than the Ford Expedition Max. Besides cargo, legs also get quite a lot more room; 4.5 inches extra in the second and third rows, to be precise. Chevy is bringing out their A-game in 2021.
Bold On The Exterior:
The overall length of the 2021 Suburban is greater —- almost 19 feet now. It’s all reflecting a bigger, bolder presence —- and also was an opportunity to, according to executive design director at Chevrolet Phil Zak, “add more sophistication and surface detail.”
Well, they’ve achieved that goal, especially with the High Country model that we tested out. It’s riding on 22″ wheels, with dynamic LED lights front and rear, and one feature that really stood out was the inclusion of quad exhaust tips. Not only do they look fantastic, but they also go a long way to helping reflect the car’s tremendous power and performance capabilities. Speaking of which…
High Country – A Top Performer:
You can’t drive the Chevy Suburban High Country and not feel the raw power of its 6.2L V8 engine. It’ll get you from 0 to 60 in just 6.1 seconds, incredibly impressive for an SUV weighing in at just over 6,000 pounds.
The mighty powertrain pulls this great chariot along surprisingly smoothly and coupled with the air suspension on the top-end trim, it’s actually an incredibly comfortable ride. It was a surprise! The Suburban is, as we all know, a real behemoth of a vehicle, but it handles like a car much smaller than it really is.
Despite being the top-end trim, the High Country can’t actually tow as much as the regular version equipped with the Max Trailering package. To be honest, the difference isn’t exactly dramatic. The Suburban with Max Trailering can pull up to 8,300 pounds, while the High Country can manage 7,900 pounds. It’s pretty respectable, nonetheless.
There’s a (Premium) Catch:
Long-time fans of the Suburban will always be excited to see such a great redesign on the horizon, but it has to be said that there’s a pretty steep premium to deal with to climb up to the High Country trim level. The basic LS model starts at $51,700, but once you get to High Country’s base level, you’re already north of $76,000. Get the High Country with some additions like the one we tested, and it goes north of $80,000.
The Best Full-Size SUV On The Market:
It’s impossible to deny that the new Chevy Suburban for 2021 doesn’t fail to impress. We’re sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at its speed and agility, and we know that families will love the seemingly endless space and different seating configurations. While it could still use some tweaks on the interior to give it a higher-end feel, we can’t argue with all of the technology; including a 9-view camera system, distance guided cruise control, and wireless android auto. Between the passenger space and cargo room, available technology, and impressive 6.2L V8 (High Country only) with air-suspension, the 2021 Chevy Suburban makes a good case for the best full-size family SUV.
