There are approximately 441 miles from Atlanta to Orlando. It’s a road trip that our family is very familiar with and we’ve got our favorite fuel stations memorized. On our most recent drive to Orlando, in the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Premiere, we stopped at none of them. Unbelievably, the newest version of the popular Chevy SUV got the job done on one tank of fuel. It’s one of the many selling points that makes the vehicle so desirable – and I’ve got your full review, from a mom’s perspective.
Now that we’ve got three kids, I feel like a self-proclaimed SUV expert. I’ve been the Goldilocks of testing, trying to figure out which one is best for our family. We’ve test driven the “little too small” SUV’s to the “not enough options” SUV’s.
Our family needs connectivity throughout every row of seating, plenty of cargo space (without shrinking leg room) and up-to-date tech features. It sounds like a lot to ask for, but the Chevrolet design team has the modern family figured out.
Related: 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Review
2021 Chevrolet Suburban Review: Mileage, Tech & Space
The Suburban is the largest SUV that Chevrolet offers and it’s become an American icon on the road. What’s amazing is every inch of the large space was designed with purpose. The tweaks and updates in the all-new 2021 version offers versatility. It’s the SUV you’ll want to take on a road trip and your dependable daily driver for carpool lane.
This new version has already won several notable awards from industry experts†, but I’m looking for the things all moms want from their SUV. I’m more interested in USB outlets so the kids electronics can stay charged and if there’s enough room to use the floor to change a quick diaper (spoiler: there’s plenty).
After breaking down what I love about the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and reading what the experts have to say, it’s won me over.
Fuel Economy That’ll Blow Your Mind
If you ask everyone what their #1 complaint about large SUV’s are, it usually centers around poor fuel economy – the term “gas guzzling” comes to mind. The new diesel Suburban throws all the SUV fuel stereotypes out the door. It’s rated at 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined, which is simply amazing.
The key is the diesel engine, or what Chevrolet calls the Duramax turbodiesel l-6 engine. The engine still offers plenty of power and torque. I love the smooth transmission shifts and you don’t feel like it’s constantly shifting gears for better fuel economy like it’s regular fuel counterparts.
A notable option for the Suburban (Z71 and High Country trims) is the Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. Drivers can adjust the ride height to be automatically and manually lowered or raised. This enables improved passenger accessibility (like when buckling kids into a carseat) and ground clearance. It’s a great accompaniment to the engine – for towing capabilities.
Even with the 277 hp, you’re still going to have a quiet ride. It was quiet and smooth enough to keep my six-month-old asleep and comfortable for the majority of our trek. Plus, we made record time on our road trip because we weren’t stopping for fuel.
Cargo Space Alongside Maximum Passenger Comfort
When we find an SUV that gives us the cargo space we love (you know we bring home every souvenir made), it typically sacrifices the leg room for passengers. The opposite happens when we find an SUV that’s spacious enough in every row -we lose cargo space.
The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban has finally found the balance that every family wants. The design team added an independent rear suspension. This allows much better use of space that frees up room in the cargo area and third row.
With this update, the Suburban now has best-in-class cargo volume of up to 144.7 cu. Ft. When you pick the Suburban, you naturally expect plenty of cargo space. It’s also got some secret storage space that you can find when moving the Power Sliding Center Console, which is super neat. Moving the center console really allows for a modular use of the interior space.
When I drove the 2018 Chevy Suburban, I remember the cargo space an issue for our family. This is a much welcomed update.
2021 Chevrolet Suburban Tech Specs That Keep Everyone Happy
From the first row to the third row, everyone has to be happy and connected with their tech. It’s how our family does a road trip and that won’t change anytime soon.
An available upgrade, the Rear-Seat Media System, isn’t just for the kids. Of course they love staying entertained on the road trips, but oftentimes I have to sit in the back seat to take care of our littlest. Passengers can share content from the back screens to the front-seat passengers, to stay connected. This is so helpful when my husband is driving and I can send navigation details to the front seat infotainment system, so he can keep his eyes on the road. Love that feature.
Speaking of keeping your eyes on the road, the Head-Up Display allows drivers to focus on driving. Information about navigation, safety alerts and incoming calls are displayed on the window in front of them.
Lastly, the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make life so much easier. It integrates your phone directly to the front-seat infotainment system so you have easy access to your apps, contacts and even music. As a front-seat passenger, I can stay in touch with my phone updates while using the 4G LTE Wi-Fi to get work done. It’s a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capable of pairing up to seven devices. That keeps the kids happy too.
Overall, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban gets two-thumbs up from this mom. We’re saving money on fuel, staying connected and doing it all in style. Until you get in the Suburban and give it a test drive, you can’t appreciate all of the design features. Grab the kids, give it a test drive and see how the Suburban can take your lifestyle to the next level.
Starting Price: $52,300 USD
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† Best Large SUV For Families by U.S. News & World Report | Editor’s Choice List Large SUV by Car And Driver