Test drive Chevrolet Suburban 1999 - 2006 SUV
Black rock
What can America boast of? History? There is almost no it. Art? Musicals, rap, graphitty - children's toys marching Europe. Statue of freedom? The French gave her. Classic ballet - and that Russian. Probably only cars. The American school of automotive industry is radically different from the European one. In this American car, there should be many - horses, liters, spaces in the cabin, additional equipment and, of course, the machine itself. 
Chevrolet Suburban is created on the basis of a large pickup K2500 (motor 8, 10). For a car weighing more than 3.5 tons, a large powerful motor is required. Such for Suburban are offered - 5.7 and 7.4 liters and 6.5 l of turbodiesel gasoline. 
Most domestic buyers of these machines prefer gasoline engines. But diesel engines have# many advantages over gasoline motors-a larger torque, lower consumption (10-18 liters against 12-28 liters of gasoline) and fuel cost. True, it is believed that diesel engines are worse during acceleration. One of our readers categorically disagree with this statement. In confirmation, he brought his car to the editor. Immediately make a reservation that his Suburban is not quite ordinary, custom. 
The initial visual sensation is an unshakable rock in Palekh processing, something black, polished -massive, with tinted glasses, to the extent of fleshy wheels, but at the same time - quite light, perhaps due to an increased road clearance. There are a lot of chrome and an abundance of lighting equipment in front. On the sides and back there is less chromium - exactly so as not to catch the eye, but to emphasize the grace of this giant. The usual European sewing cars in comparison with it seem to be pancakes.
At first glance, this is an SUV, and from the second, too, is a four -wheel drive, a large clearance, a characteristic appearance again. But with a closer acquaintance, you begin to understand that all this is bluff. This in America Suburban can be a workhorse, and we have little to climb the mud on it. In the minds of a Russian person, a large, tall and all -wheel drive black car causes completely different associations, and quite definite. Typically, such cars of Russian owners are distinguished by an abundance of everything that you can, by buying or ordering, hang on a car. This instance, fortunately, is free from all sorts of trinkets, it does not even have such a beloved winch jeepers. Therefore, it looks solid and seriously. On the road, Suburban looks like a Senbernar among the Blinks, and there is no desire to butt with him, because all the road users are implicitly inferior to his path.
During a more detailed examination, some additional equipment on the body was still found-this is not heir-residential when driving in a fussy city an additional low bumper-chopper, facilitating the planting and lifting of the footing from the front wheel arches to the rear and powerful fog lights. 
The hood is tall and hefty, like a truck, so that there is where to hide a large motor, a couple of batteries and other things. A massive radiator cladding with four rectangular headlights ends with a shining waterfall with a shining waterfall, ending with a powerful chrome bumper. Nothing sticks under the bottom, despite the abundance of cardans and other mechanics. A mighty welded bearing frame, in front - massive forged levers with longitudinal torsiones, a cross -section with a baseball bat, and a whole beam of the bridge.
Under the hood, everything is very tightly clogged with boxes, hoses, tubes, some details and details. And, of course, the engine. Everything is so crowded that it is difficult to figure out at first sight. You can, of course, check if the engine was dirty and whether there is oil in it, but there is no need to climb under the hood again. 
The owner of Suburban claimed that his car stands some special turbodiesel - a volume of 7 liters. In a single General Motors catalog, we did not find such a motor, the only turbodiesel in Suburban - that Chevrolet, that GMC - has a volume of 6.5 liters. Do not believe the owner? There seems to be no reason. But he could not document his application either. What to do? Actually, we have already experienced Suburban with a 6.5 l turbodiesel. But it was two and a half years ago. Even if the engine is the same, it is still interesting whether something has changed in the car during this time.
The sound of the motor resembles the operation of the diesel locomotive, but it is only outside. Inside the engine, the engine is not heard, neither in the parking lot, nor on the go, only with intense acceleration does a barely audible rumble of diesel appear. The machine easily gains speed, the machine switches smoothly, without jerking. On a small segment, seventy meters long, Suburban accelerates to hundreds of kilometers per hour. The tachometer arrow dances in the range of 1600-2700 vol./Min. Honestly, we have not noticed any differences in the dynamics of this Suburban from what we had before, we have not noticed that the driver does not cause inferiority to the driver.
The machine is equipped with a powerful power steering, so, despite the large dimensions, it is very easily controlled. The diameter of the turn seems small, almost like a passenger car, although in fact it is more than 15 meters. Suburban does not swing on the irregularities, like most American cars, and almost does not roll in corners - a tougher suspension affects (recall the custom -made machine). Americans put this suspension (Air Craft) on army vehicles designed for difficult operating conditions. Of course, it is less comfortable, but more suitable for our roads. The front disc and rear drum brake mechanisms provide a good slowdown in a heavy machine, and ABS intervenes only with emergency braking and does not cause discomfort.
The seats are finished with soft light brown skin, a plastic dashboard was made in the same tones. Of course, standard - gray or black - leather finish is also not bad, but a black car with a black salon looks too gloomy, and the gray color is boring. Compared to the last year’s model, the right side of the dashboard has changed a bit, where the second airbag was mounted. Because of this, the glove box decreased markedly in size. In general, the salon is very convenient - the mass of pockets for the little things, and in a large box located between the seats, you can lay not only a couple of bottles of water, but also a lot of things, and there will still be free space. Round switch devices are informative and fit well into the interior. An interesting feature of an intra -sulfate mirror - a compass and a system of self -fitting during blinding from behind are built into it.
In American, wide seats have no side support. This is not so bad on a long straight highway, but when maneuvering, it shakes quite strongly, even the belt does not keep from lateral movements. Sometimes you have to hold on to the armrests that equip the front seats.
Everything is fine with visibility. The front stand, despite massiveness, does not interfere, and good glazing of the salon allows you to see everyone on the road. The glasses seem very darkened only outside, it is not felt inside.
The rear passengers are not at all crowded, and it’s not hot, since there are already three air conditioners in this car. Why, ask, the third? And what, the dog should be ill from the heat?
The side doors are wide and allow you not to touch the openings when landing. The back is double -leaf, with a horizontal connector and gas racks -helpers. Such a door provides convenient loading and luggage unloading. Of course, you can place the load on the roof, for this, rubber linings and low railing are stretched along it, to which you can tie skis or other sports shells for outdoor activities.
Probably, a rational European is difficult to understand the joy of possessing a powerful, all -wheel drive, hefty, voracious Chevrolet Suburban, and the American soul is a joy. And Russian, mysterious, too.
Text: Alexander Vinokurov, Alexey Strelkov
Source: Motor magazine [No. 12/96]
