Bergen County families taking the Garden State Parkway south to the Shore or heading west on I-78 toward the Poconos need a vehicle that fits the whole family, swallows the luggage, and stays comfortable for four or five hours on the road. The Chevy Suburban has held this position for generations because it does all three without asking you to make tradeoffs. Paramus, Hackensack, and Ridgewood drivers who commute in it on Tuesday and road-trip in it on Friday are getting their money’s worth.
Bottom Line: The Chevy Suburban provides three-row seating for up to nine, up to 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space, and a 8,300-lb tow rating - making it the go-to long-distance family hauler for Bergen County families.
- Available 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines deliver confident highway passing power and towing capability
- Max Trailering Package brings tow capacity to 8,300 lbs for boats and travel trailers
- Available Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance reduces fatigue on long highway drives
Passenger Space and Comfort Across Three Rows
The Suburban’s genuine advantage over smaller three-row SUVs is rear-seat habitability. The second row provides legitimate adult legroom that rivals many sedans. The third row, while tighter than the first two, seats adults comfortably for drives under two hours - a meaningful distinction for families with older kids or grandparents traveling along.
Full families of six, seven, or eight find room that three-row crossovers struggle to provide at highway speeds with bags loaded. The standard Suburban seats seven or eight depending on second-row configuration; the available 40/20/40 split-bench second row adds a ninth seat position for larger groups.
Bergen County road trips to Cape May, the Delaware Water Gap, or Washington DC involve hours of highway time. The Suburban’s rear seat entertainment system option - with dual screens and wireless headphone connectivity - is a practical necessity for families with younger children on those stretches.
Cargo Space: Loading for a Real Family Trip
With all three rows in use, the Suburban provides 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row - more than the total cargo capacity of many two-row crossovers. Fold the third row and that expands to 76.7 cubic feet. Drop both rear rows flat and you reach 144.7 cubic feet - large enough for furniture, bikes, or an enormous amount of luggage.
Packing seven people with luggage for a week-long trip requires real space, and the Suburban delivers it without roof rack gymnastics. The hands-free power lift gate (available on LT trim and above) is a practical feature when your hands are full of bags in a hotel parking lot in Ocean City.
Browse current Suburban inventory at Paramus Chevrolet and compare trim configurations side by side.
"Bergen County families choose the Suburban because there is no substitute for what it actually provides - three rows that fit real adults, cargo space that handles a real family trip, and the towing capacity to bring the boat along. Nothing else in this segment does all three at this level."
General Manager, Paramus Chevrolet
Towing Capability for Boats and Trailers
The Suburban with the available Max Trailering Package tows up to 8,300 lbs - enough for a 22-foot pontoon boat, a pair of personal watercraft on a double trailer, or a mid-size travel trailer. Families based in Ridgewood, Fair Lawn, or Hackensack who tow to Lake Hopatcong, Sandy Hook, or further into Pennsylvania find the Suburban’s capability more than sufficient.
The integrated trailer brake controller (available on higher trims) is worth specifying if you tow frequently - it communicates with trailer brake systems to distribute braking force appropriately and reduce jackknifing risk. NHTSA’s vehicle safety information provides additional towing safety guidelines for heavy loads.
Planning your road trip budget from Bergen County? Use the calculator below to estimate your fuel costs for the drive.
Super Cruise and Driver Assistance for Long Highways
Available Super Cruise is Chevrolet’s hands-free driver assistance system for compatible highways, and it represents a meaningful comfort upgrade for long road trips. On mapped divided highways - including most of the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and I-95 - it manages speed and lane centering without requiring hands on the wheel.
The system requires driver attention monitoring via a camera that watches for head position. Unlike simpler cruise control systems, Super Cruise does not accept hands-off driving if the driver looks away for extended periods - a safety feature that distinguishes it from less sophisticated alternatives.
The Suburban’s magnetic ride control suspension (available on Premier and High Country) is a separate but complementary upgrade. It actively adjusts damper firmness thousands of times per second, resulting in a notably smoother highway ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can a Chevy Suburban seat? The standard Suburban configuration seats seven with second-row captain chairs or eight with the available bench seat. A nine-passenger configuration is available with the 40/20/40 split-bench second row.
How much can a Chevy Suburban tow for road trips? With the Max Trailering Package, the Suburban tows up to 8,300 lbs. This covers most boats, personal watercraft, and mid-size travel trailers. The integrated trailer brake controller is available for safer heavy towing.
Is the Chevy Suburban comfortable for highway road trips? The Suburban is one of the most comfortable full-size SUVs available for long highway drives. Available magnetic ride control and available Super Cruise driver assist significantly reduce fatigue on extended trips.
What is the Chevy Suburban’s fuel economy on road trips? The 5.3L V8 delivers around 22-23 mpg highway; the 6.2L V8 is slightly lower. Dynamic Fuel Management helps both engines deactivate cylinders at highway speeds to improve efficiency on long stretches.
What Suburban trim should Bergen County families buy? The LT provides the best balance of features and value for family road trip use. Premier adds captain chairs and enhanced driver assistance. High Country is the luxury choice for buyers who prioritize the premium interior.
Visit Paramus Chevrolet in Bergen County, NJ to explore the full Suburban lineup. See current Suburban inventory at Paramus Chevrolet or check used Suburban options - serving Paramus, Hackensack, Ridgewood, and Fair Lawn.