Chevrolet Suburban High Country Made Me Love It So Much I Miss It
This family-friendly, fortress of an SUV made me the cool mom for a week.
When I first learned that I’d get to drive the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban High Country for a full week, I was pretty excited — as any mom with carpool duties, shopping needs and plenty of junk to tote around would be. For years, the Suburban has built up quite a reputation for being a safe and spacious family hauler, so I was eager to put its prowess to the test.
And then I checked the weather forecast. The first snowstorm of the season — followed by days and days of copious rainfall — would coincide exactly with my time in the ‘Burban. Suddenly, my excitement shifted to terror as I worried about how I was going to handle this massive SUV in inclement conditions. Would it be difficult to maneuver? Would its heavier load make for some difficult stopping on icy or wet roads? Are my kids going to obliterate the beautiful interior with their muddy boots and shoes? So many worries.
Well, I’m happy to report that all my fears were quickly laid to rest because the Suburban High Country proved to be the best car for the job that week. In fact, I almost cried when I had to hand back the keys.
Who The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban is For
- Busy moms (or dads) on the go who want a safe, comfortable SUV with plenty of storage.
- Families looking for a spacious SUV to accommodate up to nine passengers (available on LS trim).
- People who want ample cargo space and towing capabilities.
Related: 2021 Chevy Suburban First-Look: The New Features that Made Me Fall in Love
What it Costs
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban ranges from $58,695 for the base LS trim to $78,300 for the top High Country trim. My tester was the top-tier High Country trim with the Deluxe package and rear seat media system, which brought the price up to $86,250.
Everything You Need is at Your Fingertips
Chevy truly did their best to make the Suburban as simple to navigate as possible. All the controls you need — lights, driving modes, safety features, volume, display buttons, voice command and even the gear shift buttons — are on or within a few inches of the steering wheel. The push/pull button shift system took me a second to adjust to since it felt strange to be controlling this behemoth with just a flick of my finger. But after a few days, it all became second nature.
And let’s not forget about the overhead buttons. Not only did they let me control the biggest power panoramic sunroof I’ve ever seen, but I could also fold the third row seats up and down with just one push. Talk about convenience! (Drivers can adjust the Max Trailering feature from here as well, but I didn’t get to test this feature since I wasn’t pulling any trailers.)
Related: Chevy Suburban: Perfect Road Trip Vehicle for Families of Teens
All the Fancy Tech You’d Expect — and Maybe Some You Don’t Need
As I waited in the school pickup line, I familiarized myself with the Suburban High Country’s 10.2-inch touchscreen and infotainment system. As an admittedly non-tech-savvy person, I was happy about how easy it was to connect the wireless Apple CarPlay and crank my favorite tunes.
Ask my 6-year-old what his favorite feature was and he’ll quickly point out the “huge tablets” on the back of the driver and front passenger seats. The 12.6-inch touchscreens were definitely a hit with the carpool crowd, too. (It only took my son about 2.3 seconds to find a funny animal video on YouTube, much to his and the other small passengers’ delight.) As cool as the rear seat media system was, I noticed that it was an optional perk that tacked on $1,995 to the price. With a plethora of power outlets — including wireless, USB, USB-C and 12V — you’ll certainly be able to keep your regular tablets and devices fully charged with no problems.
Let’s Talk Safety
The word I’d use to describe the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban High Country is “fortress.” Even in rainstorms and icy streets, I felt supremely safe hauling my little family around. That’s thanks, in large part, to some key safety features, including:
- Forward collision alert
- Lane keep assist with lane departure warning
- Following distance indicator
- Automatic emergency braking
- HD surround vision
- Front and rear park assist
- A large, crystal-clear head up display
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot monitors
Of all these features, I want to give a special shout out to the HD surround vision. The Suburban would be a pretty intimidating car to park and back up if it weren’t for the crystal-clear, 360-degree views the cameras provided. I especially loved the rear camera mirror, which gives you an unobstructed view of what’s behind you. (It’s also easy to turn off if you’re not a fan of this feature.)
The government safety ratings prove that the Suburban is one of the best SUVs for families. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2023 Suburban a four-star overall safety rating. Front and rear seat side crash ratings were five stars. That should help you feel pretty confident when you’re strapping in those car seats.
Related: The Ultimate Car Seat Challenge: 3-Row SUVs
Like Driving on Air
In terms of driving experience, you have four different modes to choose from: Normal, Sport, Off-Road and Towing. I never had the chance to test out the last two, but we did throw it into Sport mode on the freeway. Honestly, in a car that size, the difference was slight, so I was happy to keep things in Normal mode. But if I had to pick my No. 1 favorite feature on the 2023 Suburban, it’s this: air ride adaptive suspension. We took this puppy on some of the bumpiest, choppiest roads in town and barely felt a thing. It was amazing. The suspension is a major selling point.
Consider the Turbo-Diesel Engine if You Want Better Fuel Economy
Listen — no one buys large SUVs with the expectation that they’re going to get stellar gas mileage. If that’s a priority for you, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. That V8 engine sure is fun, but it’s thirsty. That said, for one of the biggest family SUVs on the market, the Suburban’s numbers aren’t too shabby. The Monroney puts the combined city/highway fuel economy at 16 mpg (14 in the city and 18 on the highway). Our tester ran slightly below that, owing mostly to the fact that I work from home and frequently drove it small distances in a hilly area. On the freeway it fared much better.
It’s worth noting that Chevy offers a turbo-diesel engine option for the Suburban, which bumps fuel efficiency to 20/26/22 mpg for city/highway/combined. Of course, you might have heard that there’s currently a diesel shortage, which may drive up those fuel prices for a time. Just something to be aware of!
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban is Spacious and Comfortable
For me, any car with heated and ventilated seats is automatically a winner. Throw in a heated steering wheel and I’m smitten. The Suburban High Country checked those boxes and then some. All three rows — including the very back — provide generous seating, leg room and head space, even for adults. This made getting in and out fairly painless. The second row featured heated bucket seats, which absolutely thrilled my kids (even though they’re still in car seats and boosters). The remote start option was a lifesaver during a chilly week and we loved how quickly those leather seats warmed up. Things stayed nice and toasty.
Another bonus? Tri-zone automatic climate controls. Like many couples, one of us (me) is usually freezing while the other (my husband) is roasting. I appreciated being able to keep things a little warmer on my side while my husband and kids enjoy slightly cooler temperatures.
Made With Moms in Mind
The Suburban came at the perfect time for me because I had just finished clearing out a bunch of stuff from my basement that needed to be hauled away. Without even folding down the third row, I managed to load up nine large garbage bags full of donation items in the very back. If I needed more room, the third and second rows fold down with just a touch of a button in the back for an impressive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space. You might as well just sell your home and move in here.
Moms, here’s something to keep in mind when you’re shopping around for family cars: The Suburban is like a dress — with pockets. The pockets, in this case, are multiple, convenient little storage options for just about anything you need to carry around. My two favorites were the tiny little compartment for my sunglasses and a “secret” storage space under the center armrest. Just push a button above your head and presto! A nice, wide space appears, providing the perfect spot for your purse, handbag or diaper bag. It was ridiculous how happy this one feature made me.
The Chevrolet Suburban is A Sight for Sore Eyes
Now in its 12th generation, the Suburban’s had a few slight changes to its appearance — but it’s still easy to identify. The Silver Sage Metallic color on our High Country tester was a lovely, subtle color that had other moms at the park ooh-ing and ahh-ing. I also thought the Jet Black/Mocha interior looked clean and sharp. It’s a good color combo for families with small kids who like to rub their dirty feet on the back of the seats. I speak from experience.
Value for the Price
There are less expensive trims available for the 2023 Suburban, but my husband and I agreed — $86,250 doesn’t seem like an outlandish price for the top-tier High Country trim and all the extra features that come with it. As noted above, doing without the rear seat media system could shave off a portion of the cost. And if you skip the High Country Deluxe package, that saves you another $4,710. (Personally, I’d keep the Deluxe package, if only to hang on to the air ride adaptive suspension. With kids prone to motion sickness, I’ll do whatever it takes to smooth out those bumps!)
What we loved
- Heated/ventilated front seats (second row seats are heated, not ventilated)
- Heated steering wheel (a must-have in cold weather)
- Thoughtful storage compartments for phone, glasses, bags and more
- Cargo space galore (144.7 cubic feet max)
- Pillowy-soft air ride adaptive suspension
- Excellent visibility with 360-degree views
What you need to know
- 10-speed automatic transmission
- 355-hp gas V8 is standard but 420-hp V8 and 277-hp inline-six turbo diesel engine are available
- High Country trim cost: $78,300
- High Country Deluxe package cost: $4,710 (includes power panoramic sunroof, air ride adaptive suspension, assist steps and max trailering package)
- Rear seat media system with dual rear seat-mounted 12.6-inch touch screens cost: $1,995
- 14 mpg in the city/20 mpg on the highway
- 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
Would I Buy This Car for My Family?
Every car has its pros and cons, but I found no glaring flaws with the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban High Country. Provided it fits your price range, this is definitely one of the best cars for moms, dads, big families and people with a lot to tow around. I miss it already.
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Categorized:Car Reviews
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