2008 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 - Figure Eight - First Test

GO FIGURE (EIGHT)

We ran the figure-eight course at a constant speed for cornering, not transitions, and found the combo would round the cones in about the same speed as an average cute 'ute in the low 30-mph range (compared with the hi-po Infiniti FX50, which went through the course five to six mph faster). We surmise the tongue weight of the trailer was "pushing" the rear end, keeping the Sub better balanced than its nominal empty understeer attitude. Its tires scrubbing, the stability system kept quiet, and with the boat cleanly following the Sub, one observer noted that big 'utes handle like boats, but the boat handled better.

Most of this behavior continued on the open road, where we took freeway ramps at the same speed as mainstream traffic assuming we had the horsepower. On one particularly winding mountain road where we weren't pushing nearly as hard as around the F8 cones, the stability indicator tended to blink as the rear axle passed the apex, and while it didn't add any braking it kept us out of the throttle momentarily right when we wanted a full-throttle downshift. Using the defeat stopped such antics, and we stayed on the road just fine.

RPO TOW

By volume and dimension the Expedition EL is the closest competitor, and with Sub 2500 sales about 10 percent of the 1500 there may be no need for an EL HD. The Expedition doesn't carry or tow as much as the 3/4-ton Sub but has the third-row advantage in room and folding and is down 52 horsepower but only 18 pound-feet, which comes on earlier. A 5.7-liter Sequoia outpowers them all and has the same GCWR as the Sub 2500; the Sequoia is lighter, so it can pull a bigger trailer, but it can't carry the same crew.

Unless you're in commercial delivery, where every pound of trailer weight counts, we think the Sub 2500 makes a better family or recreational tow vehicle than a maxxed-out half-ton. Although pricier at $53,415 as is, the Sub will handle up to a 7500-pound trailer just as well, have superior range, ride smoother, and coddle the occupants-across three rows rather than two-better than any crew cab.