Livin' large: All-new Chevrolet Suburban quietly debuts in PH

Yesterday, AutoIndustriya.com reported that Chevrolet distributor The Covenant Car Company Inc (TCCCI) appears to be preparing to launch two of its largest vehicles in the country. As it turns out, the company has indeed (quietly) revealed one of them in the Philippines.

This is the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban, and it's all-new from top to bottom. Now on its 12^th generation, the full-size SUV gets the familiar design as the all-new Tahoe first launched during 2022 MIAS, as well as a wide array of new and upgraded technologies.

Measuring 5733mm long, 2060mm wide, and 1923mm tall, the 2022 Suburban is the largest vehicle Chevy has to offer. It also has a very generous 3406mm wheelbase which means it's spacious for both passengers and cargo.

Depending on the variant you're getting the 2022 Suburban will come in two distinct styles. For those who want a premium-looking SUV inside and out, there's the Suburban High Country. With its full chrome grille, low-slung bumpers, and shiny alloy wheels, it's all about styling and profiling.

But for those who prefer a Suburban that can take on the road less traveled without trouble, there's the Z71 package. Like the Tahoe, it has an off-road style bumper complete with a skid plate, and a different set of alloy wheels, the Suburban Z71 is all about the business.

Climb aboard the all-new Suburban and the SUV greets its occupants with full-leather upholstery. The Z71 comes with a Jet Black interior while the High Country has a Cocoa Dune interior finish. Despite having different-colored interiors, both variants come with plenty of cabin amenities.

These include a 10.2-inch MyLink touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a Bose 9-speaker sound system, wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, captain seats on the second row, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding center console, and two 12.6-inch touchscreen rear infotainment screens.

Under the hood, it does not come with the supposed 6.2-liter V8 engine. Instead, it's powered by the familiar 5.3-liter EcoTec V8 that's also used in the 2022 Tahoe. It makes 355 PS at 5600 RPM along with 516 Nm of torque at 4100 RPM. Don't expect to find a 6-speed here as it has been replaced with the newer 10-speed automatic transmission with an electronic precision shift system. Instead of a column shifter for selecting gears, the 2022 Suburban now comes with a button-style selector placed on the dashboard.

To ensure a comfortable ride over any terrain, the 2022 Suburban comes with the Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. Available in both the Z71 and High Country, this unique suspension system optimizes the ride height and comfort by adjusting itself based on driving conditions. It can also raise or lower itself to make things easier for the driver. It also comes with Magnetic Ride Control for that extra touch of comfort no matter the road conditions.

For extra peace of mind, the 2022 Suburban is available with the Advanced Driver Assistance System. The suite of intelligent safety features includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, rear parking assist with camera, rear-cross traffic alert, and a 360-degree surround vision system.

The all-new Suburban Z71 4x4 A/T retails for PHP 5,351,888 while the Suburban High Country can be yours for PHP 7,460,888. Available colors for either variant include Black and Summit White.

With the 2022 Suburban only available with the 5.3-liter EcoTec V8, does this mean Chevrolet will not be launching it with the bigger 6.2-liter V8? The company might offer the bigger V8 engine for a future variant that has yet to be launched.

In addition, we're still not ruling out the possibility of the Silverado arriving in the Philippines soon. After all, Ford is already offering the F-150 while Ram has the 1500 Rebel, and the 1500 TRX. With its closest rivals already selling their own full-size pick-ups, Chevrolet might want a slice of that segment.