2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN: CAPABLE, CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE
The legendary Chevy Suburban continues as America's reigning premier full-size SUV.
Innovative control and handling enhancements such as StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement and Quadrasteer four-wheel steering ensure that Suburban - the industry's oldest active vehicle nameplate - remains capable, confident and comfortable. And that's why it's no surprise that Suburban's customer loyalty rate exceeds 50 percent.
Suburban's workhorse reputation means there's enough space to comfortably seat eight adults or to fit a 4 x 8-foot (1.2 x 2.4-meter) sheet of plywood on the load floor with the doors closed and rear seats removed. Suburban trailers as much as 12,000 pounds (5,443 kg) when properly equipped.
New features on 2004 Suburban include a tire pressure monitor and Hydroboost brakes on half-ton models and a right front passenger safety belt reminder.
Stabilizing influences
StabiliTrak is a system that improves vehicle stability on various road surfaces at various speeds, particularly on slick surfaces or during emergency maneuvers. It is available on half-ton, two- or four-wheel-drive Suburbans with the Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8 engine (not available on Z71).
StabiliTrak helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle in sudden maneuvers, particularly in low traction conditions, in emergency lane changes, and during avoidance maneuvers. If the system determines that the vehicle is not responding appropriately to the driver's steering, StabliTrak precisely reduces engine torque and applies precise amounts of pressure to the individual front brakes to slow the vehicle and help bring it back to its intended path.
In addition, two-wheel-drive Suburbans offer available electronic traction assist to enhance surefootedness on models with a locking rear differential.
Revolutionary Quadrasteer control
Suburban was the first full-size SUV to offer the revolutionary control and handling benefits of Quadrasteer - a four-wheel steering system that provides maneuverability and on-highway control never thought possible on a full-size SUV. Quadrasteer, available on 2500 series 2WD/4WD models, turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels, which helps the vehicle make tighter turns, such as when cornering, getting into a tight parking space or maneuvering a trailer. The turning diameter of 2WD models is reduced 21 percent from 44.5 feet to 35.2 feet (13.6 meters to 10.7 meters). For 4WD models, turning diameter goes from 44.3 feet to 35 feet (13.5 meters to 10.7 meters).
New tires and wheels choices
Suburban for 2004 makes two newly designed wheels available: 16-inch cast aluminum wheels on LS and LT, and 17-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels with 16-inch steel blackwall spare, available on LT models. New tire selections include 17-inch all-season P265/70R17 blackwall tires and 17-inch all-season, P265/70R17white outlined-letter tires.
Advanced safety
A passenger-sensing system and dual-stage front-seat frontal air bags are an integral part of Suburban's safety package. The automatic passenger-sensing air-bag system automatically deactivates the passenger-side front air bag under certain conditions to help protect smaller occupants.
Dual-stage air bags are designed to detect vehicle deceleration and, based on the deceleration data, provide an appropriate amount of air-bag inflation. The dual-level air-bag system senses the severity of a crash and determines whether to deploy the air bag with primary or "lower" amount of inflation or with primary and secondary "higher" amount of inflation. Dual-stage air bags are designed to help reduce the occurrence of inflation-induced injuries by deploying the air bag less forcefully in lower speed crashes.
The 2004 Suburban offers adjustable brake and accelerator pedals. The position of the pedals can be adjusted in unison by nearly 3 inches (76 mm) for better positioning and comfort. The feature is available with or without a memory feature.
Hydroboost brakes provide added safety with more reserve power assist for braking under specific conditions. The system will continue to provide sufficient power assist to stop the vehicle if the engine stalls or is turned off. Hydroboost uses power steering fluid pressure to decrease brake pedal effort.
Suburban for 2004 provides safety for its younger passengers as it complies with 2005 federal seat standards for child restraint anchorages. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child-seat attachment system is provided in the center and right positions of the second-row split/folding bench seat. Only a top tether connection is available in the left position of the second-row bench seat. If the second-row seats are captain's chairs, the LATCH system is available in the left and right positions of the second-row seating. For the third-row seating, only the top tether attachment is available and only for the center position.
That's quality entertainment!
Impressive entertainment systems - from an available Bose sound system to a Panasonic DVD Passenger Entertainment System - add to Suburban's creature comforts. These systems (except the base fleet radio) feature the next-generation Radio Data System and can interface with services such as the optional XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only). Available rear-seat audio controls allow second-row passengers to enjoy a separate audio source from front-seat occupants. An available custom-designed Bose audio system uses a high-powered six-channel amplifier and an eight-speaker sound system with sub-woofer.
XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only) provides 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month - less than the cost of a single CD. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments.
More cabin comforts
A tri-zone manual-control heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is standard on Suburban. It allows the driver and front passenger to adjust the temperature to their own comfort levels - up to a 30-degree Fahrenheit (13.9-degree Celsius) difference between the two front zones.
An available tri-zone automatic HVAC system provides outstanding comfort. Customers can opt for a sunroof and rear entertainment system with rear electronic climate control - a system that automatically controls air delivery, fan speed, temperature and recirculating/outside air to provide faster warm-ups and cool-downs.
Manual rear air conditioning is standard. Rear electronic climate control is standard with the optional front system, providing second-row passengers an automatically controlled temperature setting independent from that of the front - in effect, creating tri-zone comfort.
Available exterior mirrors feature power-tilt glass and power folding to protect them in narrow spaces; heating elements that clear frost, snow or ice; left-side electrochromatic glass that automatically dims glaring headlights; puddle lights; turn signal indicators in the glass; and a memory feature. An available power-adjustable camper mirror can be extended to a vehicle width of as much as 106 inches (2,692 mm).
Smarter systems
Suburban's advanced multiplexed electrical architecture enables the driver information center, which can be programmed for English, Spanish or French, to monitor and to report on as many as 34 system functions, including service indicators for StabiliTrak, "Ice Possible" and "Door Ajar." Available eight-button steering wheel controls allow owners to personalize several functions and safely access infotainment systems. They include duplicate controls for calculating trip and fuel data and provide easy access to the OnStar in-vehicle safety and security system.
OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the U.S. and Canada. Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location, remote door unlock, emergency services dispatch, roadside assistance, remote diagnostics, route support, convenience services and OnStar Concierge. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide network in cooperation with Verizon Wireless. Virtual Advisor (U.S. only) gives subscribers access to personalized information in a hands-free, voice-activated manner with no screens or displays.
Cleaner engines, alternate fuels
Suburban half-ton utilities with the Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8 sold in California feature a more robust catalytic converter system that meets Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. All Suburban powerplants meet Massachusetts, Maine, New York or Vermont state emissions requirements.
Suburban's impressive powertrain lineup includes the Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8 (standard on half-ton models and available in either gasoline or ethanol-compliant versions) and Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 (standard on the three-quarter-ton models). The powerful Vortec 8100 8.1L V-8 is optional on the 2500 series three-quarter-ton models.
