Picking the Chevy Suburban Generation That is Right for You

Heavy-duty family vehicles are Chevy’s specialty, and no model can give families the comfort and capability they need quite like the Chevy Suburban. When you’re dealing with a busy schedule that keeps you in motion constantly, you need to be ready for anything—and the Chevy Suburban is an SUV built with this in mind.

At a glance, this vehicle exudes strength and resilience, with plenty of cargo space and room for as many passengers as you need to fit. No brand produces models with the utility and longevity that Chevy does, and the Suburban is one SUV that makes this all too clear. Being such a long-lasting vehicle, the Chevy Suburban is a great choice no matter what model year you’re looking at—and with models dating back to 1935, there’s a great deal of palpable legacy wherever you can find a used Chevy Suburban for sale.

But with so many different models—each with so much to offer—how do you know which one is right for you? Especially when you have a family to consider, getting a vehicle that offers the best safety, comfort, and convenience is an absolute must. Chevy has traditionally led the charge on these fronts, and you can bet that any Suburban model you look at boasts the best features for the year it came out.

Chevy Suburban: 11th or 12th Generation?

The Suburban has evolved in a lot of ways over the years—and with the strides it has made over the past decade, the Suburban is a modern SUV that’ll accommodate families who are constantly on the go. The eleventh generation featured some of the boldest upgrades this nameplate has ever seen, and we can certainly say the same of the twelfth generation now that we’re two years into its production. Without a doubt, the past two generations of this nameplate have been some of the best we’ve seen—so if you’re in the market for a new SUV, this is where we’d suggest you start.

There are many key differences between these generations that should be noted, which is why Edwards Chevrolet Downtown is here to help you get to the bottom of which model is right for you. Birmingham drivers need vehicles that can keep up with this city’s stop-and-go pace while also giving them the capability to take on the lush landscapes that surround us. We’ve been serving Alabama drivers from here to Huntsville for a long time now, and we’re always eager to help kickstart a new adventure. Whether you’re looking for the right family vehicle or want an SUV that can keep up with your busy schedule, the question isn’t whether you should get behind the wheel of a Suburban but which Suburban you should choose.

11th Generation

2015 marked a new generation for the Chevy Suburban. With an all-new model redesigned from the ground up, this iteration promised to be sleeker, more modern, and more versatile than ever. More stylish and rugged than ever, this all-new Suburban appeared more commanding than it ever had in previous years—but it wasn’t just style that made this model. With an updated selection of V8 powertrains, the eleventh-generation Suburban promised to offer the best fuel economy this nameplate had ever seen—and it certainly delivered, which is why these models make great pre-owned companions for drivers in Birmingham, Concord, and beyond.

The 2015 model year made the bold capability of this model apparent from the get-go. With a 5.3-liter V8 standard engine capable of producing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, the Suburban wasn’t just for families anymore. Additionally, the 2015 model has up to 8,300 lbs of towing capacity when properly equipped, making it just as much of a work vehicle as it was a commuter or family hauler.

The eleventh-generation Suburban also featured new interior features that made the vehicle more convenient. With second- and third-row seats that now folded back, the Suburban featured an immense amount of interior cargo space—121.1 cu.ft., to be exact. The Suburban was one of the first adopters of new infotainment tech as well, featuring an available 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was compatible with Chevy MyLink features.

The features that were made available at the start of the eleventh-generation Suburban in 2015 stayed consistent through the 2020 model year. With two primary engines to choose from (the standard 5.3-liter V8 and a 420-hp 6.2-liter V8), there were—and still are—plenty of ways to customize the Suburban to your liking.

12th Generation

The newest generation of the Suburban is still in its adolescence. Despite this, these models have harbored some fantastic innovations. Debuting in 2021, the twelfth-generation Chevy Suburban brings more dynamic performance, as well as an additional engine option that wasn’t previously available. Featuring multilink independent rear suspension, models since 2021 can tackle more uneven terrain than ever before, which is ideal for a day at Oak Mountain State Park. This upgraded suspension gives drivers more traction and, therefore, more control of the vehicle. Additionally, the twelfth-generation models have a 3.0-liter diesel engine option, capable of producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

The twelfth-generation Suburban also features tons of interior space, capable of seating eight passengers more comfortably than ever. These upgrades are fantastic, but that doesn’t mean that the newest generation didn’t have to trade some useful features to make them possible. With more powerful engines than ever, the twelfth-generation has a less-than-desirable fuel economy when compared to previous models. Achieving 16 MPG in cities and 20 MPG on highways is still quite competitive for a vehicle of the Suburban’s size, but it could be better.

Although the Suburban is bigger and more spacious than ever, its overall maneuverability is more affected by its girth, meaning that managing turns won’t be as easy as it was with older models. Despite this, the twelfth-generation Suburban brings a ton of fantastic features, including more standard technology features than ever, including compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which many eleventh-generation Suburbans don’t have. The twelfth generation will continue to improve as time goes on, and with Chevy’s dedication to innovation, there are sure to be a lot of good things in store for this vehicle in the future.

Find Your Family’s Next Suburban at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown

Chevy is constantly doing everything they can to provide drivers with the best vehicles possible, and the Chevy Suburban illustrates this by having the best safety, technology, and performance achievable for an SUV of its age.

The eleventh generation featured some of the greatest strides on these fronts that this nameplate had ever seen. When buying used, it should be noted that you’re sure to get somewhat outdated features, but you’ll get some of the most excellent and fuel-efficient Suburban models at a much more affordable price tag. The twelfth generation brings the best to the table in terms of performance and space, with some of the most advanced tech features the Suburban has seen thus far. Being newer, it will likely come a little pricier, but with the utility a vehicle like this offers, it’s definitely worth it.

When the time comes for you to grab the keys and jump behind the wheel, Edwards Chevrolet Downtown will be right there to help. Birmingham is a rich, vibrant city with tons of culture and beauty to explore. We want to do everything we can to equip drivers with the performance they need to experience it all with confidence and precision, which is why our lot is always stocked with the best Chevy vehicles available at a price that makes them accessible to all.

The Chevy Suburban is one of the most robust and strong SUVs the market has ever seen, which is why it is such a fantastic choice for Alabama drivers. Edwards Chevrolet Downtown is here to help you get behind the wheel in any way we can.