1993 Chevrolet Suburban Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Once again, the 1993 Chevy Suburban K1500 AWD I drove for a few weeks was not mine, but a test car for the German automotive magazine I worked for back then. Frankly, I'm no big fan of SUVs, even though I've been making a living testing them and writing about them for more than 20 years. They may arguably have a legitimate place in rural regions as people-haulers, but for city dwellers (who make up the vast majority of SUV buyers) they are absolutely ludicrous, not to mention they look completely out of place in an urban setting. I know, that's the very reason many of those people buy them. Having said that, I must admit that I was deeply impressed by the Suburban. It was only with reluctance that I would hand over the keys to a colleague so that he could get acquainted wit the big Chevy. "My" Suburban was equipped with the standard engine, Chevy's tried-and-true 350 CID small-block V8, which sported 190 net horsepower back then. This powerplant made the big SUV not exactly a stoplight racer, but provided more than sufficient push for the 220 inches of length and, more importantly, the 4,800 pounds of curb weight of this aptly termed "Cowboy Limousine". The Suburban earned this nickname, by the way, because, year after year, about one third of its annual production was (and probably still is) bought by Texans. Anyway, the Chevy never felt underpowered, its governor-limited top speed of 107 mph was quick enough because at speeds in excess of 90 mph the Suburban's truck origin began to show and the huge vehicle would ride rather stiffly. Below such speeds, however, the Suburban was surprisingly quiet inside and exceedingly comfortable. One always had a commanding view of the road behind the steering wheel due to the high seating position, one of the primary reasons people buy SUVs. Add to that more than two tons of cocooning steel and you always felt completely safe inside this tank with captain's chairs and air conditioning. With its comprehensive sound insulation, V8 power delivery, smooth-shifting four-speed automatic transmission and responsive power steering, the Suburban always put me at ease behind the wheel. Even in thick urban traffic, with hundreds of little cars buzzing around, the big Chevy rolled along with contemptuous ease, making driver and passengers feel invulnerable, as if all the commotion outside had absolutely nothing to do with us. Thanks to its massive, even menacing size, the other drivers eagerly made way for the Suburban, making one feel King of the Road. Not bad at all. The German automotive publication I worked for focused on 4x4s, so naturally the test of the Suburban would not be confined to paved roads. In the boonies, the Chevy once more proved its mettle. While it was way too big to be a nimble off-roader like a Jeep Wrangler, Land-Rover Defender, or Mercedes G-Class, the K1500 still took on mud, sand and gravel competently, fording shallow creeks and even going up or down pretty steep hills sure-footedly. Those Texan good ol' boys sure know how to pick 'em. The Suburban was one mighty impressive vehicle with all the comforts of a luxury car and the toughness of a truck. Small wonder the PR guys at Germany's GM subsidiary really had to twist my arm to make me give the Chevy back to them after the conclusion of the test.May 14, 2014

This was a great truck! I still miss driving this truck even though it was 20 years old. This truck had a great suspension and soaked up the bumps like nothing out there! It wasn't the fastest and it shifted pretty hard from 1st to 2nd gear. Sometimes when going into 2nd the tires would squeal how hard it shifted! We always drove it like that though and it never failed.the truck got about 14 driving around and The tank was so huge that one time when a couple of friends and I were driving to town it died because we were going down a pretty steep hill and all the gas went to one side of the tank! It started right up though and we continued on! The ABS system wasn't very good on dirt roads but it worked great on pavement!!! The stops were very straight and stopped in a heartbeat!! However, if the ABS was on a surface with a lot of traction (pavement) and you pushed the brakes all the way then the truck would stall. It was wierd but that's how it was. This truck has a very good quality feel to it and feels very safe when riding in it. The steering was really good and the handling was average. This truck is perfect for someone who wants a truck that can take them to work or to school and can carry a lot of people or cargo. This would be a good beginners truck and is built like a tank for people who like feeling safe when they driveJan 18, 2014