Chevy Suburban

It’s not easy to find a vehicle with a history as long as the Chevy Suburban. While this gives you plenty of vehicles to pick from, it also makes it a bit more challenging to figure out everything you need to know about the vehicle before you get one.

They first hit the road in 1935, and since then Chevy has released twelve generations. It’s a lot to go through, but we’ve taken the time to go over the highlights for you here! Whether you’re interested in getting one for yourself or just want to learn a bit more about them, you’re in the right place.

The Early Years

The Chevy Suburban is one of the oldest vehicle models still on the road today with the first Suburban rolling off the assembly line in 1935. Sure, it doesn’t look anything like the modern Suburban, but there’s no denying that’s what it is.

From 1935 to 1992, the Suburban went through seven different generations that started to meld the Suburban into what it is today. But with that in mind, we didn’t want to dive too far into those vehicles. Because while they’re some pretty cool vehicles there are not too many of them left on the road today and there are simply too many changes from a 1935 Suburban to a 2023 Suburban for us to highlight in one article!

The Newer Generations

When you go through all the different Suburban generations, you can start to recognize it as a modern Suburban with the 8th generation. That’s where we’re going to start our more in-depth analysis for you here, and it’s also where you’ll start to be able to find more of them still on the road today!

Eighth Generation

When the first eighth-generation Suburban hit the road in 1992, there were three different engine options. The base engine was a 5.7L, but there’s also an upgraded 7.4L gasoline engine and a 6.5L engine.

In 1996 both the 5.7L and 7.4L engines received upgrades that significantly improved performance numbers. No stock eighth-generation Suburban could keep up with modern versions, but with large V8 engine blocks, they’re still powerful choices.

Every eighth-generation Suburban switched to a GMT400 platform, ditching the older C/K series, and this is why the eighth-generation has more of a “modern” feel to it. It also includes an independent front suspension system which you couldn’t find on previous Suburban models.

Ninth Generation

In 1999 Chevy retired the eighth-generation Suburban when they unveiled the ninth generation. The first things to go were the 5.7L and 7.4L engines, and instead Chevy offered three different gasoline engines, all of which pushed out more horsepower than any eighth-generation option.

Other changes included moving the spare tire to underneath the vehicle instead of putting it in the cargo area, an upgraded instrument panel, four-wheel disc brakes, more digital components, and an electronic climate control system starting on the LT trim levels.

The ninth-generation Suburban doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you’ll find on newer models, but it’s clearly a step towards a more digitized vehicle.

Tenth Generation

The tenth-generation Suburban came out for the 2007 model year. Chevy kept the 5.3L and 6.0L engine options, but they did tune them up a bit for better performance. Meanwhile, they dropped the 8.1L engine option completely.

The tenth-generation Suburban sees tons of new technological features. These features include radios with USB ports starting with the 2010 model years, LTZ models with a DVD player and navigation, and a completely redesigned dashboard that can handle all these new technologies.

They don’t come with all the newest technological features you can find in most cars today, but you’re also not going to feel like you’re sitting in a relic when you’re inside one!

Eleventh Generation

The eleventh-generation Suburban screams that it’s a modern vehicle. They all come with newer EcoTec3 engines that improve fuel efficiency, and the new 6.2L option is more powerful than all previous versions.

These models come with fold-flat seats for the second and third rows that allow you to maximize storage space when you’re not hauling around passengers, and they come with the newest technological features like 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, USB ports throughout, and even a three-prong 120-volt outlet on the Suburban XL models.

There’s also an available eight-inch color touchscreen radio with MyLink connectivity features. If you want all the newer technological features you’ll want an eleventh- or twelfth-generation Suburban.

In 2015 Chevy updated the Suburban to include making 4G LTE Wi-Fi capabilities standard starting with the LT and LTZ trim levels and the LTZ trim level also comes standard with the LTZ trim level starting at this point.

Twelfth Generation

The twelfth-generation Suburban came out in 2021, and it has all the newest bells and whistles. It’s the first Suburban since 1999 that offers a diesel engine option and it’s the first six-cylinder diesel engine. But don’t let that fool you, it still pushes 460 lb-ft of torque at just 1,500 RPM.

While the larger 6.2L gasoline engine can match those torque numbers, it needs to get up to 4,100 RPM to get there.

But while there are some new engine options under the hood, that’s far from the only changes with the twelfth-generation Suburban. They also swapped out the live axle and leaf springs for an independent rear multi link suspension with coil springs which increased the interior space for the second and third rows.

It still has a signature “boxy” Suburban look, but there’s no denying it has more curves than previous models and that puts it more in line with the appearance of other modern vehicles.

It also comes with a 10.25” touchscreen that’s standard on all trim levels. Upgraded trim levels also come with two 12.6” LCD rear screens that can play content from smartphones and each screen can play different shows. If there’s a feature you want, there’s probably a twelfth-generation Suburban that has it.

Chevy Suburban Sales Numbers

We only have access to the Chevy Suburban sale numbers starting in 1996, but from then on there’s been no shortage of sales. From 1996 to 2017 Chevy sold just over 2.8 million Suburbans in the United States alone.

In short, if you’re in the market for a Suburban you’ll have plenty of options to pick from with millions of them on the road today!

The Future of the Chevy Suburban

With a history that runs back to 1935 and thriving sales numbers, it doesn’t look like the Suburban is going anywhere anytime soon. But while it certainly seems like it’s going to remain a staple in Chevy’s lineup, it wouldn’t surprise us if Chevy continues to make more of a push to make these large vehicles more fuel efficient.

They’re never going to rival a Prius, but Chevy has made it a priority to get more out of a gallon of gas over the years. For instance, a 1999 Suburban got 14 city and 18 highway miles per gallon, while a 2021 Suburban gets 21 city and 27 highway miles per gallon.

But with thriving sales numbers, a great vehicle, and an avid fan base it doesn’t seem like the Suburban is going anywhere any time soon!

Final Thoughts

Are you interested in getting behind the wheel of a Suburban or do you have questions about which one is best for you? The team at Tim’s Truck would love to help you out. Not only will they answer any questions you might have about the Suburban, but they’ll also help you track down the perfect Suburban for you and help you get everything in line so you get behind the wheel of your very own.

If you’re interested in the Suburban there’s no better place to get one than Tim’s Truck!

Pre-Owned Chevy Suburban