Best and Worst Chevy Suburbans To Buy [Revealed!]

The full-size Chevy Suburban is perpetually in high demand, whether they are new or used models. The Suburban is Chevy’s top SUV and one of GM’s luxury options, and it’s popular. That’s why they’ve been in existence for many decades.

So, which are the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy? Not only that, which ones should you absolutely steer clear of? Let’s talk about which models are the best and worst and what factors to look for when deciding which Chevy Suburban to buy.

Best And Worst Chevy Suburbans To Buy

When it comes to the best Chevy Suburban to buy, the 2019 Suburban is one of your top options. It is holding onto some value but is reasonably priced. Another solid candidate for the best Chevy Suburban years to buy is the 2020 model, which has excellent reviews in places such as Cars.com and KBB.

If you’re looking for older models, the 2000 and 2001 Chevy Suburban model years are both an excellent option. They have limited problems in platforms such as Car Complaints, and are mechanically simple.

As far as the worst Chevy Suburban goes, we would stay away from the 1999, 2002-2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014-2016. Out of all of them, the 2007 is the absolute worst since it has the most complaints, many of which are very pricey.

The 2009 model year is a close second since it can consume a lot of oil and tends to incur a lot of expensive repairs at the 50,000-mile mark. Um, yikes.

Just what makes the 2019 Chevy Suburban a much better choice than the 2007 or 2009 for you and your passengers? And what factors should be considered in your decision-making process? Read on to find out more.

The Best Chevy Suburban Years to Buy

The 2019 Chevy Suburban is the best model year to buy. The 2019 Suburban has all the great modern features you want, but it’ll cost you close to half as much as a newer model year.

This mid-size third row SUV could still have somewhere around 83% of its usefulness lifespan (a measurement by which we determine how long a vehicle will be functional for its owner).

The 2019 model offers its buyers an upscale interior that puts comfort first with plenty of cargo space and seating for up to nine people.

Introduced for the 2019 model year was an impressive 6.2-L V8 engine that produces a solid 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired up with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 6.2L engine is only available in the Premier line.

This is our main reason for picking the 2019 Suburban as the best model to buy. This engine is an excellent option in the list of the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy. However, the base 5.3-L V8 engine (355 horsepower, 383 pound-feet of torque) is no laughing matter.

It comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Either way, it has been stated that the 2019 Suburban should be able to surpass 200,000 miles.

There’s a critical aspect that can guarantee that the 2019 model is the top best choice in the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy, and it’s maintenance. Both engines require dedicated maintenance and respecting the intervals.

Whichever powertrain configuration you get, this vehicle has a lot of get-up-and-go power. For a vehicle that weighs roughly 5,900 pounds, the fact that it can get up to 60 miles per hour in roughly 7 seconds is rather impressive. Making a panic stop from 60 mph is also relatively easy, especially around town.

The Suburban offers a high degree of off-roading capabilities. It comes with a standard locking differential, all-terrain tires, a low-range transfer case, and skid plates. The large wheelbase does, however, limit off-roading to just some loose gravel, but on that, the Suburban is quite capable.

The one drawback to owning the one of the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban models – or any new-ish Suburban, really – is its higher-than-average ownership costs. Expect to pay an annual average of about $6,900 to perform maintenance on this vehicle.

Keeping up with maintenance is key to prolonging a Suburban’s life, so as long as you treat the 2019 Suburban with a moderate amount of care, it should lead a long life. Suburbans are of average reliability, but so far, consumers are reporting that their 2019 models are holding onto their value and are highly useful.

Other Best Chevy Suburban Years To Buy

The 2019 model is the best buy when looking at the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy. However, there are other options.

The 2020 model is another excellent year that you can buy. GM already had filtered out many of its issues, and it’s one of the most complete models you can find.

The 2023 Chevy Suburban is one of the newer models that tops the list of the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy. Although it has a short history, it still has shown excellent reliability and performance reviews.

Other model years that are on the good side of the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy include the 2010 model year and the 1995 model year.

The Worst Chevy Suburban Years to Buy

Now that we have gone over the best Chevy Suburban to buy, we have to discuss the worst. That unfortunate title goes to the 2007 Chevy Suburban. This model is a lot more frustrating than the newer Suburbans that offer more power from their V8 engine options.

The 2007 Suburban 2500 came with a 6.0-liter V8 that puts out 366 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, and the standard 5.3-liter V8 on the Suburban 1500 delivered 320 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. Both engine options make for some quick acceleration, but the 5.3-L V8 does not feel that snappy when you load it up with people.

Since this vehicle weighs anywhere between 5,600 and 6,300 pounds, it is slowed down by its hefty curb weight. This leads to it feeling less than nimble around corners.

The 5.3-L V8 is a Vortec 5300 manufactured by GM, and it reflects a less-than-optimal shift in engine design. Upon entering the engine’s fourth generation, the switch was made to an Active Fuel Management System from the previous system and piston wings.

The oil monitoring system appears to be the culprit behind excessive engine oil consumption issue, so this is something that you cannot change about the Suburban.

The worst part about this issue is that drivers will not be alerted to any low oil levels until it is too late to avoid doing any damage to the engine.

One of the other aspects of the 2007 Chevy Suburban that make it the worst model year to buy is its rampant engine oil consumption. When this happens, owners are faced with the decision of repairing or replacing the engine – that is, if they know what the problem actually is.

And, as you might reasonably surmise, engine repairs and replacements are far from being cheap. A lot of owners have heard from mechanics that there is nothing that can be done about some of the most common problems, and some dealerships have suggested that owners bring in their Suburbans for oil changes every 500 miles.

Although Chevy’s LS engines can be solid, it is apparent that those on the 2007 are quite problematic.

Many owners have reported unsolved engine problems, including the engine breaking down while driving. In general, there are a lot of known and unknown engine problems with the 2007 Chevy Suburban, and it is hard to predict exactly when or even if an engine or engine oil consumption issue will arise. That makes planning for it somewhat difficult.

Aspects To Consider In The Best And Worst Chevy Suburbans To Buy

One of the most critical aspects about owning one of these SUVs, regardless of whether it’s part of the best and worst Chevy Suburbans to buy is that some generations have frequent issues. This section aims to bring you the most common problems you can find in the Suburban.

Terrible fuel economy:

There’s no denying that the Chevy Suburban is not a fuel-friendly vehicle. Most modern Suburbans can get you around 20 mpg maximum, but you should expect fuel economy to be in the teens.

Engine problems:

One year in specific, the 2009 model, is prone to engine problems. These problems can make themselves present by excessive oil consumption or loss of power.

AFM issues:

Active Fuel Management (AFM) is the capacity to shut down some cylinders to improve fuel economy. However, this feature can also be one of the most troublesome aspects of the Suburban. What’s ironic is that the AFM is present across several generations. Most reported problems come from models 2007 to 2021. Ideally, you should have your vehicle checked at intervals such as 80,000 miles, 100,000 miles and 120,000 miles.

AC Condenser Issues:

Air conditioning is another troublesome part of Chevy Suburbans specifically in models ranging from 2015 to 2020, with later models have less problems.

Closing Thoughts

Buying the right Chevy Suburban model year can be tricky. You will want to go through consumer reviews for various years and trim levels and learn about common complaints.

You will find a high number of similar complaints for the 2007 and 2009 Chevy Suburban models. A few other model years are known for being problematic as well. Some of them can be really hit-or-miss.

However, we happen to think that the 2019 Chevy Suburban is the model year to buy. So far, it has excellent reliability ratings, and is retaining some value, yet has depreciated to a more affordable price tag than what it was when the vehicle was new.

The 2019 has a ton of attractive interior cabin features and safety features, and the optional V8 engine is a fantastic upgrade over the base engine. For being such a massive vehicle with a hefty curb weight, efforts to make this vehicle accelerate quickly are obvious.