2021 Chevy Suburban Review

Name: 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Review
Brand: Chevrolet
Price: 38995 USD

Chevrolet Suburban High Country 4dr SUV Exterior

Chevrolet Suburban Premier 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+302

The modernized Chevrolet Suburban has a smooth ride and simply massive cargo space, plus heaps of available technology. You can also choose from a trio of powerful engines. There is no getting around its size, however, and the price tag on higher trims can quickly become stratospheric.

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2021 Chevrolet Suburban Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Giant interior opens up lots of space cargo
Third-row seating is roomy enough for adults
Strong towing capacity
Available diesel engine should be advantageous for towing and fuel range

Cons

Large size restricts maneuverability
Some safety features restricted to pricey trim levels
Some controls are confusing to use or hard to reach

What's new

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban has been fully redesigned
Introduces the 12th Suburban generation

Overview

The Suburban is Chevrolet's biggest SUV. It's also one of the few truck-based, body-on-frame SUVs still around. Built on the same platform that underpins the Chevy Silverado 1500, the Suburban has plenty of power for towing and enormous space for people and cargo. Now, for 2021, Chevy has given this well-known SUV a whole new look and feel.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Fleet 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) 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 $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$211/mo

$222/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

While undoubtedly capable, the previous-generation Suburban came up short in refinement, versatility and features. Its crosstown rival, the Ford Expedition, has outranked the Suburban in recent years with its decidedly more modern but no less rugged design. This new Suburban has added legroom for the rear seats, more cargo room and, for the first time, an independent rear suspension. This, plus other new suspension enhancements, make this the most smooth-riding and confident-handling Suburban yet. You'll also find a new diesel-powered engine that promises better fuel economy than the gas V8 and new safety and technology features.

Along with the Ford Expedition and its corporate twin, the GMC Yukon XL, the Suburban is worth checking out if you're shopping for a big three-row SUV with stout towing and hauling capabilities. Check out our Expert Rating below to read how it fared in our testing.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

How does the Suburban drive? Our test Suburban came equipped with the optional 6.2-liter V8 engine. It has plenty of power and delivers it through a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. At our test track, the Suburban hustled from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. This is on par with the Expedition.

We're impressed by the Suburban's braking power and composure. In our testing it came to a stop from 60 mph in just 122 feet, which is exceptional for a large three-row SUV. This is still a hefty vehicle, however, especially when the road gets curvy. The Suburban is well balanced and can handle sharp turns, but the steering lacks feedback. It prefers to stay straight, which is helpful if you plan to tow.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Suburban? The Suburban's new independent rear suspension more easily smooths out bumps in the road compared to older generations that had the solid rear-axle design. Our test vehicle also came with the optional Magnetic Ride Control and adaptive air suspension. They work well to create a buffer between the road and the cabin. At times the Suburban can feel a little busy and boat-like, but we're confident the Suburban is better-riding with these suspension upgrades than without.

Elsewhere, the Suburban can't overcome its truck-like nature. The leather front seats are soft and wide with available power lumbar, but overall comfort is lacking. Some of our drivers found them too flat and unsupportive. The climate control system seems overworked at most temps, and some buttons are small and difficult to press.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Suburban offers plentiful headroom and legroom in both the front and second rows, plus space to comfortably suit adults in the third row — if they don't mind the more rigid seats. All that space makes some controls difficult to reach, however, and the button layout in general can be quite confusing. It's a borderline mess.

Getting in and out is no problem. Step up through the huge door openings and there's easy access to all three rows. The driving position is high, a necessity in order to see over the massive hood. The seat and steering wheel are highly adjustable, but there's no getting around the thick roof pillars that create significant blind spots.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The Suburban's touchscreen is impressively clear and responsive, but because the Suburban is so large and the screen is so wide, it's often difficult to reach. We do like that it has standard wireless Apple CarPlay, which worked quickly and effectively during our test, and wireless Android Auto. Most trims have a wireless charging pad, and the available 10-speaker Bose stereo system sounds great.

We're also impressed with the driver safety aids such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which are very helpful on such a large vehicle. The downside is the controls can be tricky to operate without some practice.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Space is the Suburban's calling card. It has a truly cavernous rear cargo hold with 41.5 cubic feet of capacity behind the third row. Fold it down and you've got 93.8 cubic feet, which is more than what the Ford Expedition Max offers. This is one of the main reasons you get a Suburban.

Elsewhere the space is used adequately, if not perfectly. Small-item storage is only middle-of-the-road and doesn't offer much cleverness. Our test vehicle had a confusing power center console operated by an unmarked button. Towing is a strong suit. A maximum rating of 8,300 pounds is good for the class, and plentiful towing tech features are available.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? This was a bit of a shocker: During our testing, the Suburban matched its EPA rating of 16 mpg combined (14 city/19 highway) and even exceeded it on our 115-mile evaluation route of mixed city and highway driving with a tally of 18.7 mpg. That figure is better than a lighter Tahoe we tested with the smaller 5.3-liter V8, which posted 17.8 mpg. And it's much better than the Ford Expedition Max, which struggled to meet its 16 mpg city rating and utterly failed to match its 18 mpg combined rating.

We suspect the Suburban did so well because the larger 6.2-liter V8 comes with an advanced cylinder deactivation technology that conserves fuel at highway speed. It should also be noted that the engine requires premium fuel. Still, an impressive showing.

Value

7/10

Is the Suburban a good value? Base versions start around $53,000 including destination fees, which is appealing for the power and space. However, some features such as adaptive cruise control are only available in the most expensive trims — in optional packages. So optioned-up models such as the High Country can end costing more than $80,000. That price is almost egregious considering the so-so materials inside.

The Suburban has three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties. It also has generous six-year/100,000-mile rust protection and five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance, plus free maintenance for one year.

Wildcard

7/10

For better or worse, the Suburban is defined by its imposing size. Its massive height, width and weight make the big SUV cumbersome on the road. Even with impressive driving dynamics, you are always keenly aware of how much space you're taking up.

It does have personality, though. In any trim level you choose, the Suburban has powerful engines, loads of cargo space, and strong towing capacity. If having family adventures is high on your priority list, the Suburban can certainly accommodate trips to the mountains, or quality time on the lake, for years to come. Just be prepared to accept the downsides that come along with it.

Which Suburban does Edmunds recommend?

With six trim levels to choose from, there's a Suburban for almost every application. Our money would go toward the well-rounded LT because of its lower starting price and pleasing number of standard features. Consider springing for the LT Signature package to get 20-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof as well as the included Max Trailering and Luxury packages.

2021 Chevrolet Suburban models

The 2021 Suburban is offered in six trim levels: the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier and High Country. The Suburban comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 (355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft) mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels (standard on the Z71), with either a single- or two-speed transfer case. Two other engines are also available:

For the High Country trim only, Chevy swaps in a 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft). There's also an optional turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft). Chevy offers it on every Suburban trim except the Z71.

LS
Starts you off with:

LED headlights
18-inch wheels
Eight-passenger seating (2-3-3); front-row bench seat is optional on LS only
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

LT
Adds to the LS with:

Hands-free liftgate
Wireless charging
Nine-speaker Bose audio system
Driver-seat memory settings and heated front seats
Auto-dimming rearview mirror

RST
Includes these features:

22-inch wheels
Unique front fascia and black exterior trim
Special RST seats with contrasting stitching

Z71
Adds extra off-road capability with:

Unique front fascia to improve ground clearance
Two-speed transfer case (for low-range gearing)
Hill descent control
All-terrain tires
Front skid plate and tow hooks

Premier
Steps up the standard equipment by including:

Magnetically controlled shock absorbers (better ride and handling capabilities)
Digital instrument panel
10-speaker Bose audio system
Second-row bucket seats (drops capacity to seven passengers)
Heated and ventilated front seats
Lane keeping assist (steers the Suburban back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

High Country
Adds more luxury with:

420-hp 6.2-liter V8
Surround-view camera system
Head-up display
Rear pedestrian alert system
Special grille with bronze accents

Many features on the higher trim levels are available as options on the lower trims. Other significant options, depending on the trim level, include:

Max Trailering package
Panoramic sunroof
Rear entertainment system
Traffic-adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Suburban and the car in front)
Air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#11 out of 16 among Fullsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Chevrolet Suburban from 2008-2022.}

$605/yr

vs. $614/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.42x/yr

vs. 1.59x/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

21.8%

vs. 16.7%
for Average Fullsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Chevrolet Suburban.

5 (21%)

4 (13%)

3 (8%)

2 (23%)

1 (35%)

2.7

23 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

It would be a 5 if not for Entertainment System

Daniel, 01/07/2021

2021 Chevrolet Suburban LT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

The Suburban is everything we wanted out of a vehicle for our growing family. We love the new independent suspension and the over all look and feel of the Suburban. Now the bad the entertainment system is all based on HDMI plugs I tried everything to get it to work and the only thing that worked was a firestick. That is even shotty if you don't get the WIFI in the vehicle. The …

Didn't last over 5,000 miles

Bummed out, 05/11/2021

2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

Broke down on a road trip out of town, undrivable,in a Saturday I made it to a dealer but no mechanic on that day no rental cars available so stuck at a hotel till Monday with my dog. I bought it for multiple state travel but now I learned the engine has defect that will break down over and over even after fixed as I need to drive 3,000 Miles per month for next 3 months, first new Chevy …

Multiple major issues within 6,000 miles

Jason, 08/19/2021

2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

Own a '21 Suburban Z71. Have had multiple recalls and issues with Lifting/Lowering System. Major issue with Engine Lifter going out at 5,000 miles. Spent 2 weeks in shop awaiting parts and repair for Lifters and Rods and Gaskets. Just picked it up YESTERDAY and now the same Warning Light is already going off again after 24 hours! We spent $73K on this piece of garbage. Smaller …

Engine failed before 5k miles

Samantha, 06/03/2021

2021 Chevrolet Suburban RST 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

We had bought a 2021 Suburban RST in Dec 2020, my husband and I were our way to my surgery and check engine light came on and the SUV started shaking and making weird noises on the freeway. Get home the next day (Friday) and didn’t feel comfortable driving it..take it into Chevy that Tuesday and the whole engine failed and needed to be replaced (took over a month and kept giving us the …

See all 23 reviews of the Chevrolet Suburban

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2021 Chevrolet Suburban videos

2021 Chevy Suburban Review — The Ultimate Family SUV?

Carlos Lago takes you on the road in the newly redesigned 2021 Chevy Suburban. In this video, we'll explore a 4WD High Country trim level that's equipped with the 6.2-liter V8.

2021 Suburban Highlights

Trim:

Fleet

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$50,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$211/month
Seating	9 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	41.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Suburban models:

Forward Collision Alert: Warns you to take action to avoid colliding with a vehicle or other object in front of the SUV.
Lane Keep Assist: Alerts you when the SUV drifts out of its lane and delivers steering input to keep the vehicle in its lane.
Safety Alert Seat: Vibrates the driver's seat cushion when the crash avoidance tech detects a situation that may need your attention.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover21.2%

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2021 Chevy Suburban Review

2021 Chevrolet Suburban Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Fleet 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 10A) 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 $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Suburban does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Chevrolet Suburban models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

It would be a 5 if not for Entertainment System

Didn't last over 5,000 miles

Multiple major issues within 6,000 miles

Engine failed before 5k miles

2021 Chevrolet Suburban videos