2020 Chevrolet Suburban

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2020 models.

Chevrolet Suburban
Pictured: 2015 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LTZ, front 4.18.19. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Body styles
4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV RWD
Engines
5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
Seats
7–8
Fuel
FFV, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
MPG (best)
18 combined · 15 city / 23 hwy
Length
224.4 in
Curb weight
5,536–5,776 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
4 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Seats up to 83 rows of seating.

Watch out for

  • Emergency braking not standardAutomatic emergency braking is optional or limited to some trims.
  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (5.3L 8-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.

It measures about 224 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 130-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,776 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 18 MPG combined (15 city / 23 highway), 8% worse than the 2020 standard SUV average of 19.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,700 a year in fuel.

NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.

It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.

What changed for 2020

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2019 Suburban — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2019; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2019 Suburban →

Trims, performance & features

Engine–5.3L 8-cyl
Engine–6.2L 8-cyl
Transmission6-speed automatic
DriveAWD/4WD
Seating7–8 seats · 3 rows

Trims

PremierLTLS

Safety & driver-assist features

Automatic emergency brakingSome trims
Forward collision warningSome trims
Blind-spot monitoringSome trims
Rear cross-traffic alertSome trims
Lane departure warningSome trims
Lane keeping assistSome trims
Adaptive cruise controlOptional
Backup cameraStandard
Automatic high beamsStandard
Adaptive driving beamSome trims
Keyless startSome trims

Built in: Arlington, Texas

NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2020 Suburban configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr SUV AWD224.4 in80.3 in74.4 in129.9 in68.1 / 68.1 in5,776 lb51/49
4dr SUV RWD224.4 in80.3 in74.4 in129.9 in68.1 / 68.1 in5,536 lb51/49

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Suburban C1500 2WD FFV5.3L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive15 / 22 / 18-8%$3,700505
Suburban C1500 2WD5.3L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive15 / 22 / 18-8%$3,700505
Suburban C1500 2WD6.2L 8-cylAutomatic 10-spdRear-Wheel Drive14 / 23 / 17-13%$4,850517
Suburban K1500 4WD FFV5.3L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel Drive14 / 21 / 16-15%$4,200543
Suburban K1500 4WD6.2L 8-cylAutomatic 10-spd4-Wheel Drive14 / 20 / 16-15%$5,150557
Suburban K1500 4WD5.3L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel Drive14 / 21 / 16-15%$4,200547
3/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
3/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $6,500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
19.5 MPG2020 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2020 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban.

Similar 2020 standard SUVs

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2020 Chevrolet Suburban (this car)18 MPGNot rated4
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser14 MPGNot rated0

Recalls (4)

Safety advisory: 1 recall for this model year carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Check your VIN now.
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) · May 7, 2026 Do not drive

NHTSA campaign 26V289000 · 66 vehicles

Problem
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk
Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Fix
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
Tires · Feb 25, 2021

NHTSA campaign 21V115000 · 33,838 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Risk
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump · Nov 21, 2019

NHTSA campaign 19V837000 · 502 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Risk
Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
Service Brakes · Oct 24, 2019

NHTSA campaign 19V761000 · 652,967 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk
Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

44Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
2Involved a crash
1Involved a fire
0Injuries reported
30,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Engine17
Power Train10
Electrical System7
Steering4
Unknown Or Other4
Vehicle Speed Control3
Service Brakes3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
21/09: 121/10: 122/03: 123/03: 123/05: 123/10: 124/05: 224/06: 124/09: 124/10: 124/11: 125/02: 125/03: 125/04: 225/05: 225/06: 225/08: 325/10: 225/11: 225/12: 126/01: 326/03: 126/05: 126/08: 421/0923/0324/0524/1025/0325/0625/1126/03max 4

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2020 Chevrolet Suburban buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Safety-critical recall. At least one recall carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Do not buy until the VIN shows it was repaired.
  3. Engine — 17 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  4. Power Train — 10 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
  5. Electrical System — 7 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
  6. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 30,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Suburban years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2027 Suburban23–Not rated00
2026 Suburban23225.6 inNot rated318
2025 Suburban23225.6 in★★★★★131
2024 Suburban23225.6 in★★★★★245
2023 Suburban23225.6 in★★★★★4148
2022 Suburban23225.6 in★★★★★4124
2021 Suburban23225.6 in★★★★★12203
2019 Suburban18224.4 inNot rated378
2018 Suburban19224.4 inNot rated484
2017 Suburban19224.4 inNot rated5142
2016 Suburban19224.4 inNot rated6220
2015 Suburban18224.4 inNot rated11428

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →