2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN: FORGING AHEAD IN ITS 76TH YEAR
08/07/2010
Chevrolet
After marking 75 years on the market in 2010 - making Suburban the oldest continuous nameplate in automotive history - the original SUV rolls into its 76th year with the same blend of spaciousness and capability that made it an American icon.
Suburban delivers the capability of hauling more passengers and cargo than any other vehicle in the segment. It is based on GM's full-size SUV architecture, which features sleek, exterior styling; a sharp, precise driving feel; and excellent interior refinement and quietness.
Riding on a 130-inch (3,302 mm) wheelbase, the Suburban's dimensions support generous passenger and cargo capability, while enabling its smooth ride. Behind the first-row seats, Suburban offers 137.4 cubic feet (3,890 liters) of cargo room, along with up to 8,100 pounds (3,674 kg) of towing capability (1500 2WD models), when properly equipped; Suburban 2500 can tow up to 9,600 pounds (4,354 kg).
The Suburban lineup features LS, LT and LTZ models, with 2WD and 4WD, as well as 1500 and heavy-duty 2500 series. (LTZ is available only on 1500 series.) A Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed is standard on 1500 models, optimizing fuel economy on the highway via reduced engine speed. Also, the lower-rpm engine speed on the highway enhances interior quietness.
Suburban is packed with technologies hadn't even been dreamed of 75 years ago, including Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity with specific steering wheel controls, an available rear camera system that can be displayed in either the inside rearview mirror or the navigation display (depending on radio choice), Side Blind Zone detection, head curtain side-impact air bags and StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.
Changes for 2011 include three new exterior colors - Mocha Steel Metallic, Steel Green Metallic and Ice Blue Metallic - and a host of package revisions. Here are the details, per equipment level:
Suburban 1LS:
- Standard rear audio system controls with two headphone jacks
- Standard Bluetooth connectivity
- Standard floor console with storage area
- Standard wood grain interior appearance
- Standard luggage rack center rails
- Standard body-color exterior door handles and mirror caps
- Standard premium-cloth front bucket seats, with 40/20/40 split-bench optional.
Suburban 1LZ:
- Standard chrome recovery hooks on 4WD model
- Standard two-speed transfer case on 4WD model
- Available 20-inch chrome wheels.
Also, the available trailering package now includes the integrated trailer brake controller.
Design details
Suburban wears the global face of Chevrolet, with a large Chevy gold bowtie centered on a distinctive grille. The body-colored grille surround is inset with an argent texture mesh. Fog lamps and headlamps feature detailed optics. The lower fascia, incorporating the front license plate holder and integrated tow hooks, is aggressively styled with a skid plate look that enhances Suburban's rugged, off-road appearance.
Suburban's front-end styling reflects its capability. It includes the fast-rake windshield; a bulging power dome hood; a prominent fender design with integrated wheel flares; a distinctive grille and headlamps; and a full-wrap fascia. The wraparound fascia, which eliminates the conventional bumper-to-body gap, is one of the numerous attributes that gives the Suburban a more refined look. It also enhances aerodynamics.
Seventeen-inch wheels and tires are standard on 1500 models, with 20-inch wheels available (standard on LTZ). The large wheels fill Suburban's wheelhouses, giving the vehicle a confident stance. Suburban 2500 come with standard 17-inch wheels.
Suburban also offers power-articulated running boards on LTZ models. They blend smoothly with the vehicle's design, but automatically move downward and outward when the doors are opened, providing a lower step-in height.
The popular Z71 Off Road appearance package returns for 2011. It includes the Z71 Off Road suspension with high-pressure, gas-charged monotube shocks; 18-inch on/off-road tires; automatic-locking rear differential; front recovery hooks; a durable skid plate and a high-capacity air cleaner. Large, color-keyed fender flares; an aggressive front fascia and satin chrome tubular assist steps; and bright chrome grille insert provide a distinctive appearance.
Interior refinement and convenience
Suburban's interior represents refinement, comfort, quality and convenience. Refinement is exemplified throughout Suburban's spacious interior, creating an environment that exudes quality and precision. A two-tone color scheme is executed with soft and low-gloss materials for the instrument panel and other trim pieces. Also, there are almost no exposed metal hardware or latches, as all models feature enclosing "close outs" around the seat bottoms and doorsill trim plates.
Accessibility and capability are enhanced with features that include a unique power-release fold-and-tumble second-row seat and a third-row seat that also is easily removable. Storage capability is maximized with the segment's largest center console storage bin, a larger glove box and additional new storage compartments.
Suburban's available features also include:
- Power-release fold-and-tumble second-row seat
- Remote vehicle starting system
- First- and second-row heated seats
- Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
- Driver information center
- Tri-zone automatic HVAC
- Rearview camera system
- Touch-screen navigation system
- DVD rear-seat entertainment system with eight-inch screen.
Suburban features an impressive audio/navigation lineup, which provides quality entertainment and information. A family of CD/MP3-compatible radios leads the audio lineup, with a DVD entertainment system that includes a large, eight-inch screen (with in-dash loading) and a second flip-down screen for the third seating row. A touch-screen navigation radio is available on LT and standard on LTZ.
Powertrains
Standard in Suburban 1500 2WD models is an iron-block Vortec 5.3L V-8 with 320 horsepower (239 kW)* and 335 lb.-ft. of torque (454 Nm)*, which offers Active Fuel Management fuel-saving technology. Active Fuel Management technology seamlessly switches between eight- and four-cylinder power to save fuel. An aluminum-block version of the 5.3L is standard in 4WD models. The engines can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 fuel.
The Suburban 1500 engines are backed by the fuel-saving Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission.
Heavy-duty Suburban 2500 models offer a 6.0L V-8. It features an iron cylinder block and is rated at 352 horsepower (262 kW)* and 382 lb.-ft. of torque (518 Nm).* It is matched with a new, fuel-saving Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission.
Strong and smooth
Extensive attention to detail was paid to ensure a quiet driving experience. It centers on the stiff frame, which reduces vibrations transmitted to the passenger cabin. The strength and accuracy of the fully boxed frame also enable more precise mounting and tuning of chassis and suspension components, which also help reduce vibration. Even the tires on the large, 17-inch standard and 20-inch available wheels (1500 models) were designed to reduce noise.
The Autoride suspension system, standard on LTZ, complements Suburban's quietness and smoothness. This segment-exclusive, bi-state, real-time damping system provides an extremely refined ride with greatly reduced body motion. The system consists of a semi-active, two-position damping control system that responds in real time to road and driving conditions, based on body and wheel motion sensors.
Superior safety
The Suburban offers security in the form of a 360-degree perimeter safety system of occupant protection and crash-avoidance technologies. Standard features include roof-mounted head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows and front-seat safety belt pretensioners that are linked to the vehicle's sensing system to provide segment-exclusive deployment in rear-end crashes. These features are integrated into a stronger vehicle structure that is also designed for improved compatibility with other vehicles.
The roof-mounted head curtain air bags include design features that provide increased rollover protection and occupant containment. These head curtain side air bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts, since rollover incidents can last longer. The deployment duration and other design features of the air bags combine to provide increased occupant protection and the ability to help keep occupants inside the vehicle.
Additional safety features include:
- Standard OnStar with one-year Safe and Sound plan, including Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services, Crisis Assist, Stolen Vehicle Assistance featuring Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, Roadside Assistance and more
- Standard StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology
- Standard dual-stage driver's front air bag
- Standard dual-stage outboard-front passenger air bag with passenger
sensing system
- Standard tire pressure monitoring system
- Available Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist that can detect certain stationary objects in the rearward path of the vehicle and send an audible warning sound and display via three LEDs on the right D-pillar
- Available rearview camera system designed to provide the driver with
a view of people or objects in the rearward path of the vehicle
- Available Side Blind Zone Alert system
- Standard pull-up/push-down power window switches.
*SAE certified.