The Suburban Has Come a Long Way in Ninety Years

Ever since Chevy first introduced it in 1935, the Suburban has stood out as one of the largest and most capable SUVs on the market. In some ways, the Suburban pretty much created the SUV category, providing drivers with a vehicle that was bigger than a sedan but with more comfort and convenience features than a pickup truck.

Now entering ninety years, the Suburban remains powerful and capable—something you wouldn’t expect from a senior citizen in the automotive world. But when you factor in the durability of the vehicle, you realize why so many drivers are looking for a used Chevy Suburban for sale. Buying a used one is a ticket to incredible value in an SUV that is built to last.

At McCluskey Chevrolet, we are proud to offer our customers an exceptional selection of used Suburbans. Our inventory allows you to find one with the features you desire at a price you can afford. The Suburban is a great vehicle to buy used, since its durability means you are going to get many great years of service from it, and its pioneering attributes have never gone out of style.

Built Upon the Base of a Truck

When Chevy introduced the Suburban in 1935, it shocked many people in the automotive world. Sure, there had been pickup trucks and station wagons, since these models had been introduced almost twenty years before. However, no other brand had ever thought to build a passenger vehicle on a truck chassis.

Building the first Suburban as a truck-based model made it sturdier than other models and also gave it more utility. This vehicle could carry people and cargo in a way that had never been seen before; this revolutionized the market, setting off a trend of SUV models built to give a ruggedness and utility never seen before in a passenger vehicle.

Three Deep Rows of Seating

Three-row SUV models are something that almost every brand offers today. Whether based on a midsize or full-size design, three rows of seats give you the ability to fit more than five passengers in your SUV. This feature is a must for family drivers and people with large social circles. Depending on the type of seats you choose, you can find a used Suburban that can seat up to nine people.

This capability is one of the biggest reasons so many drivers choose a three-row SUV model, especially ones who aren’t interested in a minivan—and the Suburban pioneered this feature. One of the things that amazed motorists in 1935 was the three rows of seats on that first Suburban. People with large families could suddenly have a vehicle that could fit everyone!

In the past, you’d have needed a bus, which was simply impractical. The first-generation Suburban provided a bench seat in front for three passengers, a rear bench seat in the back for another three people, and a pair of seats in the middle for two more passengers (with the space between them providing access to the rear bench seat). With innovations, the newer Suburban models have a folding and sliding bench seat in the second row. In 1935, this would have been a revolutionary feature.

A Powered Rear Liftgate

When you buy a used Chevy Suburban today, you may find one with a powered liftgate. Whether operated with a dashboard button, your key fob, or a kicking motion under the rear bumper, this liftgate makes accessing the Suburban’s substantial trunk space easy. However, when the Suburban introduced the rear liftgate, it wasn’t intended for cargo.

The one drawback of the first-generation Suburban was the fact that access to the passenger compartment was limited to a pair of side doors. If you had the dubious pleasure of riding in the third row of seats, you would need to wait for the driver and passengers in the other two rows of seats to exit the Suburban before you could get out.

Similarly, entering the first-generation Suburban could also be time-consuming. Adding a liftgate improved access, allowing passengers to get into and out of the third row safely and easily. This feature became standard on the Suburban, leading to today’s powered, hands-free liftgate.

Four-Wheel Drive for Traction

The used Chevy Suburban you buy will either have rear- or four-wheel drive. While rear-wheel drive provides better fuel economy, if you need better traction to handle snow, ice, and other inclement weather, then you will want to find a used Suburban with four-wheel drive.

The same goes if you plan to use your Suburban for camping trips. The fourth-generation Suburban was the first SUV to offer it as a dealer-installed kit. This would become a factory-engineered feature on the Suburban, starting with the fifth generation in 1960.

Multiple Engine Options

Having the ability to choose a different engine on your vehicle gives you the ability to decide on what aspect of performance is the most important to you. Some drivers are concerned about fuel economy and are willing to sacrifice some speed and acceleration to get more mileage. This has certainly been the case since the oil crisis in the early 1970s.

Other drivers are looking for an engine that will give them added speed and acceleration—basically the opposite of frugal drivers. Then, there are those who wish to maximize the utility of their vehicle, opting for an engine that will provide the maximum towing and hauling capabilities; this is definitely the case when it comes to a full-size SUV or a pickup truck.

Chevy began offering multiple engine options for the Suburban during the fifth generation, which debuted in 1960. Drivers were now given the choice of a powerful V8 and a more economical I-6 gas engine. While some opted for the V8, others chose the I-6, which also reduced the price of the Suburban.

When you buy a used Suburban today, you will get a similar choice. In the eleventh-generation Suburban, which was offered from 2015 to 2020, drivers could choose between a 5.3-liter Ecotec3 V8 and a 6.2-liter Ecotec3 V8. Both engines come with a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive, so if you find a model from this generation, you get four choices of powertrain configurations.

The twelfth-generation Suburban, introduced for the 2021 model year, added a third engine to the lineup: a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6. This not only delivers the strength you expect in a diesel engine but also improves the Suburban’s fuel economy. This additional engine option increases your ability to find a used Suburban with the capabilities you desire.

Advanced Infotainment Systems

The first Suburban had an optional, factory-installed AM radio. At the time, this was a very popular feature. The 1930s was the era of radio, with so much programming providing entertainment to the masses. For many years thereafter, few people could afford a television, and those who did found little programming—but today, AM radios are long gone, replaced by advanced infotainment systems.

For example, the 2016 Suburban came with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to connect your phones and stream your favorite music over the vehicle’s audio system. This also allows you to make hands-free calls and texts—something that only science fiction writers driving a 1935 Chevy Suburban could have imagined.

If you choose a used Suburban from the current generation, you will get a touchscreen that measures either 8.0 or 10.2 inches, depending on the trim level. The new 2025 Suburban comes equipped with a massive 17.7-inch touchscreen, indicating that the innovation that began with the first Suburban in 1935 has continued to this day.

Make Your Next Used SUV a Suburban

The Chevy Suburban revolutionized the auto industry, introducing the first truck-based station wagon, which became the basis for today’s SUVs. Features we take for granted now—like three-row seating, rear liftgates, and available all-wheel drive—were all pioneered by the Suburban. When you buy a used Chevy Suburban, you will get all this and more in a rugged, dependable, capable, and built-to-last vehicle. That’s ninety years and counting now for the longest-running passenger vehicle in the world!