Chevy's Suburban Angst

Chevy's biggest SUV is redesigned for 2007, and it's bigger and better than ever. If gas were cheaper sales would also be bigger and better

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Vast amounts of space; improved fit and finish; plenty of power; acceptable gas mileage

The Bad: Still a gas hog; its size makes it intimidating for some people to drive—and park

The Bottom Line: Possibly the best large SUV on the market

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

If gas were still a nickel a gallon, the Big Three would still be the world's dominant car makers and the majority of Americans would be happily tooling around in big sport utility vehicles (SUVs) like the Chevrolet Suburban. But it doesn't and we don't—which is too bad because the Suburban is actually a hell of a vehicle.

The Suburban has been around in one form or another since 1935, and after having been a hot seller for most of the last decade, sales for 2006 were down by nearly 10,000 to just over 77,000, for an 11% drop year-over-year. Of course SUV sales, especially for behemoths like the Suburban, have suffered across the board. The equally large Ford (F) Expedition is in even worse shape, slipping nearly 23%, and DaimlerChrysler's (DCX) Dodge Durango posted a dismal 39% drop.

Sales are finally beginning to perk up, but the summer driving season is almost upon us, and with it the inevitable higher prices for summer gas. General Motors (GM) reported that sales for the Suburban actually rose 10% for the first two months of 2007 over the same period last year as gas-shy consumers returned to the showrooms. It is more than just lower gas prices that are behind this modest increase: Many dealers are offering customer rebates and bonus cash that could knock $3,000 or more off the sticker.

But it will be a long time before the Suburban will be able to return to its glory days. As of Mar. 1 this year Chevy had managed to sell 11,388 Suburbans. Five years ago, Chevy had sold more than 22,100 by the end of the same period. But even in 2005, before the price of gas spiked, the appetite for Suburbans seemed to be drying up, as the company was only able to sell a feeble 10,562 for the first two months of the year.

One of the reasons is that success breeds imitation and the Suburban, originally introduced in the 1930s, is the granddaddy of big SUVs. Not only has Ford (F) rolled out its own leviathans—the mammoth Excursion was too big and was killed because, in spite of what some people think, even Americans know when to draw the line—but also GM cannibalized some of its own market by creating the GMC Yukon on the same platform, and the smaller, more upscale, and extremely successful Cadillac Escalade (see BusinessWeek.com, 11/2/06, "Cadillac's Crown Jewel ").

Even the Japanese were getting in on the act by introducing the Lexus LX 470 from Toyota's (TM) luxury division and the Nissan (NSANY) Armada, although none of these could contend with the Suburban in terms of sheer size and weight.

The other reason is that even if fuel prices were not a concern, there just aren't that many people out there who would want, let alone feel comfortable driving, a vehicle that weighs around 6,000 pounds and is 18-and-a-half feet long. Little old ladies, urbanites, and single people may find this much heft unnecessary, if not intimidating.

But for those who not only need, but truly want, this much of everything—be they large families, general contractors, or Secret Service details—it would be hard to find a vehicle that is more comfortable, practical, and passenger-friendly. To find out why, read on.

Behind the Wheel

When the 2007 Chevy Suburban LTZ 4WD was delivered to my garage, I must admit I was pretty psyched. I had to drive from Manhattan to Washington, D.C., and while the thought of how much money I was going to have to feed into the gas tank was a little depressing, having so much room for my family for the five-hour trip more than compensated.