McCurley Integrity Dealerships

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Driving Impressions

The big news for 2009 is the Suburban's adoption of a six-speed automatic transmission for all models. The 2500 models received it for 2008. The six-speed automatic pays benefits in performance, fuel economy, noise, and control, whether towing or not.

The advantages of 50 percent more gears can be seen reviewing testing done with earlier Suburbans with the 6-liter engine and 4-speed automatic competing against an Expedition EL with the it's 5.4-liter V8 and six-speed automatic. Despite the Expedition's greater weight and smaller engine it nearly matched the Suburban's empty acceleration but towed faster and got significantly better mileage towing or empty.

Since the Suburban had more horsepower, more torque, and a shorter axle ratio (improves acceleration, detracts slightly from highway economy) the six-speed automatic made the difference. With low gears that make it easier to get going, high gears that keep engine speed to a minimum on the highway, and more gears in the middle so you can tow uphill without screaming along in second gear, gains clearly exceed any added cost.

The Suburban 1500 engines rate 310 hp at 5200 rpm and 335 lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm. By comparison the lighter Nissan Armada's 5.6-liter makes 317 hp and 385 lb-ft at lower rpm, Ford's Expedition 5.4-liter does 310 hp at 5000 rpm and 365 lb-ft at 3600 again at lower rpm.

All 1500 engines have a fuel shut-off feature that cuts fuel to half the cylinders. This will be most noticed on level ground at moderate, steady speeds. Since the axle ratios are now taller the Suburban should give better performance with no loss in fuel economy, though we haven't had a chance to run a 2009 against the others.

An optional 6-liter V8 with variable valve timing on Suburban 1500 makes 366 hp and 376 lb-ft at even higher rpm than the standard 5.3, giving it the advantage over everything except GM's 402-hp Cadillac Escalade and Toyota's quick 381-hp Sequoia. Armada and Expedition have a higher tow rating than Suburban 1500, and the Sequoia has a higher tow rating than the Suburban 2500.

On the heavy-duty Suburban an iron-block 6-liter is used, with less horsepower but more torque than the 1500, and the transmission is a stouter six-speed automatic. Like the others it features a tow/haul mode for less shift busyness over rolling terrain and adds a bit of compression braking.

The shifter has PRNDML positions and a thumb-operated rocker switch for changing gears manually. However, unlike every other +/- shifter, you first have to move the entire lever to the M position.

All Suburbans have four-wheel antilock disc brakes and stability control. Perhaps more than any other mechanical aspect the brakes were the biggest improvement on the 2007 resdesign. Although 2500s have stronger brakes they weigh more and have heavier-duty tires so they don't stop any quicker. Like any vehicle with ABS, press the brake pedal as hard as you can and steer and disregard and buzzing noises or vibration; that means it's working and is your best way to avoid an obstacle or accident.

Guiding a Suburban is effortless, the steering nicely weighted and direct by truck standards. At 18.5 feet long and 6.5 wide the Sub isn't ideal for congested areas but it's quite maneuverable for its size; it needs 43 feet of road to make a U-turn (45.5 for 2500), but that's just a yard more than some two-seaters and small sedans. So pretty good, in other words. And because of its boxy shape the corners are reasonably well defined; available rearview cameras and park sensors make it easier to parallel park but it won't drop right in. A new blind spot alert system optional on LTZ models adds a warning if you didn't see the vehicle next to you; like all such systems it focuses on your car and not what might be next to any trailer you're towing.

Suburban's 130-inch wheelbase and nearly 3-ton weight contribute to good ride quality, one of the best for any vehicle with a solid rear axle that doesn't employ air suspension (such as the Lexus LX570). The Expedition EL, Armada and Sequoia all have independent rear suspension that enjoys an advantage on rough roads and spirited driving. Some believe you must have a solid axle for towing and they are a bit easier to maintain, but extreme-duty vehicles like the Humvee and Mercedes Unimog successfully used independent rear suspension. In any case, the Burb has the traditional setup for towing.

Autoride suspension is available on some models. It monitors the road surface and driver inputs and adjusts damping as needed, optimizing the blend of ride comfort and handling grip, and also limits body roll in heavy cornering. The self-leveling rear suspension aspect of Autoride might help while towing but it is no substitute for a proper weight-distributing hitch.

The 2500 Suburban has different feel than the 1500 but drives through the same controls. Since it is designed for heavier use, carries about 500 pounds more and tows about 1500 pounds more the bits underneath are more truck-like. It has a much stronger rear axle with a shorter ratio, Chevrolet wisely thinking 2500 owners will prioritize towing performance over empty highway fuel economy. The front suspension uses torsion bars and the rear leaf springs rather than the 1500's coil springs.

All these parts add weight so the 2500 rides a little bit firmer and isn't as quick to turn as the 1500 but it is still a very competent chassis and at full load feels like it rides and handles at least as well as a loaded 1500. Were we regularly towing 6000 pounds, or 5000 with the family and gear onboard, we'd opt for the 2500 and its stouter running gear, expecting to give up no more than 1 mpg to a 6-liter 1500. Think of a Suburban 2500 as a three-quart-ton pickup with an enclosed bed and no window or seam in between.

And the leaf spring rear-end on the 2500 allows a significant increase in fuel capacity, from 31.5 gallons on the 1500 to 39 on the 2500, meaning the 2500 will travel further between fill-ups weaving your trailer through gas stations.

By default all Suburbans are set up for towing, but for larger trailers, say anything more than a twin-axle bass boat, consider opting for the trailer towing package (more engine oil and transmission fluid cooling), larger outside mirrors, and the integrated trailer brake controller carried over from pickups. Note that the controller may not work with electro-hydraulic trailer brakes as on some higher-end RVs; so consult your dealer. But a Suburban with this package is a fine tow vehicle, indeed. We've done major cross country tows over frozen highways and the Suburban performs admirably in this type of duty.

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