Chevrolet News:Coming for 2016 - Chevrolet Suburban HD

[Drew Dowdell]

One thing that many Chevrolet Suburban customers have missed since 2013 is the availability of a 3/4 ton model. The last Suburban 2500 went out of production as the Suburban changed over to the 2014 model.

We have uncovered a GM document showing that Chevrolet is planning on adding an HD trim to the Suburban for 2016. This new trim (available on 4x4, LS and LT models only) may not be a full 3/4 ton model however. From 2001 - 2006 Chevrolet offered an uprated Silverado 1500 HD that was powered by a 6.0 liter V8. That gave the Silverado 1500 HD a tow rating just 500lbs shy of a similarly engined Silverado 2500HD.

Thus, our guess is that this new Suburban HD will be an uprated 1500 series. Our reasoning for that is that from the document, only the current 5.3 liter V8 appears be offered. The Suburban's new Ecotec3 5.3 V8 is rated for 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque; and while that is more than what the 2006 6.0 liter was able to produce (300 / 360), it is not quite as powerful as the 6.0 liter the Silverado 2500HD sports today. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is also now up to a Class-3 14,000 lbs, while the standard models remain with a Class-F 8,000 lb rating.

Under the skin, the Suburban will likely get suspension hardware upgrades. Back in October, a 2014 Suburban was spied in Colorado wearing the 8-lug wheels from a Silverado 2500 HD rather than the standard 6-lug wheels the Suburban gets today, so buyers can likely count on those making it into the final package as well.

The previous Suburban 2500 never sold in great numbers, however its average buyers were skewed heavily towards the wealthy and the Secret Service. The current Suburban LS 4x4 has a base price of $52,000. Adding an HD package will likely result in a large jump in price. With most of the parts already available in the Silverado, building a Suburban HD will likely gain a healthy profit for GM.

One other thing we noticed; The GMC Yukon XL does not appear to get these upgrades.

Nothing has been officially announced by General Motors yet, but more details will likely surface in the coming months.

In the meantime, do you think GM is preparing an uprated Suburban 1500 HD or will it be a full 2500 like before? Sound off below.

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[Carguy]

They should call it the Chevrolet Suberban 2000 HD!

[David]

Cool, I always loved the Suburban 2500 and missed my chance to trade in and buy a Suburban with the 454. Then later missed again due to other family needs mostly kids going to college to get an HD. 

 

I hope they due a full 2500HD package and prep it for an upcoming Duramax Baby v8 Diesel. I still believe that this is a segment that many would jump on if they could buy a diesel Suburban stock from GM.

 

 

This also makes me wonder what the current GM Diesel Family looks like today and possibly into the Future. I know this was talked about in 2010.

 

[GMTruckGuy74]

Maybe it will just be called Suburban 2500 rather than 2500 HD if it's truly not on the HD platform?

[Camino LS6]

Roger makes the distinction I would call most likely here. Assuming that the 8 lug prototype indicates production trim for this Suburban, and only the 5.3 as motivation, 2500 minus the HD suffix feels just about right. Not offering the 6.0 (or the Duramax for that matter), strikes me as typical GM hedging. Not very smart, but par for the course. With that said, this will plug a gaping hole in the lineup. People TOW with Suburbans, often that is why the purchase is made over other alternatives. So we really need to see the towing ratings for this new offering to know what we have here.

[Guest Mullah Omar]

Cool, I always loved the Suburban 2500 and missed my chance to trade in and buy a Suburban with the 454. Then later missed again due to other family needs mostly kids going to college to get an HD. 

 

I hope they due a full 2500HD package and prep it for an upcoming Duramax Baby v8 Diesel. I still believe that this is a segment that many would jump on if they could buy a diesel Suburban stock from GM.

 

 

This also makes me wonder what the current GM Diesel Family looks like today and possibly into the Future. I know this was talked about in 2010.

 

That is an old old picture over there

[Guest Bobby Abbott]

Hope they bring back the suburban 2500 with a new improved 8.1 or a 8.2 I have a 2001 suburban 2500 with a 8.1 and love it I have 170000 miles on it and still going strong and looking for a new one

[Guest Bobby Abbott]

Wish they would bring back the 2500 4x4 suburban with a new and improved 8.1or 8.2 I have a 2001 with a 8.1 with 170000_miles on it and love it look for a new suburban 2500 to haul my 32 ft trailer and grandkids

[Guest Chad Kirby]

I'm on my 2nd 2500 (01 and 11) and sure hope they reintroduce something similar soon. There is nothing else on the market with similar tow capacity and seating. It's my only option with 4 kids and a boat over 8k.

[GMTruckGuy74]

It seems that the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban 3500HD will be offered to police and fire service customers soon: http://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/articles/pt/2016/07/chevrolet-expands-suburban-3500hd-for-police-fire.html?cmpid=EnlApparatusJuly132016&eid=328758714&bid=1462337

 

As the captain of my station's Fire Police unit, this interests me as I will be tasked with selecting a replacement in 2018 or 2019 for our current traffic utility vehicle, a 2006 Ford F350 Super Duty XL Crew Cab SRW utility body truck.  My lieutenant and I have been talking about going back to a SUV for our next vehicle, though the fire chief has also mentioned he likes vans too.

Edited July 13, 2016 by GMTruckGuy74

[David]

I take this SUV over a van any day. Better handling and more versatile to me than a van.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I'd prefer to have a crew cab pickup, but costs will dictate what will replace our current truck.  While preparing the budget forecast for vehicle, gear, and other future replacements, the fire chief looked at current state-contract vehicles to get an idea of how much to budget.  Ultimately he determined $45k would be the target for teh budget proposal, and for that amount we could get a crew cab pickup (vs. chasis cab & utility body) or a full-size van, which would keep our equipement and gear covered and locked. I didn't argue too much... timeframe for replacement is 2018 or 2019... but I'd rather have the SUV over a van.