2018 Chevrolet Suburban Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Full-size SUVs are an intimidating bunch of cars, and the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is an absolute behemoth. With standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive the Suburban is a solid yet nimble vehicle on the road, and room for eight turns this into the essential family vehicle.

What’s New for 2018

Most of the features of the Chevrolet Suburban stay the same for the 2018 model, but there are some key changes. Some color choices were removed, such as the Champagne Silver Metallic exterior and the Cocoa and Mahogany interior, but the Satin Steel Metallic exterior was added. A new package on the LT and Premier trims is available called the RST package (Rally Sport Truck) that includes larger wheels and sleeker, rally racing ready exterior designs.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban – The Pros

1. Huge Size

If you’re looking for a car that has huge space on the interior, then the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is definitely a top choice. The 116-inch wheelbase and the 204-inch length mean that you can comfortably fit eight people in the car while still maintaining plenty of room for luggage or other equipment. There is also an option for a front row bench seat that can fit a ninth person in the car.

2. Powerful Engine

The standard engine in the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is an extremely powerful 5.3-liter, 355 horsepower V8 engine. It rips and roars and muscles its way through any road, whether that road is a curvy rural road with sharp inclines or a straight, flat highway. The RST has an upgradeable option for the engine where you may choose the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 with slightly more horsepower as well.

3. Quiet Interior

A huge complaint many have with most full-size SUVs is the road noise when traveling at high speeds on the highway. Because these cars are so large, any bump that’s passed over gets amplified between the front and back tires, making the noises even louder. The Suburban’s engineers have designed the car quite intuitively, adding sound dampening in just the right spots so that this does not happen. The ride is remarkably quiet even at high speeds.

4. Plenty of Cargo Space

The 2018 Chevrolet Suburban has an astounding amount of cargo space even for a full-size SUV. Its base total cargo space comes in at 121.7 cubic feet, enough to fit more luggage than you can even dream of. With all rows of seats down, cargo space is reduced to a still impressive 39.3 cubic feet. With the third row down, that expands to 76.7 cubic feet, and with the back two rows down expands to the total 121.7 cubic feet.

5. Dampened Suspension

Another factor that helps the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban perform so well on the road is its fantastic suspension. While a large part of its road noise reduction is due to dampening pads built into the car’s frame, the suspension itself does a great job of dampening any roughness in the road as well. The suspension maintains a suppleness while still keeping road feel at its peak. It also keeps the huge car stable, especially on turns.

6. Large List of Above Average Standard Features

Some features that are only available in upgraded, higher-level trims of other full-size SUVs are available in the standard model of the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. One of the most notable is the 8-inch touchscreen, which houses a great infotainment system. There is also a standard WiFi hotspot, in-zone climate control, and rearview cameras and rear parking sensors.

7. Touchscreen Infotainment

The aforementioned 8-inch touchscreen is a top-tier infotainment system, integrated fully with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means that many of your apps work seamlessly within the system, letting you use them from the car’s screen. The voice recognition is snappy, but if you prefer to use your hands then the touchscreen buttons are quite large and easy to navigate with. There are also analog buttons if you prefer those.

8. High Fuel Economy

Though no full-size SUVs get great gas mileage, it’s still impressive that the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is top of its class. The standard rear-wheel drive comes in at 16 miles per gallon in the city and up to 23 miles per gallon on the highway, while the upgradable all-wheel drive gets 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg highway. This fuel efficiency applies to all trims of the car.

9. Large Towing Capacity

Full-size SUVs can usually tow a large load, and the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is no different. Chevy’s engine has no problem towing. The Suburban has an 8600-pound towing capacity, enough for a small boat or plenty of extra cargo.

10. Lots of Legroom

You should expect a decent amount of legroom in a full-size SUV, and the Suburban delivers. In the front row of seats, the average legroom is a solid 45.3 inches. The legroom is the same in the second row of seats, then falls to an acceptable 34.5 inches.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban – The Cons

1. Below Average Safety Scores

Though large SUVs are generally assumed to have top-tier safety ratings, that is not always the case. In rollover tests, the 2018 Suburban performs a little below average. However, on all other tests, the Suburban performs on average or above average.

2. Hard to Drive in Parking Lots

Because of its huge wheelbase, the Chevy has a hard time turning in small spaces. Parking lots are especially difficult to navigate for the Suburban.

3. Average Reliability

The predicted reliability from J.D. Power of the Suburban is only 2.5 out of 5. This means that the car is slightly below average in its general reliability. However, the standard Chevy warranty offers five years of support on its powertrain and three years for a general limited warranty.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

The full-size SUV class is a difficult class to shine in, but the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban certainly does. Compared to similar full-size SUVs, like the Chevy Tahoe and the Ford Expedition, there are clear areas the Suburban does better in - particularly in legroom and infotainment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a great all-around SUV, then the Chevrolet Suburban is a great choice. Its high towing capacity and powerful engine underneath a solid, low-noise body gives it a brilliant feeling on the road.