2009 Chevrolet Suburban Review

Sometimes you just need something big, something strong, something with genuine four-wheel drive and you need it all in one truck. A truck that will tow a sizable trailer and carry lots of people or haul a load of cargo over primitive roads is an indispensible tool for those who need it. That's the Suburban's mission. It has gotten more luxurious over the years, sometimes becoming a substitute for a large sedan.

For 2009, the Suburban comes with a new six-speed automatic transmission. An integrated trailer brake controller is now available, which is a great feature for towing. Also new is the latest OnStar version 8.0, Bluetooth, wheels, colors, an added third screen for the rear-seat entertainment option, XM NavTraffic, two choices of backup camera systems, side Blind Zone Alert option, more standards on LTZ (such as heated and cooled memory front seats), a Luxury package to bring a 2LT trim-level closer to LTZ spec. The Suburban was completely redesigned for 2007.

Suburban can handle 137 cubic feet of cargo, or up to nine passengers and 45 cubic feet or stuff, and myriad combinations in between. Two weight classes are offered, the normal 1500 and the heavy-duty 2500.

The Suburban competes with the Ford Expedition EL (8 seats max), the GMC Yukon XL, the Cadillac Escalade ESV (more features and power, no low-range 4WD), Lincoln Navigator L, Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada.