As we look towards the very near future here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse and the many changes that are now taking place, the last few years have brought about many intense changes. After the engine in the All-American Corvette was moved to the middle, the ripples of different things around the corner were felt heavily, and customers looking for a new year's model have more outstanding choices than ever. The Suburban is one of those vehicles that remains the same in all the best and memorable ways, as a large and commanding utility vehicle with a distinguishable and specific breed of toughness.
The Suburban has seen a redesign for 2021, with yet more size and improved ride. At heart, it will always be the same body-on-frame truck boasting upper-level towing ability and space to get perfectly comfortable during long trips. The previous solid axle is now replaced by Chevy's independent rear suspension, and the Suburban sees an extra 4.5 inches of legroom in the second and third rows. Behind the third row, there is now 42 cubic feet, finishing at 6 more feet than the close competition in the form of the Ford Expedition Max.
Cloaked in the range-topping High Country trim is how the Car and Driver crew's testing enjoyed the model, and the 10.2-inch touchscreen is simple to use and very responsive. The selection of capable and burly engines range from the 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8, the 420-horsepower 6.2-Liter V8 on the High Country, as well as the brand-new 277-horsepower 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six. When you take into consideration the Suburban's 6121-pounds of weight, it is quite admirable that the 6.2-Liter can shimmy its way up to 60 mph in a mere 6.1 seconds.
On top of the new model's 4-inch wheelbase stretch, you can opt for air springs that result in a more comfortable ride as well as a two-inch lift, practical for safe clearance in any off-road setting. The longest-running nameplate in existence is the proud result of nearly 90 years of development, and once you set in and get a chance to feel what the ride is like for a long haul, you'll get the pleasure of experiencing what Automobile mag deemed during their drive as “gentle and floaty.” When it's time to find parking, the camera in nose view is a great feature, many times allowing for you to “land on first pass.”
Holding a steady line in Sport mode is another one of the 2021 Suburban's fine traits: it does not feel clumsy in the least, and rapidly-approaching bumps won't damage or unsettle your ride. GM's world-class magnetic shocks and independent rear-suspension work wonders for boosting the comfort factor and adapting to every constant change in the road. To keep everyone fully entertained, one of the most frequently-praised items in the new Suburban is the comprehensive rearseat entertainment system, making old school versions of connect four and battleship for hours on end now tend to lean toward the duller side of ways to pass the time!
