1999 Chevy and GMC Truck Suburbans - Still Kings of the Road
By Vince Bodiford
Automotive Editor
Suburban.
It means big, powerful comfort. Own one, and you've got the world's
largest production vehicle. Drive one, and you'll feel like you
own the road.
Suburbans come from both Chevrolet and GMC Truck. Al-though both
are very similar in appearance, we found there are differences
between the two.
We tested both the Chevy and the GMC Suburbans extensively - on
roads all over Western Nebraska and some select, challenging roads
in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Loading the Suburban to capacity
for road trips, we always had room to spare for more luggage or
one more person.
Comfort on the road between the Chevy and GMC is almost identical,
but both models are most unique inside the cabin. Both now offer
the OnStar® satellite navigation system.
The OnStar® communications system is a cellular phone and
global positioning satellite system that work together with an
operator in Detroit to track your vehicle location, offer advice
for routes and destinations, and call for help if your airbags
are deployed. It offers other services such as theft detection,
stolen vehicle tracking, remote door unlock, and roadside assistance.
We used it mostly to get ourselves unlost and find a good Thai
restaurant along our route. Without a doubt, OnStar® is worth
the added cost.
What's shared on both the Chevy and GMC Suburban is the frame,
power group, some sheet metal, and most other systems like brakes
and suspension. The unique flair of the two divisions gives buyers
the ability to pick the Suburban that best fits their lifestyle
and the vehicle's application. Chevy's Suburban image
is that of the versatile workhorse - strong, capable and good
looking. GMC's Suburban image is that of the sophisticated suburbanite
- the ultimate town & country hauler.
Outside, Chevy and GMC put their own distinctive looks on the
front. Chevy's truck appearance is carried onto Suburban and in-cludes
the pickup style hood and gold bow tie centered around lots of
brightwork in the grille. GMC's nameplate in red is centered in
the gaping cowl distinctive to all GMC truck models and trimmed
with less chrome than its Chevy twin.
Both models come in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
configurations. Our test Chevy was the two-wheel drive model,
and our GMC was four-wheel drive with fully automatic transfer
case and Auto 4WD. We got better fuel economy with the two-wheel
drive Chevy.
Power options for both Suburbans offer a 255-hp Vortec 5700 V8,
290-hp Vortec 7400 V8, and 195-hp 6.5 liter turbo diesel V8. Both
of our test vehicles were equipped with the 255-hp Vor-tec 5700
V8, a very capable and powerful engine that moves with ease everything the
Suburban can carry
or tow.
The base price of the Chevy Suburban (four-wheel drive) is $28,275
and our two-wheel drive was $36,093 as tested, (base price $25,675),
which included destination charges and the comfort and security
package ($1,250) and the LT décor package ($9,168). Base
price of the GMC Truck Suburban (four-wheel drive) is $28,619
and ours was $41,064 as tested, which included destination charges
and the luxury convenience package ($1,095), and the SLT décor
package ($9,613).
Among the equipment in both optional groups, you get six-way power
heated leather seating, power everything, rear heat and air conditioning,
upgraded stereo with CD player, better shocks, wheels, tires and
gear ratios, plus many other options that make both equipment
groups a good value. Bottom line -you'll pay about $250 more for
the GMC in option groups, but more than recover that additional
cost in retained value for later trade-in of the GMC model. Compare
the Suburban to Lexus LX470, Toyota Land Cruiser, Range Rover,
Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, even though the Suburban
is larger in every respect than each of this comparison SUVs,
and priced below some.
Suburban has one of the best truck warranties, with the 100,000
mile tune-up interval and a 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty and roadside
assistance.
