2024 Chevrolet Suburban High Country: The Perfect Beagle Rescue Roadtrip Vehicle

Chevrolet sent over a 2024 Suburban High Country to assist with a recent Beagle Rescue that I volunteered to participate in. In volunteering, I took on the role of driver and Beagle buddy, being assigned to beagles to keep an eye on during the three days it took to drive from Denver, Colorado, to Portland, Oregon.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban High Country was a great rescue beagle vehicle.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

I learned about the Suburban that I did not know. It is the longest-running model nameplate in the automotive world, starting in 1935, though not always made by General Motors. The Chevrolet Suburban is currently in its twelfth generation, and what was once a station wagon is now called a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The Suburban is a large wagon on a pickup truck frame, providing ample space and the ruggedness you would find in a work vehicle.

2024 Chevrolet Suburban High CountryPhoto byWilliam West Hopper

Powertrain

For our needs, transporting three people, their gear, seven dogs in four crates, their gear this 2024 trimmed out in High Country with the second-generation 3.0L inline-six turbo-diesel Duramax diesel powertrain and a Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission provided us between 20 and 23 miles per gallon. However, once, we had to add Ad Blue Def fluid, the stuff sprayed into diesel exhaust to make it more environmentally friendly, during our 2600-mile trip. That became a learning curve for us, even as experienced members of the automotive media. We ended up adding it at the pump where the big trucks fueled.

The Duramax diesel engine provided smooth, consistent power, making the Suburban an excellent road trip vehicle.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

Fuel economy for any large vehicle is not going to be great. I was impressed that we were doing over 20 miles per gallon on diesel fuel on this trip, especially since the vehicle was loaded down.

Fuel economy was not bad for a large vehicle.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

Onboard Safety and Technology

The onboard safety and tech features made the ride comfortable for the driver and the passengers. On the other hand, the pups just wanted to be in your lap to be comfortable. Having the onboard Wi-Fi kept the passengers occupied on their devices. It provided rear seat entertainment through two large 12.6-inch diagonal color-touch LCD High-Definition screens mounted on the front seat backs for passengers riding in the two rear captain’s chairs. Both rear seats and the 3^rd-row seat provided plenty of legroom and ample space to feel comfortable in and have your own space.

Monitors mounted on the back of the front seats provide a great service to those 2nd row passengersPhoto byWilliam West Hopper

Comfort

The driver and front passenger perforated leather-trimmed seats for a long drive were quite comfortable. Since it was the height of summer, we benefitted from having cooled seats that were also heated for winter weather. Note: the 2^nd-row captain’s chairs are also heated but not cooled.

Everything is at your finger tipsPhoto byWilliam West Hopper

The two second-row captain’s chairs worked well, giving us floor space for carrying items. In this case, it was dried dog food for the pups; that way, it was easy to cover it to keep it away from the dogs when they were loose in the car during the drive.

Plenty of room even in the 3rd row of the Chevy Suburban.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

As the driver, I got to use GM’s Super Cruise, the industry’s first genuine hands-free driving assistance technology. It is the most advanced hands-free driving system, with over 400K miles of US and Canadian roads. This system works with adaptive cruise control, complete with passing capability and monitoring of the vehicle’s surroundings. This enhanced automatic emergency braking reverse automatic braking stops the vehicle when it senses an obstacle. It includes an improved display and alert package.

American Built

As expected, the Chevrolet Suburban is a US-made vehicle. It was built at the General Motors plant in Arlington, Texas, and is celebrating seventy years of automobile production. GM has invested over five hundred million dollars in this facility, which has modern tooling and stamping equipment and is ready to continue making American-built products. General Motors has invested nearly two billion dollars in the Arlington, Texas, Assembly plant since 2013

With the 3-row up, you still have cargo space, and with it down, there is enormous space.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

The Chevy Suburban Experience

Not being a big car person, I found this vehicle easy to drive. It felt nimble, easy to maneuver out on the interstate, and not bad in town and suburban traffic. It excelled because it has a large interior capacity, and the cooling in the summer heat for all onboard, from the front passengers to the rear cargo area, worked great. Comfort for the driver, as well as both front and rear passengers, was top-notch.

The Suburban is a big vehiclePhoto byWilliam West Hopper

This is the perfect vehicle with a well-appointed interior that will quickly fill your needs when hauling several people and their gear, having pets that you are moving from place to place, or other items that need a vehicle with the Suburban’s spacious interior. Plus, the vehicle’s onboard standard safety systems kept us safe and sound during our long drive on various roads in various conditions. While it was summer, we only encountered several crosswinds and rain storms, not snow or ice. Though I expect this Suburban would be the perfect ski-road trip car for heading up to the mountains in inclement weather with all-wheel drive and traction assistance.

Front passenger space is plentiful.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

I spent most of the time on this three-day 2600-mile trip behind this 2024 Chevrolet Suburban High Country. I have to say I was more than impressed with the overall driving experience. Not to mention the ease of hauling both people and cargo. In comparison, this is not the vehicle for everyone, for those who need the interior space. Who are transporting people and need to do so in comfort. This is a great vehicle to do so.

The High Country trim provides plenty in the Suburban.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

In comparison, there are other competitors in the field, such as the more upscale GMC and Cadillac versions of this vehicle, Ford’s Expedition, and Stellantis’s Grand Wagoneer. The Chevy Suburban has plenty of competition. This is the only one that offers a diesel powerplant. While that may not seem appealing, it is, as it was economical, powerful, and efficient for powering this behemoth of a vehicle.

William West Hopper with my fellow beagle rescue partners on this cross-country trip.Photo byWilliam West Hopper

If you are looking for a large SUV, this is one to look at. For the 2025 model year, this vehicle will receive significant improvements in overall design and built-in safety and technology. Expect mighty things from the Chevy Suburban in the coming year. But that does not mean that this model year is to be ignored.