1996 GMC Suburban Review
1996 GMC Suburban Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
Giant SUV gets daytime running lights to make it more visible to other drivers. New V8s, quieter tires and long-life spark plugs and coolant make the Suburban less costly to maintain. Rear passengers get warmer faster, thanks to new rear-seat heat ducting. Illuminated entry is newly standard, and electronic 4WD controls are a new option.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 GMC Suburban K2500 4dr SUV 4WD and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
Not EPA tested for Suburban 2500
Suburban 2500
vs
$254/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Vehicle overview
Gaze down the side of a Suburban and all you see is steel and more steel, stretching rearward. Hike yourself aboard and you can't help but feel you're in a truck, ready for the long haul--which is exactly what pleases many owners of these biggies. Compact-vehicle fans have a hard time grasping the appeal, but full-size "truck wagons" have been luring more and more upscale motorists.
GMC claims this mammoth combines the comfort of a luxury sedan with the "tenacity and utility of a packhorse." Except for the nearly-identical Chevrolet model, also named Suburban and priced just slightly lower, there's nothing else quite like it on the market.
For 1996, GMC has reengineered its gasoline V8 engines. Standard is a Vortec 5700 V8, which has gained 50 horsepower and 25 foot-pounds of torque over last year's 5.7-liter engine. The big Vortec 7400 benefits from similar power gains. Long-life engine coolant is installed in both engines, and doesn't need to be changed until the payment booklet is empty.
Inside is a driver airbag and a brake/transmission interlock, which prevents shifting out of "park" unless your foot is on the brake pedal. The modern instrument panel holds a selection of white-on-black analog gauges with zone markings and red-orange needles, but we wish it also held a passenger side airbag. Rear seat heat ducts are new, as is standard illuminated entry. Climate controls are easy to grasp and use, within easy reach of each occupant. Dual cupholders ease out of a compartment at the center of the dashboard, and three assist handles help entry/exit. Four-wheel drive models can be ordered with a new electronic shift mechanism that does away with the bulky shifter in the center of the floor. Passenger car tires make less rough-and-tumble Suburbans ride more smoothly and quietly.
Despite its pickup truck heritage, the Suburban produces a stable and reasonably comfortable, if not exactly cushiony, ride--at least until you stray away from smooth pavement. Gasoline engines tend to guzzle as expected, and if you're planning to carry heavy loads much of the time, or haul a trailer, give the big-block V8 a whirl before deciding to accept the base engine.
Currently, GM owns this niche in the SUV market. Until 1997, when Ford debuts the Expedition, the only way to get a big honking four-door rig like this one is to visit your GMC, or Chevrolet, dealer.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 GMC Suburban.
5 star(62%)
4 star(27%)
3 star(11%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
26 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
perfect ill buy a second one
kev, 12/09/2009
1995 GMC Suburban C2500 4dr SUV
i bought a 95 2500 2 wheel drive 5.7 nothing but good luck with thin vehicle. i pull a 2 ton trailer every day almost i am a contractor and i put it to the test. i now have 271k on it no smoke and no rust at all. it starts every time no matter what the weather is. it still has perfect paint. i'm very happy. this thing will pull anything you hook it up to.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Best bet for hauling kids & tack
big boat, 09/14/2004
1996 GMC Suburban K2500 4dr SUV 4WD
We needed this because mini vans don't
go into the woods deer hunting. This
is a man's truck, king of the road.
Even when my wife drives it, she is
Queen of the road. Stay out of the way
or get smashed. It once hit a parked
car & held not a mark...poor rear end
of the other car was BAD.
I recommend this to any one who has
boats, jets ski's, hauls hunting gear,
or … just likes to cruise around. Very
roomy & string. You won't even know
that your're pulling that huge boat
behind you.
5 out of 5 stars
Best GMC model ever.
Jack Bennett, 11/20/2017
1996 GMC Suburban K2500 4dr SUV 4WD
I've owned my Suburban since '99 and it's never left me stranded even with 273k on the odometer. I'd recommend this truck to anybody looking for a comfortable and reliable daily driver.
4.88 out of 5 stars
350,000 Km and still humming
Bill Milne, 02/07/2009
1996 GMC Suburban C1500 4dr SUV
Purchased this vehicle coming off lease at 160,000km. Used to pull 24 ft 6000lb Bayliner boat for years and family to cottage and run deliveries for a business. Only problem is 3 replacements of fuel pump. Suggest use full synthetic oil for winter driving for quieter startups. Fuel milage: incredable for SUV this size, 21 MPG on highway and 18 in city. Great family and business vehicle …
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1996 GMC Suburban, so we've included reviews for other years of the Suburban since its last redesign.
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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