Chevy Suburban is a swift and solid ride

One of Chevrolet’s longest-running production vehicles continues its popularity for nearly a century.

The 2024 Chevy Suburban RST is a monster SUV and is even longer than the Silverado pickup truck. It’s got a big price tag to boot. The RST is a middle-range Suburban, and this version with its extras rang in at $82,745. For comparison, in the year 1989, you could have bought a three-bedroom home in Des Moines for about the same price. 

Dollar signs aside, the Suburban has power. With a 6.2 liter, EcoTec3 V-8 engine and 420 horsepower, this was a solid and swift ride, once I figured out how to put the car in gear. It seemed counter intuitive as I had to pull the latch toward me to put it in gear instead of a push button or a shifter.

The Suburban is known for seating, and seven adults can fit quite comfortably. However, you can opt for a different seat configuration and squeeze nine bodies in there. The US News and World Report awarded the SUV as “Best Cars for Families” four years in a row.

Adults like the Suburban, too. The military frequently used Suburbans because they were not flashy and blended in. The past few decades, Suburbans have become known for hauling celebrities and elected officials. When people see a fleet of black SUVs pull up, drivers crane their necks to see which celebrity steps out.

The Suburban debuted in 1935. Chevy put a station wagon body on the back of a full-size pickup truck, designed for the military. The Suburban Carryall was then manufactured for the public. Chevy shared the name, and, in 1937, both Chevy and GMC offered Suburbans. It was known as an “oversized, outdoorsy people-hauler.”

Besides people, the Suburban holds lots of cargo. If you need even more space, haul your boat and load it up with even more gear. It tows up to 8,300 pounds. Checking to make sure your trailer is secure is easy, as an advanced trailer system displays four picture views of whatever you are pulling. So, instead of relying on your buddy eyeballing the hookup, check the infotainment screen, which offers a detailed and reliable checklist.

When test driving a vehicle, I push buttons, scroll the screens and flip switches off and on, just like a curious toddler. One surprise occurred after I pushed a button located near the back cargo area. The second I pressed it, the middle row bucket seat folded down and slid forward. It was like a James Bond movie, similar to him removing evidence that a seat ever existed in the row. 

That happened quick. I’m glad my camera wasn’t in that seat or it may have been flattened. That’s probably why the power release and power fold buttons are located far away from curious little hands.  

Two video screens in the middle row offer streaming entertainment. This add-on costs $1,995. Is it worth it for long rides with youngsters? I recall, on a family car ride, having a two-screen portable DVD player where the plug-in barely reached the cigarette lighter and cost a couple hundred bucks. The charge ran out before the end of the “Matilda” DVD, and then my daughters complained, “She’s touching me.” So, if you are buying “the people hauler,” the additional investment might be worth it just to keep the peace. ♦