2015 Chevy Suburban vs. 2015 Cadillac Escalade

The largest of the Chevrolet lineup, the Chevy Suburban showcases a range of model years and trim levels at your local used car dealerships in Lexington KY. Backed by Chevy’s generations-old reputation for reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction, the Suburban is a safe and dependable vehicle for large families or individuals who like to travel with lots of friends in tow. Of course, the Suburban has some competition, primarily in the form of Cadillac’s similarly-sized Escalade model. But competition is a good thing, and Chevy proves its up to the challenge with this year’s 2015 Suburban.

The 2015 Chevy Suburban: Supersized and Super-Powered

Showing off a total redesign for this year, the Suburban is a true full-size SUV, enhanced by more modern features and capabilities than ever before. The third-row seat, able to fold flat, allows for nine possible passengers, not to mention a significant stretch in cargo space. When all seats are occupied, the Suburban’s cargo area measures 38.9 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, that jumps to 76.7 feet. Once both rear seating rows are folded down, the Suburban boasts an impressive 121.1 cubic feet, serious space for hauling around just about anything.

A new engine gives the Suburban a serious upgrade this year, with respect to power and fuel economy. Standard on all 2015 Suburbans, the 5.3-liter V8 engine uses direct injection and cylinder deactivation to boost power and enhance fuel efficiency. Generating 355 horsepower with 383 lb.-ft. of torque, this engine equips the Suburban with serious hauling heft and towing ability.

Operated by an available six-speed automatic transmission, powering the rear wheels in two-wheel drive or sending power to all four wheels on four-wheel drive models, the four-wheel drive Suburban comes standard with a basic, one-speed four-wheel drive system, equipped with a two-speed transfer case and low-range gearing from the Max Trailering package. All Suburbans come standard with a locking rear differential.

Two-wheel drive Suburbans are capable of towing up to 8,300 pounds, while the four-wheel drive can manage 8,000 pounds. EPA estimates rate the Suburban’s fuel efficiency at 18 mpg combined, or 16 city and 23 highway miles on two-wheel drive and 16 city, 22 highway miles on four-wheel drive models.

Given the monstrous size of this SUV, it might come as a surprise to learn that the rear-wheel drive Suburban is able to zip from zero to sixty miles per hour in 7.2 seconds. Available in three trim levels: the baseLS,mid LT or premium LTZ, the only model able to seat nine passengers is the LS. The LT and LTZ accommodate eight passengers comfortably.

The interior was given a thorough going over and now features improved materials and sharper design, like the white-on-black gauge cluster graphics. Drivers can choose from a standard 4.2-inch or available 8.0-inch infotainment display, which is far more sophisticated, yet still user-friendly compared to earlier models.

Other interior improvements come from the integrated third-row seats, now connected to the truck’s floor, and power operated – as is the second row. The second-row seats are reportedly very spacious and the third row features additional leg room, more so than the Chevy Tahoe. Even more impressive is the Suburban’s quiet interior, comparable to a luxury car’s, even when traveling at highway speeds.

Priced to start at $49,000, it is easy to locate a variety of earlier models considering that the current generation of Suburbans first launched in 2007, meaning there is an abundance of used vehicles for you to discover at your nearby Lexington used car dealerships. Finding the right used car is all about being informed. Let’s take a look at the Suburban’s chief rival, Cadillac’s own Escalade and see which SUV stacks up to be the better deal.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade: A Load of Luxury

Also featuring a total redesign for 2015, the Escalade is known as a class-leader in the luxury SUV segment.

Equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine, which generates 420 horsepower with 460 lb.-ft. of torque, the Escalade is operated by either a six-speed automatic transmission or an available eight-speed automatic. Drivers can opt for four-wheeldrive, though rear-wheel drive is the standard.

The rear-wheel drive option returns an EPA-estimated 17 mpg combined, or 15city and 21 highway miles; however, the four-wheel drive equipped with six-speed automatic is estimated at 16 mpg combined, which equates to 14 city and 21 highway miles per gallon. For a slight edge in fuel economy, opt for the eight-speed automatic transmission, rated on the rear-wheel drive at 17 mpg combined, while the eight-speed, paired with four-wheel drive, gets the same combined miles, but drops down on the highway to 21 miles.

The power behind the four-wheel drive mated to a six-speed transmission gives the Escalade enough oomph to sprint from zero to sixty miles per hour in 6.4 seconds, a0.8 second edge over the Suburban. Maximum towing capacity comes in at about 8,300 pounds, matching the Suburban.

The Escalade’s luxurious reputation comes from its wealth of high-end interior materials and stylish design. Roomy, with the exception of the third row seats, best-suited for children only, this year’s Escalade also features new technology.

However, new isn’t necessarily improved. While the CUE infotainment system strikes a pleasing pose in the center of the dashboard, it is reportedly very frustrating to access and operate due to its counter-intuitive functionality. The Escalade also suffers from skimpy storage space, certainly as compared to the Suburban. With all seats occupied, the cargo area measures 15.2 cubic feet, which extends to 51.6 cubic feet after the third row is folded down, and a total 94.2 cubic feet once the second row folds to join the third row.

Clever convenience details like the hands-free lift gate, operated by sliding your foot beneath the back bumper, sounds like a great idea. However, the key must be within three feet of the vehicle in order to access this feature and the significant floor height is a challenge when it comes to loading larger, bulkier objects. Perhaps the real deciding factor for you rests in the significant price difference between these vehicles. The 2015 Cadillac Escalade certainly matches its luxury status, starting at the base MSRP of $72,970, almost $24,000 more than the Suburban.

If you need more passenger and cargo space, with segment-competitive power and performance that doesn’t break the bank, the 2015 Chevy Suburban is the vehicle to help you “Find New Roads.”