Home » The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban And Tahoe Finally Let You Ride On 24s

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban And Tahoe Finally Let You Ride On 24s

2025 Chevrolet Suburban High Country
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The EV revolution may be in the headlines, but its mass-market prime sure as hell ain’t now. Come on, we’re levered up to our necks on lavish lifestyles, punch-drunk on relatively cheap gas prices compared to the rest of the world, and still of the popular belief that air travel still sucks. We’re still in the bowels of the conspicuous consumption SUV era, baby, and the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe are here to cannonball off the diving boards with freakin’ 24-inch wheels.

What’s there to say about these continent-crushing Nimitz-class truck-based road warriors that hasn’t been said already? You can’t see a damn thing for several feet in front of them; they come in two sizes of “enormous” and “gargantuan;” they’re clinically approved by the FDA to cure infertility, low self esteem, boredom, and whatever un-American ailments you may be stricken with; and their fanbase stretches everywhere from Hacienda Heights to The Hamptons. They’ll start a bar brawl if you ask them what a centimeter is, pull just about whatever you can hitch up to their receivers, and do it all in living room comfort. If there’s one genre of passenger vehicle America still excels in, it’s this right here.

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2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71

Granted, possibly as part of the whole “‘Merica, fuck yeah” schtick, the styling of these things has grown a bit cartoonish. With this mid-cycle refresh, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe get more daytime running light. Yep, the actual headlights shrink and are now underslung, and the whole front end looks somehow even more aggressive, which is probably the last thing the Tahoe needed. Oh well, I guess the GMC Yukon Denali still exists to pick up the mantle of tastefully styled full-size GM SUV.

2025 Chervrolet Tahoe Z71

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Whatever … you can’t see what a car looks like from the driver’s seat, now can you? It’s all about what’s under the hood, and the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe get a newly-upgraded diesel engine option. We’re talking 305 horsepower and 495 lb.-ft. of torque, serious numbers for a three-liter diesel inline-six. Oh, and that diesel’s finally available across the lineup, meaning you’ll be able to get a stump-pulling Z71 with all-terrain tires, recovery points, and buckets of torque. Unfortunately, the updated diesel engine won’t be available right away, requiring a wait until 2025. Bummer. Standard equipment for now will be a 5.3-liter V8 on LS, LT, RST, Z71, and Premier trims, while a 6.2-liter V8 comes standard on the High Country trim and is available on the RST, Z71, and Premier trims. You’re going to want it over the 5.3.

2025 Chervrolet Tahoe Z71

Part of the big 2025 update is a load of new technological toss on the inside including a 17.7-inch touchscreen. I’m sure it works brilliantly since current GM infotainment is fast and fluid, but it pushes over the Escalade’s line of massive and into visually gargantuan territory. Part of that might be due to the fact that it isn’t actually that well-integrated, but no matter, because the new dashboard looks leagues better than the old one. When the current GMC Yukon Denali dropped, it made every other full-size GM interior below it look pathetic, so it’s heartening to see Chevrolet seriously stepping its game up. I’m talking sleek HVAC controls, more expensive-looking materials, a new steering wheel with tight tolerances on buttons, and emphasis on horizontal elements. This is what the interior of a flagship SUV should look like, and it’s impressive to watch Chevrolet go from behind-the-curve to near the front of the pack with just a facelift.

2025 Chevrolet Suburban High Country

Speaking of stepping up game, top-spec Tahoe and Suburban High Country models will come on 24-inch wheels, previously found in music videos and flashy magazines. Sure, tires will cost a mint, but these wheels look tough as anything, and continue a popular theme of automakers bringing aftermarket trends to the showroom floor. Oh, and the sporty RST will also be available with 24-inch wheels, in case a bit of bling is desired at what should be a lower price point. Do people still say “bling”?

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2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 And Suburban High Country

For years, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban High Country has played second-fiddle to the GMC Yukon Denali. Sure, the bones were there, but the luxury wasn’t quite up to snuff. For 2025, that’s changing, and it’s about damn time it did. Oh, and thanks to the new dashboard design being standard across the range, now every Tahoe and Suburban should have an interior that fits their price tags. It’ll be interesting to see what GMC does to catch back up with its cross-office counterparts, but for now, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe seem to be the large SUVs to have. Expect them to arrive at some point in 2024.

(Photo credits: Chevrolet)

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Abe Froman
Abe Froman
5 months ago

I really don’t understand large wheels. I grew up driving in the early 2000’s when moving to 18’s on your integra was a big deal.

When we ordered our X5 last year, we had to option down the wheels to get the 18’s. The dealer thought we were crazy. “19’s are standard- are you sure you want to go smaller???” I like my sidewall.

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
5 months ago
Reply to  Abe Froman

I applaud you. There is no reason for any street driven light vehicle to have bigger than 18″ wheels, ever.

Ben
Ben
5 months ago

22s look bad enough on SUVs. 24s are going to be hideous.

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
5 months ago
Reply to  Ben

20s look bad enough on everything.

Citrus
Citrus
5 months ago

These things are such specifically American cars, I don’t think they translate anywhere else.

Using Canada as an example, Suburbans don’t sell that well, and most Tahoes I see are cop cars.

Which isn’t to say that this country doesn’t like huge SUVs! It’s just that the people who BUY huge SUVs tend to go for actual luxury models – Escalades and Yukons seem to do better. Something about a non-luxury giant SUV just does not hit with buyers here for whatever reason.

Last edited 5 months ago by Citrus
Andy Individual
Andy Individual
5 months ago

Is this an, an umm…advertisement? This is just such a far cry from the journalism usually presented on this site.

And can people stop using the term dropped already? :ROLL:

DadBod
DadBod
5 months ago

Perhaps you missed the parts of the article that mocked the look, and almost the existence, of these trucks?

Mercedes Streeter
Mercedes Streeter
5 months ago

As always, if we do something as an advertisement or some other partnership, you’ll see it clearly defined. We don’t do that sneaky stuff you might see elsewhere. 🙂

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
5 months ago

The biggest army trucks use 20″ wheels. I will keep saying that there is no reason whatsoever for any light vehicle to use wheels bigger than 18s, and even that is stretching the definition of light vehicle.

This has wheels four inches bigger than a giant 8×8 army truck. Just let that sink in for a minute.

Gee See
Gee See
5 months ago

Still boggle my mind that LZ0 oil pump belt is mounted rear of the engine and supposedly need to replace 200k .. I guess captive clients for GM dealers?

3WiperB
3WiperB
5 months ago

The price of that tire and wheel protection at the dealership just went up even more. Just make sure you have some money left over for the TruCoat. You don’t get that TruCoat, you’re going to get oxidation problems.

Last edited 5 months ago by 3WiperB
Mr Sarcastic
Mr Sarcastic
5 months ago

Given the amount of compsating these must be doing I’m guessing it comes packed with the owners choice of Viagra or Cialis

Preston Tiegs
Preston Tiegs
5 months ago
Reply to  Mr Sarcastic

wow what a unique and funny comment

Mr Sarcastic
Mr Sarcastic
5 months ago
Reply to  Preston Tiegs

Thanks buddy. I really don’t get much positive response here.

Last edited 5 months ago by Mr Sarcastic
Cerberus
Cerberus
5 months ago

I thought the last generation was great looking, but this generation is a challenge to look at. Facelift doesn’t really help. And, damn are these massive—the 24s don’t even look oversized. I hope the tire shops charge more to instal as those are going to be pretty damn heavy to deal with and I’d rather the jerks who buy these pay than spread the costs out for everyone, like me with 215-17s.

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
5 months ago
Reply to  Cerberus

Lol 17s are big in my book

Cerberus
Cerberus
5 months ago
Reply to  Rust Buckets

They were the smaller option on my car. I don’t like oversized wheels and undersized sidewalls.

Vic Vinegar
Vic Vinegar
5 months ago
Reply to  Cerberus

Whenever I see one of the current Tahoe/Yukon its looks like it would roll over in a stiff breeze.

David Nelson
David Nelson
5 months ago

The best change of all is lowering the headlights. It’s the least we can ask for with the hoods of these vehicles the same height as my roof. Now do it with the trucks, please.

Alec Weinstein
Alec Weinstein
5 months ago

Can’t wait to see these swapped onto older years, that always works somehow. I know the 8 lugs updated the bolt pattern, are these still 6×5.5 or did they go metric too?

Bizness Comma Nunya
Bizness Comma Nunya
5 months ago

24″ wheels…tire/wheel shops are going to have more business from blown out sidewalls and/or bent/cracked rims in places that have horrifying winter potholes.

06dak
06dak
5 months ago

I’m pretty sure that’s completely understood by the engineers from GM, headquartered in Detroit, home of some of the worst suburban roads anywhere.

Bizness Comma Nunya
Bizness Comma Nunya
5 months ago
Reply to  06dak

Oh for sure, they 100% are aware.

Alexk98
Alexk98
5 months ago

My word the 24″ Wheels on this thing are half the height of my entire NA Miata, and that’s not even counting the tires… As if modern traffic wasn’t scary enough already, this thing could just monster truck its way over my hood in stock form…

VanGuy
VanGuy
5 months ago
Reply to  Alexk98

This is an aside, but is there a known issue with yellowed/dimmed headlight lenses on the NB or NC Miatas?

I have a 2012 Prius v and I was only a few seconds from running a not-NA Miata off the highway a few nights ago because it took a second glance–while night driving!–to see a headlight in my glued-on convex mirror. It was so dim, just barely noticeable. I was glad I caught it before I started moving over.

I barely see Miatas in PA where I am, and I know the NA has pop-up headlights. Definitely couldn’t tell an NB and NC apart at a glance, though, but it was one of the two.

Alexk98
Alexk98
5 months ago
Reply to  VanGuy

I don’t believe there is anything NB/NC specific that leads to yellowing, just that they are aging cars with molded plastic headlight covers like all modern cars, and due to them being cheap for a while, never got replaced or polished over the years like far too many headlights out there.

NA’s do have pop-up, but more importantly they are sealed beam units from factory, so glass covers on the outside, and also as is the case with all sealed beams, the whole unit has to be replaced when they burn out, therefore new lenses with every bulb, so they always will retain a newer finish even if the owner buys cheapo Ebay LED units with plastic lenses.

VanGuy
VanGuy
5 months ago
Reply to  Alexk98

Makes sense. Blows my mind seeing how low and short they are, but I’m sure that contributes to their handling and “slow car fast” and such.

I want one someday, but I’ve never driven a manual and am not particularly interested, and imagine I’d be Scarlet Letter’d if I got an automatic Miata.

Alexk98
Alexk98
5 months ago
Reply to  VanGuy

I’ll say this, if you’re ever in the position of buying a cheap beater Miata that runs decently enough as a fun car that you don’t rely on to get you to work, the manual is absolutely worth it. I bought mine knowing how to drive stick, but it is by far the easiest manual I have ever driven, and also the best feeling. The cars weigh so little that despite the low power, 1st gear is super short so it’s nearly impossible to stall, and the difference between a manual and auto (especially for NA/NB where the auto is a crappy 4-speed) it’s extremely rewarding. FWIW even an auto would still be a fun car, and they are a good bit cheaper than manuals due to the difference in driving experience.

VanGuy
VanGuy
5 months ago
Reply to  Alexk98

Having driven a 4-speed ’97 Econoline for 7 years, I have a feeling I’d still have some fun. But I will keep my eyes peeled for either.
Thanks for the advice!

EmotionalSupportBMW
EmotionalSupportBMW
5 months ago

Congratulations to Chevrolet for passing the Paul-Wall test:

[x] Tippin Four-Fours
[ ] Not Tippin Four-Fours

Bizness Comma Nunya
Bizness Comma Nunya
5 months ago
Alec Weinstein
Alec Weinstein
5 months ago

*Mike Jones
(who?)

EmotionalSupportBMW
EmotionalSupportBMW
5 months ago
Reply to  Alec Weinstein

We all represent Swishahouse on this glorious day!

(I always forget this is a Mike Jones song, and I’m not alone)

FuzzyPlushroom
FuzzyPlushroom
5 months ago

How silly would a modern Tahoe look on a set of 15-inch wire “84s”? Probably very, but I’m still here for the idea.

EmotionalSupportBMW
EmotionalSupportBMW
5 months ago
Reply to  FuzzyPlushroom

Get that Tahoe skatin on Daytons

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
5 months ago

I’m intrigued by how, as a consequence of the carpocalypse, we’ve been steadily grafting “high performance” onto SUVs and trucks of late.

Used to be trucks were trucks, and any special performance value was off-road related. But now, we’re seemingly producing the ethos of the musclecar era again – fast in a straight line, not the best in any other – just in non-car vehicles.

Before, it was basically a lack of interest in those other things; now, the tech and willingness is there, it’s just compromised by these things being tall, heavy boxes.

Cerberus
Cerberus
5 months ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

I’ve been saying that about the popularity of trucks for years, especially when people bring up that so many aren’t used as trucks. I think it happened with a combination of more lax safety and emissions standards and the general purpose nature of trucks. Old muscle cars had a myriad of options to allow for a personalization experience that mainstream cars don’t offer anymore. Trucks still have a wide range of drivetrains and other options, plus themes—off road, work stripper, performance sleeper, tow tank, etc. in all kinds of combinations and with lots of other appearance options to set them apart from each other before the aftermarket even comes into play. Like the muscle cars they’re big and (usually) comfortable, which is just what a lot of people like. They can be fast or off-road capable for people who want that or modest cruisers for those who know they aren’t going to be pushing it and don’t feel the need to pose, they just want reasonable mileage and the image just as most muscle cars came with lower end engines that weren’t all that powerful. They don’t handle, but almost nobody cares. I was behind an older M5 today on a nice offramp with nobody ahead of him and the guy might as well have been driving a CRV for how slow he was taking it and I have found that to be the norm. Never mind the regular people who don’t choose performance cars at all. They don’t know how to drove like that and/or don’t care to.

Lardo
Lardo
5 months ago
Reply to  Cerberus

I like how my 2017 Colorado ZR2 handles. It’s as “sporty” as I want. The size and Mulitlmatics help of course. I have come to really the the v6. It has a chevy cold air box and performance exhaust. It’s fun to click through the auto trans sometimes. I like it so much I drove a brand new exact copy of it and have thought about buying one. The new design look nice, I prefer less electronics that the prior model has. Key ignition, no lane warning, etc. Less to go wrong. 50k on the one I have so a good time to sell a gm product although I’ve had not much go wrong.

Ben Siegel
Ben Siegel
5 months ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

This sure is a selective memory. Lil’ Red Express, F-150 Lightning, Chevy SS 454, GMC Typhoon, GMC Syclone, even the 5.9L ZJ. There have been performance trucks and SUVs for a long while at this point.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
5 months ago
Reply to  Ben Siegel

But those basically special editions. The Typhoon/Syclone in their prime, for instance, were about as rare on the road as say a Lotus. Maybe more so.

I guess my thinking is we’re now sorta hitting Mustang and Charger level/character with performance trucks.

Vic Vinegar
Vic Vinegar
5 months ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

A Tahoe sized SUV or pickup has been accepted as a “regular car” at this point. They are daily drivers, that never go offroad and “haul” groceries most of the time.

So if you are going to invest in performance in one area, for 90% of the customers for a Tahoe/Suburban, straight line speed is probably going to put a smile on your potential customer’s face more so than off-road ability. Yeah, you’ll always have the 5 people who actually off-road a Tahoe, and the other couple thousand who want to cosplay like they do take their truck off-road, but for the vast majority being able to race around from stoplight to stoplight is going to be higher on their list.

Mr. Asa
Mr. Asa
5 months ago

Passed by a current model one alone in a parking lot after hours.

It looked like someone at GM literally decided to fill as much of the parking space as physically possible. It was a box with wheels and windows.

Just… WTF.

Gee See
Gee See
5 months ago
Reply to  Mr. Asa

Maximize interior space? I rather they do that then goes sloppy SUV coupes

Mr. Asa
Mr. Asa
5 months ago
Reply to  Gee See

Maximizing interior space is all well and good, but when it literally takes up an entire parking spot, left-right and front-back, there are massive problems with it. I can’t imagine driving one of them, especially at night.

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
5 months ago
Reply to  Mr. Asa

“a box with wheels and windows” used to be a passenger van and I bet a Transit or Sprinter is more efficient at hauling butts down the road while being less offensive. I really hope these have jumped the shark but I expect the Suburban to morph into an equally horrible cut price Hummer EV rather than return to something like a GMT800 that was big but not overbearing.

VanGuy
VanGuy
5 months ago
Reply to  Slow Joe Crow

A relative has 4 kids and was seriously considering a passenger Transit…but those don’t get much safety testing/features for the back seats, so they ended up with a Pacifica.

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
5 months ago
Reply to  VanGuy

A minivan seems like the right tool for 4 kids.

PaysOutAllNight
PaysOutAllNight
5 months ago

Let’s play “Guess the backing text!”

REAL RIG?
REAL BIG?
I’m guessing “REAL PIG”. It makes the most sense.

Any others, or is it one of these?

Alec Weinstein
Alec Weinstein
5 months ago

HOUSE REAL BIG
CARS REAL BIG
(CYOA) REAL BIG
ERRYTHING REAL BIG

GreatFallsGreen
GreatFallsGreen
5 months ago

re: the headlights, ~15 years ago, large headlight units would probably have been a complaint all the same (and were on some cars) and could just as cartoonish as the aggro sort of look now on some vehicles. The GMT900s would qualify as more cartoony than this IMO.

I know people grumble about the split headlight look and I don’t think it makes much difference on these for how high they ride, but I welcome any attempt to lower headlights so they aren’t squared up so neatly with my back window and reflect directly in my rearview mirror.

Who Knows
Who Knows
5 months ago

You forgot one thing on your list of what these can do: get completely stuck in our driveway in the snow. It was entertaining dragging the back end of a suburban sideways by hand with the help of a high lift jack though, and it sounded like the first time the hitch receiver was used (as the jack point) on that particular example.

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago

With the potential exception of the Corvette, these are the best thing GM builds and have been for decades now.

Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

This is correct

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Only because they no longer offer the Volt.

Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
5 months ago

I daily’d an 04 Suburban for years. My family bought it brand new. After college my dad was like “here you go, drive it until it dies”. I put about 50,000 miles on it and sold it when it was around 150k in 2020 for $2500. I had to do very little to it between 2013 and 2020.

I did new brakes all around once, the front and rear brake lines rusted out around 130k and needed to be replaced, and the interior was an absolute shitshow but it was early 2000s GM. Despite stuff falling apart the seats were ridiculously comfortable until the very end and that shit could eat up miles like you wouldn’t believe. I remember driving it for 10 hours straight by myself and feeling fine when I got out of it.

Mechanically speaking it was pretty bombproof and I’m sure it’s still out there today. This is a very long winded way of saying that despite my hatred of bro dozers and huge vehicles in general I understand why the Tahoe/Suburban seem to be eternal. If you have a big family you can buy one and keep it for 10-20 years. They can tow almost anything you can throw at them. You can drive them in any conditions. Etc.

They serve a purpose and if they’d be one of the first places I’d look if I needed a hauler than can tow and survive the apocalypse. They’re just damn expensive…although my family paid almost 50 grand for ours in 04 so this isn’t anything new.

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago

the seats were ridiculously comfortable until the very end

I’d pay a frankly unconscionable amount to have GMT800-style cushy foam seats available in modern trucks. Why is everything, even in top trims, so firm and unyielding? Give me a seat I can sink into a bit.

BolognaBurrito
BolognaBurrito
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Those seats were ugly, which is kinda surprising because they are somehow also simultaneously bland looking.

Comfortable as hell though.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Seat mounted airbags maybe?

Last edited 5 months ago by Cheap Bastard
Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Like I said, it was unbelievable how comfortable that truck was. My dad fondly referred to it as “driving around in your living room”. Growing up even with all 5 of us, an 80 pound lab, and a week’s worth of packing for everyone there was room to spare. We did countless 5-7 hour road trips and no one ever complained.

I drove it by myself to southwest Ohio from DC with an entire apartment’s worth of stuff in it and came back in the course of a single weekend right before my senior year of college. It was a good 8-9 hours each way and I felt absolutely fine. Granted I was 21, but we did the trip in my buddy’s Highlander (emphasis on High during those days) several times and I was ready for a massage by the time we got out of it.

God that ‘Burban was comfortable. I’d set the cruise at 9 over and the miles would go by like nothing.

Last edited 5 months ago by Nsane In The MembraNe
VanGuy
VanGuy
5 months ago

I had a ’97 Ford Econoline conversion van with cloth captain’s chairs and I’m guessing it’s a similar feeling. I’m forever ruined because I doubt any car I’ll ever have will live up to those seats.

My 2012 Prius v’s cloth seats live in this weird space where they’re not comfortable, but also never uncomfortable. I’ve driven ~8 hours in a day and not had any particular pain or discomfort, but simultaneously they’re not nice.

Alec Weinstein
Alec Weinstein
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

And why are consoles so tall? They encroach into the space my knee needs to be in to drive the stupid thing

Cerberus
Cerberus
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

I’m finding this is universal, though it seems most unconscionable in expensive luxury trucks meant for long distance travel. Of all the stupid BS they put in cars that nobody asked for, where the hell are the comfy chairs? I drove my mk1 Legacy almost 50 hours just about straight cross country and was never tired from the seat—ass, back, knees, everything was good. Thirty-four years after that middling car was built, and I can’t find anything remotely as comfortable. Hell, the seats in the GR86 are better than those in some more comfort-oriented cars (though I did modify the bottom and add inflatable lumbar behind the springs). I wonder if it’s more safety crap—same with the intrusive center consoles that make it so a giant monstrosity has barely any more room for the driver than a sub compact—that it holds the operator in a smaller envelope for the airbags to work more effectively. I’ll gladly sign away that crap that might theoretically help me in a bad luck event over the definite daily discomfort. Where’s the form?

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago
Reply to  Cerberus

It may be some of that, but I will say my truck has tons of space, so it’s not just as simple as the cramped area for airbags.

I won’t say the seat is *uncomfortable* but it is a bit disappointing that a modern luxury truck can’t offer the same comfort as my old mid-trim Avalanche.

Cerberus
Cerberus
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Does it have a giant, intrusive center console? The last F-150 I was in wasn’t too bad compared to most vehicles today, but I would still prefer some more knee room on longer drives. The big consoles and seat bottoms are something I complain about in everything (most companies get the seat back right, though not all).

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago
Reply to  Cerberus

I suppose you could call it that, although it doesn’t bother me much.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
5 months ago

“You can drive them in any conditions.”

Sure…as long as you can afford the gas. And there may be some off limits pre automobile city centers to avoid.

Last edited 5 months ago by Cheap Bastard
BolognaBurrito
BolognaBurrito
5 months ago
Reply to  Cheap Bastard

The guy put 50k on it in 7 years. That’s ~$2k per year in gas at $4.00/gallon assuming it average 14mpg, which is low. Not exactly talking beaucoup bucks here.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
5 months ago
Reply to  BolognaBurrito

That’s an extra grand a year vs driving a Vibe or other small station wagon. Maybe not beaucoup bucks to you but to some it is.

BolognaBurrito
BolognaBurrito
5 months ago
Reply to  Cheap Bastard

And the supposed Vibe is an extra grand over the guy that doesn’t drive.

It’s all relative. My point is that $2k in gas per year isn’t some outlier for Americans.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
5 months ago
Reply to  BolognaBurrito

I think if that were true gas would cost a LOT more.

Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
5 months ago
Reply to  BolognaBurrito

The car was also free. My dad just handed me the keys to it…and insurance was dirt cheap. Poor fuel economy aside it was a great low stress beater that had enough space for (insert activity here). When I was a broke grad student/somewhat broke entry level worker it did the job.

Today I’m in my early 30s with a pregnant wife and fuel economy is absolutely a consideration now. We’ve already agreed we’re going hybrid or PHEV for her next car and one of the reasons I’m so fond of hot hatches (post Suburban I went GTI before my Kona N) is that they get decent fuel economy for the power they have.

But when I was in my 20s? Whatever, dawg. Free reliable car.

Mike B
Mike B
5 months ago

A free 15mpg vehicle is more economical than making a payment on a new 40mpg vehicle.

PaysOutAllNight
PaysOutAllNight
5 months ago
Reply to  BolognaBurrito

Most people put twice as many miles per year at that, which works out to be about $330 in fuel per month.

Meanwhile, “the guy” you mention was paying about $165 per month in fuel alone, for a vehicle that he barely used.

They are fantastically capable vehicles, and priced accordingly. But very unnecessary for most of the people who own them.

Mike B
Mike B
5 months ago

Even here in the northeast where everything rots out, there are still tons of these running around, and many on marketplace have 300K+ on them. I recently even saw one listed with 450K.

PL71 Enthusiast
PL71 Enthusiast
5 months ago

An early 2000s gm truck will run poorly longer than almost anything else will run at all. Sounds like you didn’t even get to the running poorly part.

Scottingham
Scottingham
5 months ago

Replace that with 01′ and you described my situation too.

Mine ended up getting scrapped (or they sold it to auction) when the transmission started to eat itself around 170k. It also had a pretty bad stuck lifter for 70k miles that was definitely adding metal bits to the oil.

Harrnack
Harrnack
5 months ago

GMC Yukon Denali…tasteful??

Jacob Rippey
Jacob Rippey
5 months ago

Say what you will, but the Suburban is better than a minivan at carrying people and things, all while towing more things. The 3.0 Diesel is a sweetheart from my research (especially compared to the Ecodiesel and 3.0 Powerstoke). While the Land Cruiser used to the be the king of “stealth wealth”, the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon is now the reigning champ.

KyleKC
KyleKC
5 months ago
Reply to  Jacob Rippey

And all for the low, low cost of basically double what a minivan costs. These trucks are great but man are they pricey.

And 24” wheels are asinine. Who wants to pay $2,000 for a set of tires?

Jacob Rippey
Jacob Rippey
5 months ago
Reply to  KyleKC

This is why the Z71 is the best buy here… especially now that you can opt it with the Diesel.

Scruffinater
Scruffinater
5 months ago
Reply to  Jacob Rippey

Sorry, but they are categorically NOT better at carrying people and things than a minivan. They just aren’t. Harder to get in/out of, harder to load stuff in/out of, and you can get the same seating comfort and tech in minivans. They are better at towing, and mild off-roading (emphasis mild) and that’s it. Those last 2 things are important to many people, but for everything else minivans are better. Not to mention the lower initial cost and running costs for minivans…

Also, there is literally nothing stealthy about these things. They are huge, look friggin expensive, and are friggin expensive.

Jacob Rippey
Jacob Rippey
5 months ago
Reply to  Scruffinater

Where I disagree with you in in how much cargo space is in a Suburban behind the 3rd row. That is where minivans struggle.

Scruffinater
Scruffinater
5 months ago
Reply to  Jacob Rippey

I’ll give you that. You do have to master stacking to take full advantage of the space behind the 3rd row in a minivan, and it does still come up short compared to the ‘burban.

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago
Reply to  Scruffinater

There is no minivan on sale that matches the Suburban for comfort. I know, because I would have bought one if there was.

Since 2021 and the move to the independent rear suspension the difference in load height isn’t so bad either.

The actual question, of which is better at carrying people and things, mostly depends on what shape your things are (or how big your people are).

Scruffinater
Scruffinater
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

Waaaaait a minute… according to morning shift comments you *have* a sienna and don’t have a suburban or similar. Will the real V10omous please stand up?

Just kidding, I’m sure there’s a good explanation. And yes, I’m spending too much time on Autopian today.

V10omous
V10omous
5 months ago
Reply to  Scruffinater

I do own a Sienna, and if you *really* spent a lot of time here (lol), you’d have seen past comments where I bemoan the lack of a true luxury minivan offering in the US (at least for front seat passengers).

I love our van, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s perfect or can’t recognize the things that a Suburban does better.

KyleKC
KyleKC
5 months ago
Reply to  V10omous

A Suburban should be a hell of a lot better. Minivans tap out in the mid 50s and suburbans don’t even start until much higher than that.

Mike B
Mike B
5 months ago
Reply to  Jacob Rippey

A few years ago 4 of us went to Moab for a mtb trip. We ended up with a new Suburban and a late ’00S Caravan as rentals through Truro. We could only fit 3 bikes in the Suburban, and that was with half the 2nd row folded down, only allowing 3 passengers.

Meanwhile, the SWB Caravan cold fit all 4 bikes AND the 4 of us, and all gear. We ended up using the Caravan as the primary shuttle rig.

The difference was that the bikes could stand up in the van, they had to lay down in the Burb.

I ended up as the main Suburban driver, I absolutely LOVED driving that thing.

Delta 88
Delta 88
5 months ago
Reply to  Jacob Rippey

We have at least a dozen customers who have the 3.0 in their pickups, and these people love that thing. And so far the only ones that have been in for anything other than basic maintenance are the ones that customers have put DEF into the fuel tanks

Der Foo
Der Foo
5 months ago

Let me see….low profile tires on huge rims supporting A LOT of weight. I guess if you can afford one of these vehicles, then you can probably pay/finance the replacement cost of the tires and occasional wheel.

Frankencamry
Frankencamry
5 months ago

Is this another wheel size upgrade that’s not necessitated by the brake hardware? Ie, one could put the smaller wheels on and enjoy a bit more sidewall?

If a set of stock Accord 17s pops up on FB Marketplace that’s something I’d like to implement for my wife’s car before she completes her mission of bedazzling them with curb rash.

Albino Kangaroo
Albino Kangaroo
5 months ago
Reply to  Frankencamry

I see you mentioned stock wheels but I bet Acura wheels would also fit. Not actually sure of the hub spacing (distance between lugs, and hub diameter) but they are probably the same.

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