America’s Most Reliable SUV — One Catch

Above most things concerning SUVs, we value how well they can keep going, how reliable they are, and how they get the job done the most. We’ve seen some proper old-school SUVs with an immense amount of mileage on the clock that will outlast everything; we are fortunate to keep getting very reliable Japanese SUVs on our market each year, and we have seen some bulletproof machines tackle some of the world’s toughest terrains.

Base Trim Engine

5.3L EcoTec3 V8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

10-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

355 HP @5600 RPM

Base Trim Torque

383 lb.-ft. @ 4100 RPM

There is an American SUV produced by Chevrolet that is leading the way out of all the other American iterations for dependability and high-mileage models. There is a catch as to why it continues to do so well, but it doesn’t detract from how rock-solid it really is.

High Percentage Of High-Mileage Suburbans Show Their Worth

Chevrolet

For decades, the Chevrolet Suburban has been a family favorite for everything from the school run, going camping, hitting the trails on the weekend, and as an everyday hauler. It continues to live up to its family-friendly name today with a good blend of comfort, versatility, interior room, and, most importantly, for an everyday vehicle, reliability.

So much so that it is the most reliable American SUV in terms of high-mileage models still on the road. Reports have found that five percent of used Chevy Suburbans have hit the 200,000+ mile mark, much more than their average lifespan of between 125,000 and 150,000 miles. In terms of American SUVs, that ties it in first place with the Ford Expedition, but when it comes to recent reliability ratings, the Suburban is out in front.

Multiple Ratings For High Reliability

Garret Donahue

According to JD Power, the average reliability rating for a 2025 Chevrolet Suburban is 80 out of 100; the Ford Expedition, 75 out of 100. Also, according to RepairPal, the Chevy Suburban gets a reliability score of 3 out of 5. While that may seem slightly low compared to models like the Mazda CX-9 (4 out of 5 for reliability), the number of high-mileage models does speak for itself.

This could be put down to drivers loving their Suburbans for their work ethic, comfort, and relatively luxe features you can get with them, which seems like a logical reason, because the average yearly maintenance bill is a hefty $944 a year, or it could be down to how the Suburban is often used.

The Catch: The Chevy Suburban’s Usage

Garret Donahue

The big catch is that the Chevrolet Suburban has been frequently used as a people mover, as a livery vehicle, baggage mover, and an all-around comfortable taxi. When the Suburban was first released in 1935, it was available with seating for up to eight people; around 2010, it came equipped with room for nine people, and with the release of the 2021 MY, cargo capacities have topped out at 144.7 cubic feet. There is little wonder why they have been employed for livery for so long. With this kind of work, though, comes the “easy” miles that a lot of other SUVs don’t get.

We are not saying that you can’t take one off-road and that people don’t, but because they are used quite extensively for other easier purposes, we see a lot of engines not taking a huge beating and a lot of suspension components not being ground down by constant rock crawling and jumping over dunes. Plus, fewer annual miles are typically driven by vehicles used for this kind of service.

How The Chevrolet Suburban’s Reliability Compares To The Tahoe’s

Chevrolet

It is a slightly different story with the Suburban’s smaller sibling, the Tahoe. According to the same report, the percentage of 200,000+ mile Chevrolet Tahoe models still on the road is 3.8 percent, so a significant drop compared to Suburban numbers.

The Tahoe does a better job in terms of overall reliability and ownership costs, though, with RepairPal scoring it 3.5 out of 5 for reliability and saying that it will cost you, on average, $744 in annual maintenance bills. It, again, is down to how the Tahoe is typically used, which accounts for the lower numbers of high-mileage models.

Why The Chevrolet Tahoe Is Behind On High-Mileage Models

William Clavey | TopSpeed

Typically, the Tahoe is used as a family hauler. This means that it is more frequent to see higher annual miles put on Tahoe clocks. From short trips to school and back, down to the lake, across the state to see relatives, or for grocery shopping, the Tahoe is used as a utility tool.

You still get a lot of comfortable room inside, especially some of the recent MYs of the Chevrolet Tahoe; you get all the mod-cons you’d expect from a new SUV, and, from the 1995 model onward, three rows of seating for up to eight people have been available. But there is a big difference between the two sibling Chevy SUVs.

The Big Difference Between The Chevrolet Tahoe And Suburban

Both the Suburban and Tahoe are currently dominating the SUV world, and while both look to be cut from the same cloth, there are some differences. Most crucially, it is their size and interior space that set them apart. The Tahoe has always been billed as the smaller sibling to the Suburban, and if we look at this year’s models for both, the differences in size are quite noticeable.

The Tahoe measures in at 211.3 inches (L) x 81 inches (W) x 76.3 inches (H) and weighs 5,705 pounds, while the Suburban measures in at 226.3 inches (L) x 81.1 inches (W) x 76.1 inches (H) and weighs 5,873 pounds.

Interior Dimensions Spec Comparison

The difference between the two also comes in how much it costs to buy them up front. The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe will set you back at least $59,000 for the base LS trim, while the larger 2025 Suburban will cost you at least $62,000 for its name-sharing entry-level model.

2026 Chevrolet Suburban As The Master Mover

Garret Donahue

While official Chevrolet word hasn’t come out yet about next year’s trim, we expect the 2026 Chevy Suburban to boast the same trim lineup as this year’s: the LS, the LT, the RST, the Z71, the Premier, and the High Country. This year’s trim pricing includes:

• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban LS – $62,000
• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban LT – $65,000
• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban RST – $70,000
• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 – $72,000
• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban Premier – $76,600
• 2025 Chevrolet Suburban High Country – $81,700

We also expect a slight price rise compared to this year’s MY, and we don’t expect many huge changes to come to the Suburban because it only got a major refresh, in the form of better tech and a new front end, this year.

The Suburban Offers Two V8s And One Diesel Option

Garret Donahue

Like this year, we are likely to see three powertrain options sit under the hood of new Suburbans: a standard-fit V8, an optional larger V8, and an optional turbo-diesel inline-six.

2025 Chevrolet Suburban Performance Specs

Fuel consumption is what you’d expect from such a massive SUV, and the most fuel-frugal you will get is the two-wheel drive turbo-diesel option, with a combined mpg rating of 23 mpg. Across the board, though, all three Suburban engine options offer decent towing and not terrible rest-to-60 times considering their size and weight.

The Standout Features Of Next Year’s Suburban

CarBuzz

Next year’s model line is likely to follow the same sort of pattern as this year’s, except for some new 22-inch split-spoke bright-finish wheels being available to replace the chrome wheels you get this year.

Crucially, the new Suburban is going to remain a handy family hauler and taxi. Seating for up to nine people will be carried over; the flat-load floor will keep things easy for loading up the rear; the new tech in the form of an 11-inch digital gauge cluster and the massive 17.7-inch infotainment display will remain in place; and it is still going to be spacious in the cabin.

CarBuzz

The three powertrains that are available this year will more than likely carry over and continue to provide a solid choice for whatever kind of driving you want to do, and the six trims will carry on providing a range of choices from the more ‘basic’ to the high-end luxury.

The RST is currently one of the sportier iterations and boasts dark accents, leather seating, and a premium Bose sound system; the Suburban Z71 is the more off-road focused option, and comes equipped with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and four-wheel drive as standard, while the High Country will likely continue to be the premium, luxe trim for those of you looking for a bit more class and looking to spend a bit more money.

CarBuzz

The Suburban High Country comes equipped with the most powerful V8 as standard; it boasts a 10-speaker Bose audio rig; you get real wood trim around the cabin; perforated leather seats are showcased as standard, and you get a HUD to up the tech side of things. One of the standout features about all the Suburban grades, though, is that it will continue to be a very useful SUV for both lugging things around, with very healthy towing and payload capacities, and ferrying people back and forth, thanks to the spacious cabin.

Other American SUVs That Are Built To Last

Ford

While we often look at Japanese SUVs with envious eyes, like all the bulletproof models that Toyota, Lexus, and Honda roll out, there is no shortage of American SUVs this year that are scoring exceptionally highly for reliability. While the Suburban is the most reliable in terms of used high-mileage models still on the road, there are other American SUVs that score higher for overall reliability.

A lot of them are Chevy models, which again says something about what they are doing at the moment, and among the most reliable (according to JD Power reliability ratings), there is a good mix of everyday compact SUVs and SUVs you wouldn’t mind blasting along the trails in.

Reliable American SUVs Comparison