Chevrolet

Tahoe/Suburban

When you really need to haul

Available as a Chevy- or GMC-badged model, gradually it was offered with an increasing array of comfort, convenience and luxury options. By the late eighties it's primary role was leaning towards carrying around families and all their stuff.

A newly redesigned and refined Suburban bowed for the 1992 model year. It was attractive, luxurious, big, and intimidating -- and it immediately became a status symbol in suburbia nationwide. Among the increasingly popular SUV segment, the Suburban was top dog -- bigger and more able to haul and tow stuff than any of them. Lavishly equipped, any resemblance that had remained to the original concept of the Suburban had pretty much disappeared.

GM made gobs of money on every one. Hoping to capitalize on the runaway success of the Suburban, they followed up for the 1995 model year with the Suburban-based Tahoe (Chevy) and Yukon (GMC). Simply a short wheelbase Suburban with 7 inches lopped off the back, they were another success, bringing in buyers that may have been put off by the sheer hugeness of the Suburban.

For the 2000 model year, GM redesigned and upgraded both the Suburban and the Tahoe, quite nicely we might add. They even made them a couple inches shorter. And they're not the biggest kid on the block anymore. That somewhat dubious distinction now goes to Ford's gargantuan Excursion.

What's Available
This generation of the Chevy/GMC Suburban was introduced for the 1992 model year. Both were available only as a four-door wagon, but you could choose between a conventional rear tailgate and two side-opening doors.  Two versions were available, the 1/2 ton (1500) and the 3/4 ton (2500), and both could be optioned up with heavy-duty towing equipment. As you might expect, the 2500 ultimately had the highest load and towing limits.

Each could be outfitted with either two- or four-wheel drive. The "C" designation indicates two-wheel-drive and the "K" model means that it is equipped with a part-time four-wheel drive system. Three engines were available: a standard 5.7 liter V8, and an optional 7.4 liter V8 and 6.5 liter diesel on the beefier 2500 models. Eventually ('96) the diesel found its way into the 1500 as well.

At first, trim levels for the Chevy were designated Cheyenne and the more expensive Silverado. In '95 the first step up in optional trim packages got the LS designation and the top version got an LT badge. GMC Suburbans got corresponding trim levels designated SL and SLE, although initially the base was called the Sierra. Wow, that was confusing.

Four-door Tahoes and Yukons essentially followed the same blueprint, only with a 14-inch shorter wheelbase and about 7-inches less hanging off the back. A 2-door version of each was available as a Chevy Blazer and GMC Yukon. In 1995 the Blazer was renamed Tahoe which finally eliminated the confusion between it and the smaller S10 Blazer.

The two door versions of both are mechanically identical to their four-door siblings, but much shorter and far less suitable for family duty.

Exterior Design
The new design thoroughly updated the previous model's looks, which believe it or not, was essentially unchanged since 1973.

The word boxy comes immediately to mind, but it is done with slightly rounded corners to soften the effect. The big front grille is lavished with chrome, but it looks right on this vehicle. The difference between the two? GMC's version lost the thick horizontal piece of chrome that split the grill in favor of a slightly rounded black grill opening with a large GMC badge.

Of course, you can't help but notice the size of the Suburban. It's big. The Tahoe/Yukon don't exactly show up to the party looking small, but they do look better balanced without all the rear overhang. The thick, five spoke alloys are a definite visual enhancement.

Interior Design
The '92-'94 models have rather cheap-looking dashboards and door trim. Things got better in '95, when all Suburbans, Tahoes, Yukons and full-size pickups got a complete interior upgrade.  The updated dash is big and functional, with everything easy to reach and operate. A full complement of gauges including a tachometer, which was previously optional, greet the driver. We still don't like those gray knobs and buttons, though.

There are many thoughtful touches around the cabin. Flip-up notepads, rear seatback nets, 12-volt outlets, cup holders, map pockets, etc. show that GM put some thought into this vehicle.

Room & Comfort
Both the Suburban and the Tahoe/Yukon twins have plenty of room for five. Head, shoulder and leg room are ample front and rear, even for tall people. The front seat came in two configurations: buckets with a large center console, or a split-bench seat with a large fold down armrest. The middle person would not be very comfortable, so stick someone there only in a pinch. The seats themselves are a bit too soft for our liking and need more support for the lower back. The rear seat is especially comfortable with its high, chair-like seating.

Available only on the Suburban was a third, removable seat in the way (and we mean way) back. It will hold three adults in reasonable comfort, but it's awkward getting in and out.

These vehicles deliver a commanding view of the road, and that's one of the reasons people love big SUV's. Judging distances during parking maneuvers took some getting used to -- the big, high hood leaves several feet around it completely hidden.

Cargo space on the Tahoe and Yukon is quite generous. There's lots of room behind the rear (middle) seat, and it easily folds forward for even more cargo room.  On the Suburban, it's phenomenal. With the back seat folded and the rear seat out, you could practically park it on an empty house lot and move in. We prefer the traditional tailgate arrangement, but the dual swing-out ("barn") doors have some merit, too.

Ride, Handling and Performance
These are big trucks, and they behave like them. The 2500 series is particularly truck-like. These are the ones that have all the heavy-duty equipment that allows you to tow and haul the big stuff. The Suburban, for instance, can be outfitted to tow 10,000 pounds. The price you pay is a bouncy, jittery ride, with handling that can best be described as ponderous. The 4WD drive version is the worst in this regard.  Consider the 2500 only if you routinely have to tow a heavy load.

The 1500 series is the one that is intended for regular family duties. It has a different suspension setup than it's beefier brother and both the ride and handling improve markedly.  It's a pretty good highway cruiser, but there's no mistaking it for a car once you leave the smooth asphalt. Both versions lean, plow and squeal (it's not pretty) when pushed through corners, and rough roads can cause all kinds of excitement. As you would expect, the smaller Tahoe/Yukon twins feel the best.

Acceleration varies. The early version Suburbans, with their 5.7 liter, 200hp engine are adequate, but we would caution against pulling a big load with one. They'll do it, but there is a better alternative.  Later models were upgraded to 250hp, then to 255hp. They are a noticeable improvement. The big 7.4 liter V8 (the old 454ci big block) motivates these big trucks with ease. The turbo diesel makes a racket -- you could even call it obtrusive -- but with lots of early torque,  it does a good job moving even the big Suburban at lower speeds. And it's just the ticket for tough towing assignments.

The older Suburban we drove ('93) exhibited lots of road noise. A later model ('98), and a Tahoe was much quieter. Wind noise was evident in all models. Rattles, clunks and buzzes in the '93 were enough to drive us crazy, and there were some (although far fewer) in the '98 as well. The Tahoe was rattle-free. We hate rattles.

We did not test any model's off-road behavior, and most owners never venture beyond a dirt road anyway.

Braking was barely adequate. No, let's not sugarcoat it -- it stunk on the Suburban, and was marginally better on the Tahoe. The front discs/rear drums just aren't up to the job. A mushy, non-linear feel and long stopping distances were the order of the day. The rear-drive Suburban pitched forward (nose-dived) perilously during an emergency stop and felt on the verge of being unstable. The 4WD (part time system, manually or electronically activated) version and the Tahoe were better. All models are equipped with an anti-lock braking system.

Safety
For many people, one of the primary reasons for purchasing one of these vehicles is their size and the sense of security they deliver. While it's true that you'd rather be in one of these than a Ford Escort in a head-on collision, you should also take into account their ponderous handling and relative inability to avoid accidents. Abrupt, accident-avoiding emergency maneuvers that a reasonably nimble car can execute with ease may be beyond the capability of one of these behemoths. Also consider the poor brake performance.

There were no airbags until a driver's bag was added in 1995. A passenger airbag arrived for the '97 model year. As mentioned earlier,  ABS brakes came with every Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon.

Government crash tests

 Despite the kinetic energy these big trucks project in crash tests into an immovable wall, they scored quite well. A '96 Tahoe with only a driver's air bag garnered a "very good" rating for the driver and a "good" rating for the front seat passenger. After a passenger air bag arrived for the '97 model year, both the Suburban and Tahoe increased the passenger rating to "very good" as well.

After 1994, adjustable seatbelt anchors came with all Suburbans, Tahoes and Yukons.

Service/Maintenance Costs
Routine service and maintenance costs are typical Chevy-low, as are parts costs when things break. There are a couple extra fluid checks in the 4WD models pertaining to the drivetrain.

The diesel and turbo-diesel require more attention, but deliver better gas mileage. You'll pay a premium for the diesel and it will take a lot of driving to make up for both the premium, the higher cost of diesel (generally), and the increased service requirements.  Because of this, we recommend the diesel only if you've got something big to tow.  We wouldn't buy one at all.

The Suburban has a 42 gallon gas tank. The Tahoe/Yukon 30. At a typical average of 14-16 miles per gallon, well, you do the math!

Reliability
These trucks have established a reputation of being durable and long-lived. Unfortunately, they seem to be plagued by small, annoying problems, mostly in the areas of the braking and electrical systems. Sure, many of these trucks are worked harder than your normal Camry, but components should have heavy-duty usage requirements factored into their service ratings. Besides, most have lives that differ little from your traditional family car, other than the occasional towing duty.

We also noticed that the majority of vehicles we looked at had trim that was either loose, incorrectly fitted or about to fall off. Not exactly a confidence builder.

Summary
Dismal fuel economy, spotty reliability, ponderous handling and maneuverability. The Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon brothers possess all these things. Yet for large active families that may tow a couple snowmobiles or a boat and occasionally venture off-road, these vehicles are practical, and tough to beat.  GM has made great progress in the quality of its vehicles, and we were encouraged to find the '98 Tahoe we sampled tight and rattle-free.
Ford's newer Expedition (introduced in '97) is a bit more modern and polished, and fits in-between these two models in size. It is a viable alternative, but despite its newness, it does not offer anything new.

Logically, most families are best suited to a smaller SUV such as an Explorer, 4Runner, or Blazer. Or even a minivan. But logic doesn't always come into play during car buying, and if you need to feel big and intimidating--or just have big-time space and hauling needs, you've found your vehicle. Best 4WD models are the '98 and '99 1500-series with the Autotrac 4WD system that is well-suited to slippery road conditions. After that, the '96 and up models with the stronger 5.7 liter engine are a good bet.

Current Suburban/Tahoe values

(this article originally appeared in the Summer 2000 issue of Used Cars