The takeaway: A smooth and quiet six-cylinder Duramax diesel engine makes this better suited than any other large SUV for towing heavy loads.
- Independent rear suspension lowers the rear floor, adding head and legroom to the third-row seats
- Its 144 cubic feet of interior cargo space is the best among large SUVs
- The 20/26/22 city/hwy/combined mpg makes it the most fuel efficient full-size SUV available
SPECS
- Base Price: $62,800 ($73,135 as tested)
- Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six turbo diesel
- Torque: 460 lb-ft
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- MPG: 22 (combined city and highway)
- Towing capacity: 8,000 pounds (with Max towing package)
- Cabin Noise: 72dB (highway speed, as tested)
- Seating Capacity: 8 adults (over three rows)
Chevrolet’s Suburban and Tahoe sibling dominate the full-size SUV market. With the 2021 updates, the Chevy sought to strengthen its position, improving the capabilities of these two vehicles, boosting interior space and comfort, and making them easier to drive.
The 2021 Suburban that rolled out over the summer had two eight-cylinder engine options: a 5.2-liter or a 6.2-liter, each available in 2WD or 4WD. Now, the company adds a third option: an inline-six Duramax diesel that puts out 277 horses, and 460 pound feet of torque, the same performance as the 6.2-liter non-diesel V8 option. And all of that torque is available at just 1,500 rpm, making the engine’s power more accessible. For comparison, you have to hit 4,100 rpm to get all that torque in the eight cylinder model. That translates to smooth driving at highway speeds and more effortless towing, without the jumping through gears that can happen with gas engines.
There’s some appealing fuel savings too. The 2WD diesel gets an EPA-checked 23mpg (combined city and highway) and the 4WD gives you 22mpg. That makes it the most fuel efficient SUV available. Our test drives came in just under that, about 19mph in the city and 26 on our highway loop at a steady 65mph.
A Smooth-Running Diesel Duramax Engine
GM's Duramax engine is the only diesel available on a full-size SUV. Luckily, it's also smooth and quiet—not detracting from the ride quality or comfort at all. Because the torque is available at such a low RPM, it feels quick and powerful, too. It’s a bit louder than a gas version, but not by much, partially because Chevy added some noise abatement to keep those sounds out of the cabin. We measured about 63 decibels during slow-speed city driving and 72 decibels during our highway test.
We didn’t tow anything during our review, but we could see the diesel engine's benefits for that purpose. When we hit steeper grades on the interstate that typically send vehicles jumping through gears, the Suburban remained calm with RPMs holding steady at 1,600 as we pushed up at 67mph.
With Chevy’s Max towing package, which gives you a higher-capacity radiator and cooling fan, plus trailer-brake controller and up to nine total camera views to help you do everything from connect to your hitch and view around your load. With that package, the 2WD Suburban diesel can tow up to 8,000 pounds and the 4WD model can tow up to 7,800.
Larger Interior Space and New Suspension
The overall size of the Suburban only grew by about an inch compared to last year's model, but the wheelbase is now about 4 inches longer. That helps with interior space, especially with second and third row seating and the rear cargo area. With the seats down, the Suburban has 144 cubic feet of space, more than any other full-size SUV.
The 2021 model also gets rear independent multi-link suspension, which improves ride quality (the extra wheelbase helps here too, especially on bad roads) and lowers the floor. That boosts legroom, especially for third row passengers. Full size adults can sit comfortably in the way-back seats without having to stare at their knees. The second-row seats also slide forward and back about 5 inches, allowing you to better manage leg room.
Premium versions of the Suburban include air suspension with magnetic dampers, which should further smooth out the ride. Chevy calls the latter Magnetic Ride Control and it uses sensors and magnetic fluid to continually adjust the suspension based on road conditions.
Driving the 2021 Suburban
At just under 19 feet and a turning diameter of 43.3 feet (with the 22-inch wheels on our test RST model), the Suburban is a lot of vehicle to control. On the road, it’s predictable and relatively easy to manage. The steering feels accurate and requires just a light touch. A suite of safety and drive-assist features are also welcome. Up to 9 cameras, parking assist, and front-pedestrian braking are especially helpful on a vehicle this size. The hood also has a slight forward slope, which improves forward visibility. However, we measured an 11-foot blindspot ahead of the vehicle (using a 30-inch-high dummy). That’s about twice as much as some mid-size SUVs we’ve recently tested.
Parking can be a challenge, as expected in a vehicle this large. It took us three tries to squeeze into a tight spot at Wawa on our first test drive, and while it got easier as we became accustomed to the vehicle, it was never effortless the way it is in mid-size SUVs. That’s going to be true of any vehicle this large, but it's worth noting for any buyers who are accustomed to smaller SUVs and crossovers.
From the driver's seat, the entertainment system and controls are easy to use and smartly designed. A mix of buttons and knobs make it mostly pleasing and the 10-inch info center is intuitive to use.
If you have to fit three rows of passengers, tow a trailer, and want better fuel economy than the competition, the diesel Suburban meets every criteria. And if you're already sold on a Suburban, the cost for the diesel upgrade is only about $1,000 over the gas models (and $1,500 less than the premium High Country spec with a V8). Not everyone needs what the diesel Suburban provides. But for those who do, it’s the best option we've seen so far.
