2020 Chevrolet Suburban Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Crossover vehicles are a dime a dozen. They are typically kind of crowded and only allow you to tote a modest number of passengers. If you are looking for something that is a capable people-hauler, the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban might just be right up your alley. Not only can it fit nine passengers, it can also tow well over 8,000 pounds. Powered by a massive V8 engine, the new Suburban is truly a powerhouse performer.

What's New for 2020?

Aside from a few changes to the list of available features, the only real alteration the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban sees is the 6.2-L Performance package. This package is composed of a 6.2-L V8 engine and a number of additional features.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Chevrolet Suburban – The Pros

1. An Abundance of Comfortable Seats

This vehicle can haul a grand total of ten people. If you have a big family, this might be the vehicle that will best suit your needs. The first two rows are incredibly comfortable, too. Two adults can fit into the third row of seats with enough space left for shoulders, heads, legs, and hips. The seats are flatter than the first two rows, but this is fairly typical of third-row SUVs.

2. A Lot of Cargo Space

One of the things that the new Suburban has in abundance is its cargo space. With all seats left in place, there is 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space. When you fold the rear seats down, that number maxes out at 121.7 cubes. This makes it easy to store a bunch of cargo or several bulky items in one go.

3. Powerful V8 Engine Options

The 5.3-L V8 engine that comes standard on the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban does a good job providing power to the vehicle. It gets paired with a manually-shiftable 6-speed automatic transmission. Together, these make for a buff powertrain. Of course, if you crave really intense power, the optional 6.2-L V8 is a fun choice. This engine gets matched up with a sturdy 10-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth shifting capabilities. Either way, you get something that can get the heavy Suburban up to speed in a respectable time.

4. A Fantastic Automatic Climate Control System

Wherever you are sitting in the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, you will get to experience the comfort provided by the automatic climate control system. The air flows appropriately through all of the vents, reaching all the way back to the third row passengers with ease. Crank up the heat in winter or cool it down on a hot summer day. Whatever temperature you need it to be at, this system will get there quickly.

5. A Gorgeous Interior Design

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban looks like it is made from some high-quality materials, and the design looks stunning. Not only are the materials chic and contemporary, the controls are laid out in an intuitive set-up that makes them easy for the driver to access. Just reach out and touch whatever control it is that you need. If you opt for the Premier trim, you and your front seat passenger can benefit from having heated and ventilated seats - a true luxury.

6. A Ton of Standard Infotainment Features

Everyone wants a good list of infotainment features, and the Suburban definitely has them. On this list are features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (smartphone app integration features), 4G LTE WiFi hot-spot connectivity from OnStar, a well-functioning touchscreen display, and multiple 12-volt and USB charging ports found throughout the cabin. This is just another reason why the Suburban is a beloved option for big families.

7. The Suburban Can Tow Over 8,000 Pounds

Want something that has a decent tow rating? The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban can tow 8,300 pounds when equipped with the two-wheel drive system and the Trailering package, which is optional. When you have four-wheel drive equipped, the Suburban has a slightly lighter tow rating of 8,000, which is still a respectable number. This puts it close to what a heavy duty pick-up truck is capable of towing.

8. The Luxury Package

The Chevy Suburban has an optional Luxury package, which can be equipped on the LT trim level. For just a few thousand dollars extra, the Luxury package gives you power-folding second row bucket seats, ventilation for the front seats, wireless charging, and a superbly crafted 10-speaker Bose sound system. It is definitely worth making the upgrade if you can swing the price.

9. The Z71 Package

Want to do some moderate off-roading? You can do it in the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban if you churn out extra cash for the Z71 package. This package is Chevy's well-loved, often-equipped off-roading package. It adds a performance suspension, special off-roading tires, a 3.42 rear axle, advanced hill descent control capabilities, a two-speed transfer case, and special Z71 skid plates that protect the vehicle from potential damage on especially rocky terrain.

10. A Bunch of Standard and Optional Safety Features

Safety features are some of the most important aspects of a new vehicle, especially if you plan on hauling your kids around. Some of the standout features on the Suburban are lane departure warning (which alerts the driver when it detects the vehicle is straying over the line), forward collision warning (which lets the driver know when it detects a potential front-end crash and, when in slow speed situations, will apply the brakes for the driver), and OnStar services. OnStar includes subscription-based features like automatic crash notification, doors that remotely unlock, and roadside assistance.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Chevrolet Suburban – The Cons

1. Getting Through Tight Spaces is Difficult

The biggest downfall to the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is that is struggles to maneuver through tight spaces. Of course, this is a massive vehicle with a long backside. While the roof pillars are slender and the windshields wide enough, the length of the body creates quite a few blind spots. You will need to rely on the shaky-at-best rear-view camera when backing out of a parking spot.

2. The High Cargo Floor

There is a high cargo floor liftover, which can make it hard to load hefty, bulky items into the cargo area completely on your own. Unless you have some serious upper body strength and are fairly tall, you will probably need to get someone to help you load those beefier items into the Suburban's cargo area.

3. The 5.3-L Has a Lackluster Throttle

The one issue that the 5.3-L has is that its throttle is a bit weak. Other competitors do have stronger, more exciting throttles. It isn't a big deal unless you love flooring it and throwing the engine into full throttle. The optional 6.2-L engine is more exciting when it comes to the throttle.

4. Minimal Feedback From the Steering

A minor gripe that most drivers will have with the Suburban is that the steering column does not provide a whole lot of feedback. It is simply too light for what you should expect from a huge SUV. It is a slight disappointment but one that can be overlooked with some time.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2020 Chevrolet Suburban vs. 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban gets compared to the 2020 Ford Expedition quite a bit. The Expedition offers a slightly lower starting MSRP, and you get a lot of the same features that come on the Suburban. The Expedition's cabin is massive, and the cargo space is quite impressive. The standard V6 engine gives the Expedition some good acceleration abilities, and the front seats are seriously cozy. It also has some respectable towing numbers. On the downside, the Expedition can feel bulky to drive because of its size. Also, the brake pedal feels kind of squishy. It fails to inspire driver confidence. It also is not as quiet on the highway as other SUVs, which makes it difficult to hear what your third-row passengers are trying to say to you.

2020 Chevrolet Suburban vs. 2020 GMC Yukon XL

The 2020 GMC Yukon XL is another one of the Suburban's top competitors this model year. The Yukon XL is around $4,000 more expensive than the Suburban, which might cause some people to overlook it for a cheaper make and model. While the Yukon XL does offer beefed-up tow ratings and plenty of interior space, it too suffers from a high load floor. Also, the base engine feels somewhat underpowered due to its sluggish gas pedal.

Conclusion

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is a leader in the third-row SUV segment, but it is definitely a big boy. Trying to navigate tight parking lots and narrow city streets can be a chore. However, the Suburban offers a good amount of creature comforts and is shows some strength with its towing capacity. It really is meant to be a people-hauler though, which is why bigger families will be attracted to this big beast.