Chevy Suburban’s 11th generation: capable and confident

When folks in the Mountain West need a people-moving, cargo-hauling, trailer-towing vehicle for their daily needs, they routinely turn to the trusted Chevrolet Suburban. Popular especially among families (which get pretty big around these parks) the Suburban is beloved for its roomy comfort and no-nonsense power. 

The Chevy Suburban has been one of the most searched vehicles on KSL Cars for years, so we’re paying tribute to its enduring legacy and reflecting on its 11th generation, which ran from 2015 to 2020. Balancing modern technology with a moderate price point, the 11th generation Suburban makes for a great buy in today’s market. See Suburban listings

History of the Suburban

The Suburban has been a household name for almost 90 years. The Suburban is so famous, in fact, that it has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Thanks to its many appearances on screen, it joined the illustrious company of Disneyland, the only other inanimate object with a star. 

First launched in the mid-1930s, the Suburban — or, as it was originally called, the “Carryall Suburban” — has developed a reputation through the years as a reliable utility vehicle that can indeed carry it all. Or, with its ultra-spacious compartment and serious towing capacity, as close to “all” as any car you can think of. 

In the competitive three-row sport-utility vehicle segment, the Suburban has held its ground throughout years of competition. While smaller crossovers and sport-utility vehicles get the job done for many families, the Suburban’s size and strength set it apart thanks to V8 power, three rows of seating (with comfortable capacity for up to nine) and vast cargo room.

11th-generation introduction

Nearly ten years have passed since the 11th-generation Suburban was first revealed to the public in September 2013. The generation later launched in model year 2015 and ran through 2020 on the GMT “K2YC” platform. Built in Arlington, Texas, the full-size Suburban continued its previous generation’s body-on-frame chassis structure. The vehicle was badged concurrently as the GMC Yukon XL, as well as the Cadillac Escalade ESV, and while basic architecture was shared, each variant had a unique fascia and diverse trim levels. Browse 11th-generation Suburbans for sale

Feature content and model updates

What made the 11th generation Suburban so special? It might’ve been the amount of updates Chevy rolled out, including daily comforts like fold-flat second and third row seats and added second row legroom. They didn’t skimp on the technology front either, providing drivers with an available touch-screen radio with MyLink connectivity, up to six USB ports, keyless entry and a push-button start. The new Suburban was at the forefront of modern technology with many of these features. 

While it is atypical for a manufacturer to make mid-year changes, General Motors did that in just the first year of this generation. Among the changes made were the addition of a hands-free power liftgate on select trims, increased connectivity and a “shark fin” satellite radio antenna.

The majority of year-over-year changes to the Suburban involved advancing technology. For instance, in 2016, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added. That same year all trim levels received capless fueling, while two years later, daytime running lamps became standard. Some of the final changes this generation would see were in 2019 and 2020, when exterior color and trim-level changes were made as the model phased out in preparation for the incoming generation. Here are some 11th-gen Suburbans near you

High-performance capability

While most people think of the Suburban as a utilitarian people-hauler, a version called the RST (or Rally Sport Truck) debuted in 2019 with a variable “Magnetic Ride Control” suspension, cosmetic treatment and — most importantly — a power boost under the hood. Chevrolet made additional performance options available on the Suburban RST including a Borla dual exhaust system and an upgraded Brembo brake package. Chevy figured that just because you were hauling around the whole family, didn’t mean you couldn’t flex a little muscle.

Speaking of muscle, one of the most impressive stats the 11th gen Suburban boasted was its towing capacity of 8,000 pounds. To put that into perspective, an average fiberglass boat with a heavy-duty trailer may weigh up to about 5,000 pounds. So Suburban drivers could not only tow their boats with ease, but even tack on a few jet skis if they felt like it. Not to mention the entire family sitting in the back rows. 

Powertrains

Two unique V8 engines were offered in the 11th generation Suburban, the smaller of which was a direct-injected 5.3-liter “FlexFuel” EcoTec rated at 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The larger V8 launched in 2019 and was exclusive to the performance focused Suburban RST. It was sized as a direct-injected 6.2-liter FlexFuel EcoTec V8 which produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The RST also received a trim-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission.

Takeaway

The Chevy Suburban brings a strong resume to the table for any family needing a workhorse around the house, and the 11th generation (2015-2020 model years) seems to fill a “sweet spot” with all the conveniences of modern technology along with a price tag that delivers less sticker shock than a brand new model. See Suburbans for sale

If you’re considering adding a Suburban to your garage, browse KSL Cars to find the right ride for you and your family.