2022 chevrolet suburban rst 5.3 l v8 4wd suv

The Chevrolet Suburban nameplate has been shuttling families around since 1935, and the 12th-generation Suburban is the biggest and best ever! Fresh off a redesign for the 2021 model year, the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban carries over with a handful of minor--yet extremely noteworthy--updates, which I was able to sample with this sporty-looking Suburban RST equipped with its new 6.2-liter V8 engine.

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2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST Exterior

The styling of the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban makes a bold statement for the big SUV, and that's especially true for the RST trim level with its sportier, monochromatic style. Up front, the blacked-out grille is flanked by narrow headlights and C-shaped LED lighting for the daytime running lights and turn signals, while the rear view of the RST reveals stylish clear-lensed LED taillights. This package also receives massive 22-inch aluminum wheels painted black and blacked-out badges for Chevrolet's iconic bowtie emblem and the "Suburban" lettering, but the best part about the 2022 Suburban RST is the available quadruple exhaust outlets that come with the $3,815 Sport Performance Package that adds the new-for-2022 engine and Magnetic Ride Control suspension system. To finish off this big SUV's bold and aggressive styling, our tester stood out with its ($495) Cherry Red Tintcoat paint job

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2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST Interior

The interior design of the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban isn't as extreme as the exterior, but it does have a modern look with a tablet-style infotainment screen, a push-button gear selector and, new for 2022, a 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster that is now standard on all but the base Suburban LS. To go with the RST's sporty exterior, the interior of this Suburban looks the part having plenty of black leather to go with contrasting red stitching just about everywhere. The 2022 Suburban is the last of the full-size SUVs to offer a nine-passenger seating configuration, but that is only optional on the base trim level; the RST comes standard with seating for eight; this tester was equipped with second-row captain's chairs (a $370 option) for a passenger experience that is even more luxurious.

And speaking of options, the addition of the Luxury Package and Rear Seat Media System made this 2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST a perfect road-trip vehicle for driver and passengers alike. Rear seat passengers can kick back and stream their favorite shows with the Rear Seat Media System's pair of 12.6-inch LCD displays. This $1,995 option easily connects to a streaming device using USB and HDMI inputs, but there's no DVD player for this system. The coolest piece of tech in the 2022 Suburban is the new Google Built-In feature that brings all of the conveniences of your Google account into the vehicle including Google Maps. 

Being longer and wider than its predecessor, the 12th-generation Suburban maximizes interior space for passengers and cargo. There's more headroom and legroom for all occupants including an extra 2.2 inches of legroom for third-row passengers, and the power release feature on the second-row captain's chairs makes it easier than ever to access the rear-most seat. With all the seats in place, the new Suburban is able to hold 41.5 cubic feet of gear (an increase of about two cubic feet compared to the previous model), but fold down both rear rows and the Suburban's 144.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space is 23 cubic feet more than the older body style.

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2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST Powertrain

The RST trim level gives the Suburban an aggressive appearance, and the 2022 model year finally brings power to match that style. For 2021, buyers could get the RST with either the 5.3-liter V8 or 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six, but new for 2022, the Suburban RST is now available with the 6.2-liter V-8 that was previously only offered on the top-of-the-line High Country trim level. This engine increases output to 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque (up from the base engine's 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque rating), yet the EPA-rated fuel economy estimates of 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway are exactly the same figures as the base engine in the Suburban 4x4.

Despite being an old-school, body-on-frame SUV riding on 22-inch wheels, the Suburban is a smooth cruiser around town and on the highway. Despite being one of the largest new vehicles you can buy, the new Suburban is surprisingly maneuverable in tight spaces such as parking lots and parallel parking thanks to its responsive steering system. Most of my time with this Suburban was on a family road trip to Orlando, Florida, and that's where the ride quality really shines. In stock form, the new Suburban is a huge improvement over its predecessors thanks to an independent rear suspension setup, and this tester was even better thanks to the Sport Performance Package that added Chevrolet's advanced Magnetic Ride Control system. This system uses active suspension dampers that react to various road inputs (i.e., bumpy roads, corners, etc.) resulting in a smooth, confident ride. Not only did this Suburban soak up almost 1,000 miles of interstate driving with the smooth ride of a luxury SUV, it also did so with limited stops thanks to the massive 28-gallon fuel tank.

When it comes to putting the 2022 Suburban to work, this full-size SUV has a maximum towing capacity of up to 8,300 pounds in its 5.3L/two-wheel-drive configuration, but this 6.2-liter, 4x4 RST with the $565 max trailering package topped out at still-impressive 7,900 pounds.

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2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST Safety

Like many big SUVs, the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban has a four-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and that includes a 5-star side impact rating. New for 2022, all Suburbans are now equipped with Front and Rear Park Assist, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning, while the Suburban RST comes standard with Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Automatic High Beams and a following distance indicator. The Luxury Package adds Rear Pedestrian Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, and Side Blind Zone Alert.

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2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST Overall

Even though the market is trending toward smaller, more efficient vehicles (including SUVs), there will always be a need for brawny full-size SUVs, and the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban is leading the way with seating for up to nine passengers and the ability to tow up to 8,300 pounds. A base 2022 Suburban is priced starting at $54,595, but if you want the added styling of the RST, you're looking at a starting price of $63,195. This well-equipped Suburban RST 4x4 had an as-tested price of $75,745.

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Jeffrey N. Ross | Jan 12, 2022 

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