Existing for eight decades is what makes Chevrolet claim Suburban is the world’s very first sport-utility vehicle. In nowadays this title fits much better names like Land Rover Discovery or even Chevrolet Trailblazer, but 1933 means entirely different times. Times when “city cars” meant usually sedans, with plenty of luxury and comfort, while “family cars” were the bigger wagons with room for many occupants, which frequently featured stronger structures because their customers were used to travel through tougher roads. In other words, vehicles like the original Carryall Suburban played alone the roles which in nowadays would be divided between both minivans, SUVs and station wagons.
However, the following years ended such versatility not only because the first direct competitors appeared, but also because Chevrolet started to release more vehicles. Suburban started to specialize at the full-size category, along with the respective GMC sibling of each moment, and firmed itself as a high-quality vehicle dedicated for escaping the big cities with plenty of power and resistance. Such potential became so good that it was even taken outside North America, in some moments: the ninth phase was taken to Australia and New Zealand with Holden badges, while Brazil produced several generations from 1964 to 1989 under the names of C-1416, Amazona and Veraneio.
Suburban’s fate went through a big change in the 1990s, when it returned to be exclusively North-American (the Oceanic sales didn’t last long): besides receiving a much more modern project which debuted with the GM pick-ups some years earlier, the SUV was joined by a short-wheelbase brother. Tahoe debuted in 1995 with sportier appearance, including a three-door version, but ended leaving this role to the even smaller Blazer and Trailblazer and dedicating itself to the full-size market. And this is how they’ve been sold ever since, receiving each time deeper improvements regarding efficiency to adapt to the current times a recipe whose solid success can be expressed by mentioning it outsells its direct rivals… together.
The SUVs’ all-new project is once again shared with GM’s full-size pick-up trucks, which for Chevrolet means you’ve already seen these cars’ powertrain and structure in the latest Silverado. But the automaker sticked to the right decisions and gave different styling for them. They won’t ever leave these solid, imponent designs because they are what suits dimensions such as up to 355 horsepower and 5550 pounds, but added a contemporary touch this time. The corporative grille looks more elegant, there aren’t oversized chrome accents and some elements became more fashionable, like the window shapes or the double headlights. Suburban’s only difference is the stretched rear.
But if projecting these trucks under recent concerns gave results like more rounded corners, which seeks better aerodynamics, applying them into the interior ended in an impressive room. The cabin is still almost big enough to live in, but received much better-looking coating, which combines stitched leather, metallic accents and vinyl to an uncomparably prettier console: the elements are more efficiently distributed and, as in every modern car, the central air outlets are separated by an optional huge touchscreen which controls the latest MyLink system. It comes with six USB ports and even a 110-volt outlet, but there are lots of other new items. Other examples are keyless entry with pushbutton start and second and third seat rows with power folding.
Nevertheless, using more technology than ever wouldn’t be enough to keep Tahoe and Suburban the great family vehicles they’ve always been. The long list of electronic safety systems protects the occupants actively (a front-seat center airbag was added) and passively (lane-departure, rear cross-traffic, forward collision alerts and many others), and when there’s no one protects itself: the anti-theft gear includes glass-break and vertical and interior movement sensors. Both SUVs debut with Silverado’s Ecotec3, 5.3L V8 engine, with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft and paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox and RWD, with optional AWD. The efficiency-boosting technologies include cylinder deactivation and direct fuel injection.