Not only is the Chevy Suburban 2500 bigger than the smaller
1500, you get the sense that it is the favorite child of
the makers at GM. For starters, the ¾-ton 2500 get
two engines to do the dirty work, and it has exclusive new
features for 2005.
Those upgrades include a new tire pressure monitor and
oil coolers. The tire pressure monitoring system has been
revised to identify the specific tire and location, replacing
the general warning system. In addition, an engine oil cooler
is now included and only available with 3/4-ton models equipped
with the biggest engine, while a transmission oil cooler
is now included with the trailering equipment package.
Available Models
The 2005 Chevy Suburban 2500 comes in two trim levels: LS
and LT. Smaller Suburban 1500 models are covered in a separate
review.
Interior Features
The four-door Suburban has a standard third-row bench seat,
resulting in a maximum occupancy of nine passengers. For
goods, the 2005 Suburban has 131.6 cubic feet of cargo volume.
In addition to being able to carry a lot of goods and people,
the Suburban is also well appointed. Standard items include
power windows with driver express-down, power door locks,
cruise control, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, a multi-lingual
driver information center, temperature and compass displays
integrated in the inside rearview mirror and deep-tint glass
aft of the B-pillar.
There are plenty of options as well, including satellite
radio, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a new touch-screen
navigation system, a power sunroof and more.
Exterior Features
For 2005, all Suburbans now have a liftgate with opening
glass; last year's swing-out rear cargo doors have been
dropped.
Performance
Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations are
both available. The standard engine under the hood is a
6.0-liter Vortec V8 with 325 horsepower at 5000 rpm and
369 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
The optional engine for the 2500 is an 8.1-liter Vortec
V8 with 320 horsepower at 4200 rpm and 445 lb-ft of torque
at 3200 rpm. Both engines come mated to a 4-speed electronic
automatic transmission.
Quadrasteer is available as well. It enables the rear wheels
to turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels for
exceptional handling in tight situations.
Safety and Security
Standard are 4-wheel antilock disc brakes with Hydroboost,
a feature that provides more reserve power assist for braking
under specific conditions. Also provided is GM's Passenger
Sensing System (PSS). PSS uses the latest sensing technology
to turn the front passenger airbag on or off.
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