The Chevrolet Suburban is a series of SUVs built by Chevrolet since 1934. The longest-produced automobile nameplate in the world, the Suburban is currently in its twelfth generation, in production since the 2021 model year. Beginning life as one of the first metal-bodied station wagons, the Suburban is the progenitor of the modern full-size sport utility vehicle, combining a wagon-style body with the chassis and powertrain of a pickup truck. Alongside its Advance Design, Task Force, and C/K predecessors, the Chevrolet Silverado currently shares chassis and mechanical commonality with the Suburban and other trucks.
Traditionally one of the most profitable vehicles sold by General Motors, the Suburban has been marketed through both Chevrolet and GMC for nearly its entire production. In addition to sharing the Suburban name with Chevrolet, GMC has used several nameplates for the model line, having marketed it as the GMC Yukon XL since 2000, while Cadillac has marketed it as the Cadillac Escalade ESV since 2003. During the 1990s, GM Australia marketed right-hand drive Suburbans under the Holden brand.
The Suburban is sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Chile, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Peru, Philippines, and the Middle East (except Israel), while the Yukon XL is sold only in North America (exclusive to the United States, Canada, and Mexico) and the Middle East territories (except Israel).
A 2018 iSeeCars.com study identified the Chevrolet Suburban as the car that is driven the most each year. A 2019 iSeeCars.com study named the Chevrolet Suburban the second-ranked longest-lasting vehicle. In December 2019, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce unveiled a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for the Suburban, noting that the car had been in "1,750 films and TV shows since 1952."
History Several automotive companies in the United States used the "Suburban" designation to indicate a windowed, station wagon–type body on a commercial frame, including DeSoto, Dodge, Plymouth, Studebaker, and Nash, in addition to Chevrolet and GMC. The (Westchester) Suburban name was, in fact, a trademark of U.S. Body and Forging Co. of Tell City, Indiana, which built wooden station wagon bodies for all of these automobile and light truck chassis and more.
Chevrolet began production of its all-steel "carryall-suburban" in 1934. GMC brought out its version in 1937. These vehicles were also known as the "Suburban Carryall" until General Motors shortened the name to simply "Suburban". GMC's equivalent to the Chevrolet model was originally named "Suburban" as well, until it was rebranded as "Yukon XL" for the 2000 model year.
With the end of production of the Plymouth Fury Suburban station wagon in 1978, only GM continued to manufacture a vehicle branded as a "Suburban", and GM was awarded an exclusive trademark on the name in 1988. The Chevrolet Suburban is one of the largest SUVs on the market today. It has outlasted competitive vehicles such as the International Harvester Travelall, Jeep Wagoneer, and the Ford Excursion. The latest competitor is the extended-length Ford Expedition EL, which indirectly replaced the Excursion.
The Suburban as of today is a full-size SUV (upgraded to extended-length from 1967 onward to make room for the K5 Blazer that debuted in 1969) with three rows of seating, a full pickup truck frame, and V8 engine. It is one of the few station wagons available with all bench seating rows. The Suburban is the same height and width as the Chevrolet Tahoe, except that the Suburban is longer. The extra length provides a full-sized cargo area behind the nine-passenger seating area.
From 1973 to 2013, it had been available in half-ton and 3/4-ton versions. Chevrolet discontinued this option for the public during the tenth-generation model's tenure after 2013 because of slow sales. However, for the 2016 model year, a one-ton model debuted as an exclusive to rental, fleet, and government services as the eleventh generation in 4WD and with LS and LT trim options, but soft sales would result in Chevrolet discontinuing production on this model after 2019.
In recent years, the Suburban has been used as a police truck, fire chief's vehicle, and EMS vehicle. Suburbans are also used as taxicab livery and limousines. Gothic black Suburban vehicles are commonly used by federal intelligence services such as the Secret Service. The Secret Service operates fully armored versions of the Suburban for the President of the United States when he attends less formal engagements. The Suburban (as well as the Tahoe and GMC variants) is very popular with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a service vehicle.
In the late 1990s, GM also introduced a RHD version of the Suburban, badged as a Holden, for the Australian market. Sales were low and GM withdrew the model in 2000 from Holden's lineup. In 2019, Chevrolet considered bringing the Suburban back to the region as a converted RWD import through Holden Special Vehicles (albeit with the Chevrolet badge), but chose to hold off on those plans due to numerous factors, including the situation involving GM's decision to retire the Holden brand in 2020.
In 2015, the Suburban commemorated its 80th anniversary at General Motors' Arlington Assembly Plant, where the 10 millionth Suburban was produced. A video was posted on Chevrolet's YouTube channel about its 80-year legacy.
On February 26, 2018, Car and Driver magazine posted an article celebrating the vehicle's 83rd year, noting that the Suburban's longevity is due to being one of GM's best-selling brands, its appeal to customers across the board regardless of race, gender, class, or political affiliation, and a unique loyalty to the SUV. In an interview from Chevrolet's truck/SUV marketing executive Sandor Piszar, who recalls an event celebrating the truck division's 100th anniversary when they asked about what they named their vehicles, "It's a funny question, but it really is an intriguing point [...] People name what they love. And they love their Suburbans."
On December 5, 2019, the Chevrolet Suburban became the first vehicle to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for its excellence in film and television, having appeared in more than 1,750 films and television series since 1952, and can also claim to have appeared in at least one television series every year since 1956, and at least one film every year since 1960, the most ever for an automobile of any type. The star, placed at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, also carried the Chevrolet "Bowtie" symbol instead of the entertainment symbols (film, stage, television, radio, musical instruments, and recording artist), another first for the Walk of Fame.
There have been a total of twelve generations of Chevrolet Suburbans since its 1934 debut.
First generation (1935)
Prior to the first-generation Suburban, in 1933, the Chevrolet Master had offered a station wagon body built on the 1/2-ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood and could seat up to eight occupants.
The actual first-generation model was offered by Chevrolet as a "Carryall Suburban", a utility vehicle featuring a station wagon body on the chassis of a small truck. Focused on functionality, the concept was indeed to "carry all": the whole family and their gear were to find sufficient space in one truck. It shared the front sheet metal and frames of the half-ton pickup models of the same year, but featured all-metal wagon bodies differing very little in shape from contemporary "woodie" station wagons.
Seating for up to eight occupants was available, with three in the front row, two in the middle row, and three in the rear row. Either the side-hinged rear panel doors or a rear tailgate/lift window could be selected for cargo area access while only having two doors for passenger access.
Second generation (1941)
Suburbans were built in the model years 1941, 1942, and 1946. They were also produced during World War II as a military transport vehicle. Seating for up to eight occupants was available. Models with rear panel doors were designated "3106", while those with tailgates were designated "3116". The Chevrolet versions were equipped a 216-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. The GMC version was equipped with a 228-cubic-inch 6-cylinder engine. It shared much of its mechanicals with the AK Series trucks.
Third generation (1947)
The third generation model was based on the Chevrolet Advance Design series of pickups.
Beginning in 1953, the Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission was available in GMC models and in the 1954 model year Chevrolet Suburbans. Models with rear panel doors were designated "3106", while those with tailgates were designated "3116". In 1952, the Suburban came with either a tailgate or panel doors. The front bench seat was split, with two seats on the driver's side and a single seat on the passenger side, which slid forward for access to the rear two rows of seats. The second row was a "2/3" seat, requiring occupants to move past the front passenger seat, as well as the second-row seats to access the third row. This was the last series to feature "canopy express" models.
The design of the 1947 Suburban would inspire the design of the Chevrolet HHR over half a century later.
Fourth generation (1955)
Updated engineering and styling on Chevrolet trucks was not introduced until March 25, 1955, in the middle of the model year that GM called the Chevrolet Task Force/GMC Blue Chip series. All Chevrolet and GMC truck models received new styling that included a flatter hood, front fenders flush with the body, and a trapezoid grille. The trucks' V-shaped speedometer was shared with passenger car models.
Engines included I6 and the small-block V8s. Chevrolet used its 265 V8 engine, later evolving it to a 283-cubic-inch version. GMC based their V8 on a Pontiac design. Standard Suburban model numbers continued from the previous series, but the introduction of four-wheel-drive models in 1957 added the numbers "3156" for 4WD Suburbans with panel doors, and "3166" for 4WD Suburbans with tailgates."Chevy Suburban Spotter's Guide – SUV Bio" from Four Wheeler (April 27, 2015)
The "Suburban" name was also used on GM's two-door GMC 100 series pickup trucks from 1955 to 1959, called the Suburban Pickup, which was similar to the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier. However, it was dropped at the same time as Chevy's Cameo in March 1958, when GM released the new all-steel "Fleetside" bed option, replacing the Cameo/Suburban Pickup fiberglass bedsides. The Suburban name was never used again on a 1/2 ton pickup after the discontinuation of the Suburban Pickup. Although not documented because of a fire that destroyed the records, the production of Suburban Pickups is understood to be 300 or fewer each model year it was offered from 1955 to 1958.
Fifth generation (1960)
The styling of the 1960–1961 model year took cues from the late 1950s Chevrolet vehicles, and had large oval ports above the grille. An independent front suspension was new for 1960. The cab featured a "wrap around" windshield, while tailgate and panel door rear openings were available.
From 1962 onwards, the hood styling was more conservative, with hoods that eliminated the large ports. In 1964, the front glass area was updated to a flatter windshield and larger door glass. of cargo could be carried in the back.
This model series introduced a factory-equipped 4WD ("K") option for the first time. The 2WD ("C") models introduced a torsion bar-based independent front suspension and trailing arm and coil spring rear, but returned to a more conventional coil-spring approach by 1963.