One thing that many Chevrolet Suburban customers have missed since 2013 is the availability of a 3/4 ton model. The last Suburban 2500 went out of production as the Suburban changed over to the 2014 model.
We have uncovered a GM document showing that Chevrolet is planning on adding an HD trim to the Suburban for 2016. This new trim (available on 4x4, LS and LT models only) may not be a full 3/4 ton model however. From 2001 - 2006 Chevrolet offered an uprated Silverado 1500 HD that was powered by a 6.0 liter V8. That gave the Silverado 1500 HD a tow rating just 500lbs shy of a similarly engined Silverado 2500HD.
Thus, our guess is that this new Suburban HD will be an uprated 1500 series. Our reasoning for that is that from the document, only the current 5.3 liter V8 appears be offered. The Suburban's new Ecotec3 5.3 V8 is rated for 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque; and while that is more than what the 2006 6.0 liter was able to produce (300 / 360), it is not quite as powerful as the 6.0 liter the Silverado 2500HD sports today. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is also now up to a Class-3 14,000 lbs, while the standard models remain with a Class-F 8,000 lb rating.
Under the skin, the Suburban will likely get suspension hardware upgrades. Back in October, a 2014 Suburban was spied in Colorado wearing the 8-lug wheels from a Silverado 2500 HD rather than the standard 6-lug wheels the Suburban gets today, so buyers can likely count on those making it into the final package as well.
The previous Suburban 2500 never sold in great numbers, however its average buyers were skewed heavily towards the wealthy and the Secret Service. The current Suburban LS 4x4 has a base price of $52,000. Adding an HD package will likely result in a large jump in price. With most of the parts already available in the Silverado, building a Suburban HD will likely gain a healthy profit for GM.
One other thing we noticed; The GMC Yukon XL does not appear to get these upgrades.
Nothing has been officially announced by General Motors yet, but more details will likely surface in the coming months.
In the meantime, do you think GM is preparing an uprated Suburban 1500 HD or will it be a full 2500 like before? Sound off below.
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