KansasCity.com's view

The 2000 Suburban is “the best Suburban yet,” in the words of Steve Ramsey, brand manager for Chevrolet’s Suburban and Tahoe. I certainly agree.

Although built on the same basic frame and powertrain of the Silverado pickup truck, this icon of suburban life is so civilized you would swear it has spent the last four years in finishing school. It has more power, a bigger cabin, excellent seats and a whole host of items that make the Suburban owner’s life easier.

Considering that Suburbans are used mostly by families, creating a more refined vehicle makes sense. The noise level has been reduced considerably, and the ride, especially in the two-wheel-drive 1500 I drove, is fluid and supple, like a full-size sedan instead of a truck. Chalk that up to the optional Premium Ride shock absorbers and the five-link rear axle design that uses coil springs because they are more comfortable.

The heavy-duty 2500 has leaf rear springs because they do a better job of supporting heavy loads.

For those who have trepidations about the two-wheel-drive model’s ability to get around in bad weather, traction control is now an option.

Tailoring the truck to its intended uses is but one of the ways Chevrolet has made it the “best Suburban yet.” Visibility has been enhanced with larger windows and outside mirrors. The turning circle is tighter and the brakes, now discs on each wheel, don’t wilt in the face of hauling this eight-passenger transport to a halt.

Even though the Suburban doesn’t feel big or ungainly in city traffic, its size is noticeable once you pull into a parking lot. The tighter turning circle is a benefit here, but its overall length still requires a great deal of care when pulling into and out of spaces.

Dimensionally, the new model is not much different from the old one. The 130-inch wheelbase is 1.5 inches shorter than last year, and overall length, at 219.3 inches, is fractionally less than last year. The key differences can be found inside, however, because there is more head, leg, hip and shoulder room than ever.

The standard front seats of the test vehicle are contoured to provide generous lateral and lumbar support. Seats in the LT model are even better, plus they are heated. All front seats have the seatbelts mounted to the seats, which ensures proper fit no matter how the seat is adjusted. The only downside to seat-mounted belts is that they sometimes catch on jackets when sliding in.

The front seats have side-impact airbags mounted in them.

The second-row seat is a standard bench, but buckets are optional. These seats do not have belts attached because they tip and slide forward to allow access to the third seat. The third seat has its belts attached and that simplifies removing it when extra cargo space is needed. Small wheels on the third seat also ease its removal.

Approach the Suburban in a dark parking lot, punch the keyless remote and small ligh ts in the bottom of the outside mirrors illuminate the area in front of the door. Nice touch.

The instrument panel is the same as the Silverado truck. Gauges are large, legible and nicely tailored. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls in the lower center portion of the dash glide with a feel that mimics well-oiled precision.

A large central console between the front seats has cupholders plus a textured lid that doubles as a tray.

There are five power outlets throughout the vehicle. Three in the front, one for back-seat passengers in the back of the front console and one in the cargo area. A power lock button is also located just inside the tailgate.

Access to the cargo section is by a top-hinged tailgate, preferable to the split tailgate of the past that required leaning across the outstretched bottom half in order to put objects inside. One of the Suburban’s most endearing features is the engine. There are two V8s available, one a 5.3 iter and one a 6.0-liter. These engines, which trace their roots to the Corvette, absolutely sparkle with power and enthusiasm despite the fact that they do not have overhead cams or four valves per cylinder.

The 5.3-liter cranks out an impressive 285 horsepower, and it seems to rev up the quickest. The 6.0 has 300 horses.

The automatic transmission has a Tow/Haul feature that changes shift patterns slightly on hills or under a heavy load. When the truck is equipped with the Autoride self-adjusting shock absorbers, selecting Tow/Haul also changes the way the shocks work.

Price
The base price for our test vehicle, a 1500 LS, was $25,711. The option list included AM/FM stereo with CD player, cruise control, remote keyless entry, front and rear air conditioning, rear heater, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, aluminum wheels, locking differential, trailer package, reclining bucket seats, premium ride suspension, fog lamps, running boards and heated, power outside mirrors.

The sticker price was $36,037.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

To get in touch with Tom Strongman call (816) 234-4349 or e-mail: strongmn@kcstar.com.

Point: The 2000 Suburban has the polish of a family sedan and the hauling capacity of a truck. It seats eight, tows 9,000 pounds and has a burly V8 engine that screams like a sports car.

Counterpoint: The styling is so conservative it is hard to tell it from last year’s vehicle and maneuvering in parking lots can be intimidating in spite of its shorter wheelbase.

SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 5.3-liter, V8
TRANSMISSION: automatic
CONFIGURATION: Rear-wheel drive
WHEELBASE: 130 inches
CURB WEIGHT: 4,194 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $25,711
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $36,037
MPG RATING: 14 city, 18 hwy.