Not only is the
Chevrolet Suburban the most pure niche vehicle in the sport utility/van/minivan spectrum, you might say it's the only one of its kind. (Please note that the
GMC Suburban is the same vehicle marketed under a different name.) While essentially a people carrier, the Suburban has body-on-frame construction and other
pickup characteristics that help distinguish it from the popular minivans or big traditional vans. Sure, this vehicle is meant to haul people and cargo, but it's also meant to pull with pep - boats, trailers campers, snowmobiles, trail bikes and just about anything else you can imagine.
Our Chevy Suburban K2500 (the K denotes 4WD; the 2500 means it's a 3/4-ton vehicle) had a base price of $22,417. We added the Silverado trim level and options including front/ rear air conditioning, tinted glass, power assists and more, and the price zoomed to $32,507. That's substantial. But keep in mind that completely equipped versions of the smaller Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Explorer go for about 30 000. Then consider that the Suburban is an eight- or nine-passenger, off-road vehicle with serious towing potential, and the price doesn't seem so far out of line.