2023 Chevrolet Suburban Performance

There are three engine options available. The LS, LT, Z71, RST, and Premier come standard with a 5.3-liter V8, with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel being an option on all of these but the Z71. The Z71 model is only available with the 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8s. The top-spec High Country comes standard with the turbocharged diesel, but you can upgrade to the 6.2-liter V8 engine. Only the RST and Premier have access to all three engines. A ten-speed automatic transmission does duty across the board. Apart from the 4WD-only Z71, every trim level is rear-wheel-drive as standard, with a four-wheel-drive system being an optional extra.

There's little chance of drag racing breaking out in the suburbs, so Chevrolet doesn't provide any performance or top-speed figures for this behemoth. Towing capacity is way more important in the segment, and in the right configurations (5.3L V8 with 2WD) the Suburban can tow up to 8,300 lbs. The lowest quoted towing capacity is for the 6.2-liter V8 AWD, and even that can tow an impressive 7,400 lbs. Tow ratings for the diesel models vary from a minimum of 7,800 lbs to a maximum of 8,100 lbs.

The 5.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 is carried over from the previous model. It produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The larger 6.2-liter V8 delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged six-cylinder diesel only produces 277 hp, but it matches the larger V8's 460 lb-ft torque rating.

All engines are mated to the same ten-speed automatic transmission boasting the same set of gear ratios. First, second, and third exist to provide brisk acceleration, while eight, nine, and ten are cruising gears to improve fuel economy.

The naturally aspirated V8 engines are both carried over from the previous model, which is a double-edged sword. We know they're reliable, but they come with supercar-like fuel consumption. The 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, while the 6.2-liter provides 420 horses and 460 lb-ft. The Suburban's 10-speed auto doesn't hesitate to drop a cog or two to get you into the meat of the powerband. We quite like the 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel. The claimed 277 hp isn't impressive compared to the gas engines, but it provides 460 lb-ft at an extremely low 1,500 rpm.

It's not good news for the V8 engines. The 5.3-liter V8 with 2WD has EPA-estimated fuel consumption figures of 15/20/17 mpg city/highway/combined, decreasing to 15/19/16 mpg with 4WD. The 6.2-liter V8 with 2WD consumes gas at a rate of 14/20/16 mpg, going down to 14/18/16 mpg with 4WD. Thankfully, the Suburban has a large 28-gallon tank, which means you can get around 450 miles on a tank even with the least efficient model. But, as gas prices in the US go up, this may not be good enough.

The turbocharged diesel makes a good case for itself when it comes to fuel efficiency. A 2WD model can do 21/27/23 mpg, while the 4WD is capable of 20/26/22 mpg. With the large tank, you're looking at a total range of 616 to 644 miles.