Once upon a time, the Chevy Suburban was in a class by itself, but the 2022 Chevy Suburban takes things to another level. Equal parts sport and utility, the Suburban has been in production since 1935, making it one of the oldest continuously manufactured vehicles in the United States. Of course, plenty has changed in the world since 1935, and the automotive industry has evolved to keep up with the times. The Suburban’s identity has shifted a little over the years, too. Once considered the ideal vehicle for hauling around family and farm implements, it became the premier three-row SUV at the start of the SUV boom. For a while, it fell out of favor with anyone who didn’t need to haul about large quantities of people or stuff due to rising fuel prices and the public perception that large vehicles are more dangerous and harder to drive.
But this is a new day, and the 2022 Chevy Suburban rises to the challenge. Thanks to impeccable engineering and rapidly developing technology, the new Suburban is safer than ever, provides loads of room, and includes all of the creature comforts. While people may think of the Suburban as a hulking, cold, gas-guzzling beast of a vehicle, the 2022 Chevy Suburban asks the public to reconsider that position and just go for a ride.
Comfort and Capacity
There’s no denying that the 2022 Chevy Suburban is a large SUV, but for some drivers, large is exactly the right size for their daily driving needs. Have a lot of passengers that need to get from Point A to Point B? Want to hit the road with your boo, your crew, and all your stuff, too? If having lots of room and plenty of seats is an absolute must for your drive style, the Suburban has you covered.
Inside, you’ll find three rows of seats, which can accommodate up to nine passengers if the front bench seat is selected. These are not the vinyl-clad, cold, hard benches of days gone by, however. Cozy cloth upholstery adorns these seats, which are well-stuffed for longer trips. Some trims offer a 60/40 folding second and third-row bench, while others allow drivers to turn that second row into two captain’s chairs for even more enjoyment on the road. Folding these seats allows the Suburban to reach its total cargo capacity of 144.7 cubic feet, making it one of the most spacious SUVs on today’s market. Depending on the trim and packages selected, the second and third rows offer a power-folding mechanism, which makes it easier than ever to change the seating/stowing configuration.
If that’s not enough space, the 2022 Suburban is also very adept at towing, with the capacity to pull loads up to 8,300 pounds in the right configuration. Chevy’s Advanced Trailering System can be optioned in as well to make pulling large loads easier and safer than ever. This system allows drivers to view what’s happening in and around their vehicle with an in-vehicle app that provides camera views to the driver on demand. It also allows drivers to create profiles for each trailer and monitors important details like tire pressure and temperature.
Is the 2022 Chevy Suburban big? Well, yes, but no bigger than it needs to be to provide multi-passenger, lots-of-stuff drivers with exactly the room they require.
Zip Around With a Capable Engine
The next myth is that the Suburban is a slow, sluggish vehicle. With three powerful engine options for 2022, that’s simply not true. Sure, there was a time when vehicles weren’t as responsive as they are now, but there was also a time when anti-lock brakes and power steering weren’t available. Things have changed, and the Suburban has been engineered to exceed your expectations.
The solid rear axle has been replaced with an independent suspension, which means less bouncing and jostling for the third-row passengers. Magnetic Ride Control is also available on many trims, equipping the Suburban with electronically controlled shock absorbers that sense the road and adjust the ride to meet the conditions encountered. Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension can also be added on, making the ride you get in the Suburban delightful regardless of your seating position.
Then, of course, there are the engines. The standard offering for all but the High Country trim is a 5.3L V8 that provides an earnest 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard, though drivers may select four-wheel drive in all versions. The High Country includes a standard 6.2L V8 that can be optioned into several other trims, as well. With 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, this engine has a lot of get up and go, making the Suburban downright peppy.
Also available on all but the Z71 trim is a 3.0L inline-6 diesel engine. Good for 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, this engine option is for those who are wary of the fuel consumption in a vehicle the size of the Suburban. While the other two engines have an EPA fuel economy of 14 miles per gallon in the city and 19 or 20 miles per gallon on the highway, depending on whether rear or four-wheel drive is selected, the diesel rear-wheel drive consumes 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. Choosing four-wheel drive drops these numbers only slightly, to 20 miles per gallon city and 26 miles per gallon highway.
An Interior You Will Want to Spend Time In
Perhaps one of the most sought-after features of any vehicle, regardless of size or shape, is an interior that is comfortable and accommodating. In this sense, the 2022 Chevy Suburban does not disappoint. The interior has been carefully crafted to provide greater efficiency, meaning that every storage pocket, every cup holder, and every air vent have been specifically placed and designed for its job. Features such as Bluetooth connectivity, an HD rear vision camera, remote start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are standard on all trims, along with tri-zone automatic climate control, USB ports in all rows, and WiFi, making every Suburban a road-trip worthy vehicle.
The 2022 Suburban is offered in six trims: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Each provides a variety of carefully selected features to enhance its capability. The LS includes a chrome roof rack, while the LT adds a Bose audio system and a hands-free programmable power liftgate. The RST has a stunning visual impact, with Jet Black, Victory Red, and Black Ice as the color palette. The Z71 is the most off-road capable Suburban yet, with skid plates, recovery hooks, and standard four-wheel drive. The Premier includes a 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system, heated and ventilated seats, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. At the very top is the High Country trim, with its 10.2-inch infotainment system with built-in Google Assistant, 12-inch color driver information center, and perforated leather seating throughout.
Each 2022 Chevy Suburban also includes a standard driver assistance and safety package. Known as Chevy Safety Assist, it includes Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, a Following Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam High Beam Assist.
The 2022 Chevy Suburban Lives Up to Its Name
It is an unavoidable truth that the Chevy Suburban is a large SUV, but that’s exactly its purpose. As to the rumors that the Suburban is uncomfortable and hard to drive, it’s clear to see that they are just that: rumors. The 2022 Chevy Suburban is more capable and driver-friendly than ever.
Combining street smarts, the right amount of power, and features that nearly every driver and passenger can appreciate, there is a lot to like about the Suburban besides its size. For those who need plenty of room, more than a little towing capacity, and abundant comfortable seating, there are few options that meet the standard set by the Chevy Suburban. As one of the longest players in the large SUV game, the Suburban has evolved to give drivers exactly what they need to stay safe and happy on the road, whether that means a quick run to the grocery store or a cross-country trip with a camper.
