Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2015 Chevrolet Suburban; Day 1

[evil_twin]

I know it's a bit smaller and can't quite tow as much but I think I'd go for a Dodge Durango over this.  It's about $20,000 cheaper.  That being said if towing capacity and space are my top priorities I think I'd be heading to Ford for their new Expedition.

Very different vehicle though.   The Durango is a unibody SUV not a big body-on-frame truck like these beasts.  You're shopping for a Traverse or Acadia if you're considering the Durango.

[Noto]

Hey James, what's with the entire article being a hyperlink back to the same page ?

I'm glad that you caught your fatal TV-counting error in time.  I was seriously worried about the repercussions you'd get in this thread...we forum-posters are a judgemental and hardened bunch.

Though I'm not a truck guy, I find this vehicle rather interesting.  There is some serious competition to a minivan (albeit at nearly twice the price of a loaded one from all competitors), but there are some niceties that make this more appealing (not the fuel economy.  Definitely not the fuel economy!).

Your point about the rear hatch glass is spot-on (not for lumber, but for other long items and easier loading of things) and that the 2nd/3rd rows can be returned to upright using motors means that you'd never have to climb (literally) out of the front and into the back to do the job.  Neat.  I mean, waste of weight and more motors to break, but neat!

I'm actually kinda digging this.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I know it's a bit smaller and can't quite tow as much but I think I'd go for a Dodge Durango over this.  It's about $20,000 cheaper.  That being said if towing capacity and space are my top priorities I think I'd be heading to Ford for their new Expedition.

Very different vehicle though.   The Durango is a unibody SUV not a big body-on-frame truck like these beasts.  You're shopping for a Traverse or Acadia if you're considering the Durango.

Durango can tow up to 3300kgs. You're not going to do that with an Acadia.

[OliverD]

Seating for seven is hardly surprising. The Suburban has offered middle row buckets for years. They're standard in the LTZ, optional in the LT. A three seat bench is a no-cost option in the LTZ too.

[JohnnyMac]

I know it's a bit smaller and can't quite tow as much but I think I'd go for a Dodge Durango over this.  It's about $20,000 cheaper.  That being said if towing capacity and space are my top priorities I think I'd be heading to Ford for their new Expedition.

Very different vehicle though.   The Durango is a unibody SUV not a big body-on-frame truck like these beasts.  You're shopping for a Traverse or Acadia if you're considering the Durango.

Durango can tow up to 3300kgs. You're not going to do that with an Acadia.

Exactly my point.  I think the Durango is a decent competitor to these big GM SUV's.  I think the new Expedition towes even more than the GM's as well and might get a little better fuel economy with the ecoboost V6 as their engine of choice.

[SaskSpecV]

I know it's a bit smaller and can't quite tow as much but I think I'd go for a Dodge Durango over this.  It's about $20,000 cheaper.  That being said if towing capacity and space are my top priorities I think I'd be heading to Ford for their new Expedition.

Very different vehicle though.   The Durango is a unibody SUV not a big body-on-frame truck like these beasts.  You're shopping for a Traverse or Acadia if you're considering the Durango.

Durango can tow up to 3300kgs. You're not going to do that with an Acadia.

Exactly my point.  I think the Durango is a decent competitor to these big GM SUV's.  I think the new Expedition towes even more than the GM's as well and might get a little better fuel economy with the ecoboost V6 as their engine of choice.

I really, really like the Durango, and think it makes FAR more sense for most buyers than a Suburban.   But that said - it really is a different class of vehicle.  Not just because Durango is unibody and can't 4x4 like the Suburban (though no one is off-roading with the chin spoiler thingy on James' test vehicle!), but because the Suburban can take 7-8 people & all their gear.  The only vehicles that are even close to that capacity are minivans.   Durango has pretty decent room - but you're not getting 7 people's luggage behind the rear seats in there.  If anything, the Durango would be intermediate between a Traverse and a Tahoe - more towing capacity than the former, less off-road capacity than the latter, and comparable space in all three.   

[Northernridge]

I would love a Suburban but only IF I had an actual haul/tow use for it. I would not want it for my daily driver. It wouldn't be any fun driving that wallowy tank around every day. I still prefer a car as my daily driver.

So – you need a Suburban for functional duty, and C7 for driving AND another car of your choice for daily use. In other words, a rolling $240,000 budget (80k x3).

[Fobroader]

Ive always said, if we have kids, this is my kind of family vehicle. Seats 7 with room for cargo, towing capability and I think they look great.

[Northernridge]

Ive always said, if we have kids, this is my kind of family vehicle. Seats 7 with room for cargo, towing capability and I think they look great.

...and lots of places to pack your ammunition.

[Fobroader]

Ive always said, if we have kids, this is my kind of family vehicle. Seats 7 with room for cargo, towing capability and I think they look great.

...and lots of places to pack your ammunition.

That too 

[Blueprint]

Wing, the 'burban is available as a 9-seater, one seat away from legally being a bus (at least in QC).

[revalations]

They've always been expensive! Our 2005 had an MSRP of $64,787, had every option, DVD, Navigation, leather. They also hold their value extremely well.

Didn't you just buy a newer one a few months ago? In my experience, the prices of used ones drop like a rock the first few years, then kind of plateau from there.

Yep, bought the newer one this spring, no window sticker though (used vehicle) We bought our 06 just as the new style 07's were coming out, mine had 17k (if I remember correctly) We got it for $41k, drove it for 8 years and nearly 200,000kms and got $8700 selling off Kijiji privately.
I'll say, with a big family there is no way I'd have a Durango/Acadia type vehicle. It's nice to be able to seat 8 and have a big cargo area. I looked at a Durango, you couldn't fit a double stroller behind the 3rd row, said stroller lays down flat in the Yukon. 

[ArticSteve]

I'd submit that the ecoboost V6 would get worse mileage than the V8 when actually using the truck. The stated number don't accurately reflect how you use it. My BILs father has been VERY disappointed with the ecoboost F-150.

You can omit the word "submit".  It's a fact.  Clever marketing trumps all.

[Northernridge]

Any word if GM is going to make an updated Avalanche based on the new Suburban?

[OliverD]

Any word if GM is going to make an updated Avalanche based on the new Suburban?

I don't believe they plan to. They announced a while back that the Avalanche was going to be discontinued.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Yup. Avalanche is done.

[Noto]

So I was wondering about the ground clearance given the front valence on this rig that seems incredibly low to the ground...

According to GM's website, it's 10.5" up front, and 9.1" in the back.  Correct me if I'm wrong here, but from the pictures, there is no way that the front valence has 10.5" of clearance.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

So I was wondering about the ground clearance given the front valence on this rig that seems incredibly low to the ground...

According to GM's website, it's 10.5" up front, and 9.1" in the back.  Correct me if I'm wrong here, but from the pictures, there is no way that the front valence has 10.5" of clearance.

IT's 10.5" after you tear off the air dam. 

[EV-Light]

adding some spicy here:

MT thinks the new Ford Expedition XL is a better ride...
The Expedition EL stops, steers, and rides better than the new Suburban. The Ford's 60-0-mph stopping distance of 121 feet bests that of the Suburban by 9 feet, and its more communicative and accurate steering makes it easier to place precisely on the road. The independent rear suspension ensures the cabin is a calmer place for passengers than in the live-axle Chevy on bumpy back roads, and helps the big Expedition track better through the twisties.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/2015_ford_expedition_king_ranch_el_first_test/

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Just from a packaging standpoint, I liked the Expedition better than the GMs.
The old girl is getting long in the tooth now though, even with the updates.

0-60 in 6.5 is very impressive for the long wheelbase King Ranch!