These days American automotive shoppers are hungry for two things: SUVs and special editions of those SUVs. Meet the Chevy Suburban with the new RST Performance Package. It’s old school thinking combined with new ideas: the big SUV, big engine part is old school and the new ideas" Well, that comes from the modern styling that befits the RST Performance Package.
The Suburban’s little brother, the Tahoe, already has an RST Performance Package. It has for a year. Every family has that annoying overachiever, but now the Suburban is off the couch and more than just marginally employed.
Here are the details, starting with the old school.
Power & Performance
This whale swims through urban oceans and concrete seas with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. GM fans seem to love the 6.2 and it rarely needs an introduction. Pedal down equals vehicle forward. The current Suburban is only offered with the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 (still a good engine) but the RST Performance Package pours on the gravy as the 6.2 churns out an impressive 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. of torque. Towing capacity is expected to be 8,100 lbs. although that figure is not official yet.
The engine and transmission work in unison for an optimum balance of power and efficiency. The 6.2 utilizes direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, and Active Fuel Management while the transmission has smaller steps between each ratio to maximize acceleration. The 10-spe...