History of the 1990s GMC / Chevrolet Suburban.
In 1992
Suburbans adopted the sleek body style and updated
interior of their pickup truck brethren. In addition to their handsome looks,
the new Suburbans boasted more glass area and a lower step-in height than their
forebears. Functional improvement included standard four-wheel antilock brakes
and two improvements for four-wheel-drive models: a new independent front
suspension and a shift-on-the-fly "Insta-Trac" transfer-case control. Models
consisted of the base Cheyenne and the upscale
Silverado. The C and K designations returned to indicate two- or four-wheel
drive, respectively. The number after that letter indicated either half-ton
(1500) or three-quarter-ton (2500) rating.
1993 brought more upgrades, such as a new four-speed automatic gearbox for
light-duty Suburbans (called "4L60-E") that was electronically controlled for
smooth gear changes. Interior refinements included new stereo controls, dual cup
holders and Scotchgard fabric protection.
Safety and environmental strides were made for 1994 with the debut of side door
guard beams, a center high-mounted third brake light and CFC-free A/C
refrigerant. Engine news was big this year, as the 5.0-, 5.7- and 7.4-liter V8s
were quieted down via intake tweaks. A new diesel engine debuted: a 6.5-liter
turbo diesel that churned out 190 horsepower and 360 foot-pounds of torque.
The number of safety features once again increased in 1995 with the addition of
a driver side airbag and a brake/transmission interlock (which required the
brake pedal to be depressed before the automatic gearbox could be shifted out of
"park"). A new instrument panel and upgraded door trim graced the interior, and
the seats were redesigned to be more supportive. New sound systems made the more
comfortable cabin even more welcoming. Trim levels were now comprised of base,
LS and leather-lined LT. GMC's comparable models were base, SLE and SLT.
Pump it up! Among the many improvements for 1996 was more power for the gasoline
engines. Now called "Vortec," these potent power plants put up the following big
numbers: Vortec 5700 V8 -- 250 horsepower, an increase of 50 horses, Vortec 7400
-- 290 horsepower, up 60. The numbers after the word Vortec indicated the
engine size in cubic centimeters, which is easy to convert to litres;
for example, the Vortec 5700 V8 displaced 5,700 cubic centimeters or 5.7 liters.
Other enhancements of the mechanical variety included a beefed-up automatic
gearbox to handle the stronger engines and a new, electronically shifted
transfer case that eliminated the floor-mounted mechanism.