Review: 2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ
May 16 was supposed to mark a wonderful milestone in my roommate Dan’s life. However, circumstances changed and it started out being a terrible day for him. I was determined to make it better for my pal and I was going to do it behind the wheel of a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ. What he and I will always remember as “Dan Day” had begun.
I first had to drive from Austin, Texas to Kyle to pick up my brother Anthony, though. He was going to need the space inside my review vehicle later in the day. Despite being below the GMC Yukon XL Denali and the Cadillac Escalade ESV in terms of prestige on the General Motors SUV totem pole, I found the Chevrolet truckster to be plenty eye-catching and polished. Its Crystal Red Metallic paint was a handsome and subdued take on what can be a retina-searing primary color. The chrome two-level grille was attractive and the swept-back casings for the high-intensity discharge headlights hinted at an ability to cheat the wind. On the way down to my brother’s house, I noticed just how much the Suburban was able to do that. Sitting in my leather seat, I heard more of a whisper than a roar from the outside world.
Once Anthony was sitting next to me, we made our way back toward the capital city to get Dan. During the roughly 15-mile drive, predominantly down I-35, the Suburban’s 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 proved to be an adequate engine for a vehicle that weighed north of 5,600 pounds. With 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, it never struggled, but mild increases of both figures wouldn’t have hurt. A combined mpg number closer to the 18 handed down from the EPA wouldn’t have, either. I only averaged approximately 16.4 mpg over the course of my week with the Suburban.
The three of us eventually pulled up to Kerbey Lane Cafe. I think Dan’s mood lifted a little over his plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and uniquely flavored pancakes.
Afterward, Dan and Anthony and I trucked on over to a furniture store so my brother could buy and bring home the perfect ottoman for his living room’s style and color scheme. Folding the third row of seats down to accommodate it was as easy as pressing a button. Flattening one of the second-row captain chairs was effortless as well. The Suburban’s cargo hold, which has a volume of 121.1 cubic feet when the entire second row and the third row are stowed away, easily swallowed my brother’s new purchase. Another button press lowered the aluminum liftgate.
Once Dan and I dropped my brother and his house’s newest addition off in Kyle, we headed back to Austin. I made a bee line for my roommate’s favorite comic book store – not just so he could pick out some copies of his favorite reading materials, but so he could also flirt with the cute girl behind the front counter. (If only I were a better wingman than I am a wheelman.)
I drove to the Arboretum shopping complex next for two reasons. Yes, I did want to drop by its Orvis store for a minute, but I mainly wanted to go because one of Dan’s favorite restaurants, Blue Baker, is up there. I treated him to one of its flavorful sandwiches made on fresh-baked bread and his favorite soup, lobster bisque.
Despite the May heat, Dan and I didn’t break a sweat on our way to Nuha’s Sinful Desserts near Austin’s Auditorium Shores, thanks to the front row’s cooled seats. Oddly, my review vehicle wasn’t equipped with the built-in WiFi hotspot offered on so many GM vehicles these days. However, I was able to stream a hilarious radio show’s audio from my phone through the Suburban’s Bluetooth connection and listen to it on the rig’s 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround sound system. Every control seemed to be within easy reach on the center stack, which flowed down into a pair of USB ports and a 110-volt outlet, two cupholders, and a cavernous storage compartment.
Having devoured our giant, soft-baked cookies named after two of the seven deadly sins, Dan and I returned to our apartment. “Dan Day” went on into the late hours of the night. I would like to think I cheered my buddy up. I’ll never really know, though. However, I’m sure Dan will remember the giant red Suburban I used to get him away from his sorrows. I know I will.
*My review vehicle had a total price of $67,585, which included a $995 destination charge and $4,890 in options, such as the Sun, Entertainment, and Destination Package ($2,805 after $500 discount), 22-inch wheels ($895), the Max Trailering Package ($300), and a theft-deterrent system ($395).
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