2005 Chevrolet Suburban Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
14 City / 18 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
295 -335
Seats
5 -9
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Olivia C
The kids love the DVD player and it makes for quite road trips.
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. It has a DVD player and third row seating making it a great family vehicle.
accountCircle Yolanda E
Great family size truck that is very reliable.
My vehicle is very reliable, low maintenance, performance is amazing has a lot of room has a 3rd row, great if you have a large family. You a can also move large items in this truck of mine I believe this would a great truck for any family or even a work truck very well made.
accountCircle Ken P
Passengers? Cargo? No problem
The 2005 Chevy Suburban is the best vehicle I've ever owned. It can fit a full 4x8 sheet of plywood when the third row is removed, has plenty of cargo space, the 5.3 engine is very capable. It tows nicely, has great reliability, is very comfortable. The cabin temperature regulator is the only problem I've had, it will occasionally default to full hot. Turning the climate control off and on again is the fix until faulty components can be replaced. Parking is a challenge naturally but the vehicle will still fit within the height requirements for almost any city Parking garage. I tow a small cargo trailer with ease. The brakes are adequate but not impressive. You need to leave extra room when towing. The gas mileage is poor of course, but the versatility to carry 8 people and all their bags, or remove the 3rd row, fold down the second row and use it like a cargo van is just fantastic. I have never needed to rent a pickup truck yet for any home improvement project or purchase. The car runs smoothly, does not overheat, is very nice on long trips, sits high enough for good forward vision, It does benefit from an aftermarket rear view camera due to its size. I love this vehicle.
accountCircle Cathy N
It is a safe ride and comfortable ride.
I can haul my entire family in it. I love the way it drives and rides alike.
accountCircle Kim K
Leather interior, heated seats, captain seats in second row, 3rd row bench, 4x4. Smooth ride, decent gas mileage for a big vi. Lots of cargo space. Seats 7 with plenty of legroom
Roomy comfortable ride, with leather interior, and 4xr
accountCircle Kristal F
This is a great family vehicle as it offers 3rd row removable seating.
Love all of the features we have.Love that we only need 1 vehicle when we take kids and grandkids places together. Hate that It's known to rust in certain places.
accountCircle Rebekah W
It's a wonderful family vehicle
It seats 9 people, which I love. It has a large area in the back for storage, and it's really easy and comfortable to drive. I thought trying to park it would be hard but it never has been. In the 9 years that we've owned it, we've never had any major mechanical issues with it... Very reliable vehicle!!
accountCircle Stan B
2005 Chevy Suburban: A Lot of Bang for your Buck
My 2005 Chevy Suburban is one of my favorite vehicles I've ever owned, and I've owned a bunch. I purchased it primarily to take the dogs to the groomer and the kids and their friends on road trips. As a 'people mover' it is unparalleled. It potentially seats eight, but for longer trips with bigger people you'll probably want to keep it to six. That being said, there are a number of possible seating configurations. The middle bench seat is split and folds into the floor. The back bench seat is removable. The cargo space in the vehicle is spacious, even when you have six passengers and a long trip. Entertainment system is good, and multiple climate zones let almost everybody be the temperature they want. The front seating is very spacious and comfortable, and the dash and instrument panel is attractive and convenient. As in any vehicle this age there are a number of little 'glitches.' The instrument cluster on this vehicles is prone to shorts, so I use a dash mounted speedometer app on my phone. One of the electric windows has come off track and needs to be repaired, and the heater is on the fritz at the moment. But it's a 15 year old vehicle. It was a fantastic deal, and it drives like brand new. You would think a vehicle of this size would feel cumbersome, but it is surprisingly nimble and handles like a much smaller vehicle.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Hope T
Very large, lots of space. Can hold a lot of people and go very far.
I like my car, but after time it has had multiple break and engine issues. It also has very low gas mileage. It usually costs me upwards of 80 to 85 dollars to fill it up. However, it's gas tank holds a lot of gas (~30 gallons) so it can travel pretty far without needing to fill up. I only suggest getting a suburban if you have a large family/reason to transport a lot of people at once. I only drive it for myself so it feels like a waste of space.
accountCircle Shane G
Transmission slipping and gas.
Transmission is slipping and we are having to put a new transmission and it needs a gas thing and the transmission and we have to go today and get it fixed.
accountCircle Gayle P
It can hold a king size mattress the towing is so easy.
The suburban is big roomy. Great family truck. It is good on the highway. It also has three seats for bigger family. You can remove the very. Back seat. For. A lot of camping plus a luggage rack on top for extra. Places to put things. It drives well. Not hard to navigate. I would recommend this truck. To all especially if you have lids.
accountCircle Beth R
Electrical issues after 7 years
My suburban is roomy and I love the heated seats, 6 disc CD changer, DVD player, and sunroof. Unfortunately, after about 7 years I started having electrical problems which caused my dashboard lights to stop working, heater and ac stopped working in the back, DVD player stopped working, heated seats stopped working, and the 4wd has issues. Not sure I'll buy a chevy again because of these extremely costly issues.
accountCircle Lisa L
Runs good for its age, have not done much maintenance to it.
Tears in the driver's seat. CD player is broke the seats are cold due to they are leather or hot. Rides good nice to have on long trips with the family or hauling heavy loads.
accountCircle Craig C.
Transmission/Speedometer problems
At 100,000 miles, total failure of TRANSMISSION, despite minimal light-weight towing (tow/haul mode) and proper maintenance. At 90,000 miles, speedometer failed. Inexcusable for a vehicle which cost $ 50,000 in 2005! GM dealer service tech said he has seen “hundreds” of these transmission failures, so it doesn’t seem this one is just a “lemon”. Otherwise (?) Vehicle is comfortable, utility is good. Just wish 3rd row seat was “fold-away” like Ford Excursion, instead of having to remove it from vehicle to maximize cargo space.
accountCircle Teresa W
It runs great for the mileage it has.
No complaints. I love my truck, an hopes to buy another one the next time I buy a vehicle. . It's been truly the best. Will never change from a Chevy.
accountCircle Andrew G
It's good for carrying lots of people and stuff for my family
I like that it's large with lots of cargo room. I like that it's solidly built and has four wheel drive. I don't like that it's older and in rough shape. I don't like that it has some stuff that needs fixing and I don't like the bad gas mileage

Chevrolet Suburban Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Z71
295 HP 16-16 MPG 7-8 Seats
car
Commercial
320-335 HP 5-9 Seats
car
LS
320-335 HP 8-9 Seats
car
LT
320-335 HP 7-8 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Reviews

4.47
92 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 59%
4 stars 30%
3 stars 10%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Tristan B on April 1, 2021
The vehicle will never disappoint when it comes to being comfortable.
The car functions really well and can support your whole family. The only thing I consider a problem is the high maintenance on the car, but besides that everything else is splendid. And especially modern for the time period the car was built in and is very easy to get in and out of.
accountCircle Jamie S on March 29, 2021
Great reliable vehicle with lots of room.
Great family car. It is still in great condition. Lots of room for our family of 7. The car is over 10 years old and has not had any major issues. We have taken it on many trips and had been an amazing car.
View All Reviews (92) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Josalyn C.

Pros: The vehicle is Sturdy, it is very comfortable, and it is an amazing affordable price. It is also got great fuel economy. Cons: There's not enough customization options or incentives to buy the vehicle. I would like more accessories.

likeFilled Larry W.

It is loaded with options, on star, DVD player, heated seat, four wheel drive, Sirius radio, 3 row seating. I like the way it Drives and handles. It does not get very good mileage. They are known for oil leaks.

likeFilled Cathy L.

It will haul anything and has room for 8 people with lots of room. This truck will go in any weather and can pull any load at the drop of a hat. It has a loaded package with a Boise radio system and is automatic.

likeFilled Colt P.

Four wheel drive with automatic four wheel drive option. Leather interior. Removable third row seating. 7 Seats. Tow package. Power seats. Power windows. Roof rack rails. Large rear cargo area. Homelink garage door opener unit.

likeFilled Alexandria C.

It is perfect for your family. It is comfortable and does not need too much gas. In addition to that, it is pretty easy to drive and it is a beautiful car. I absolutely recommend. The only con, is that there are a couple cars that would be more practical or family friendly and maybe even cheaper.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Josalyn C.

There is not enough add-ons for the suburban, and there are not enough paint options or exterior design options. I would prefer a more unique look when I purchase vehicles. Chevy should improve this soon.

dislikeFilled Larry W.

They are known for oil leaks. It does not get very good mileage. It is black in color, so gets hot in the summer and is hard to keep clean. To fix the oil leaks they have to lift the engine to access the oil pan.

dislikeFilled Cathy L.

The gas mileage is not good. The tires for this truck are very high. It is hard to get up in this truck if you are a short person like myself. The third row of seats is hard to get to for an adult. And the storage area in the back is small.

dislikeFilled Colt P.

Long wheel base makes it difficult to park in smaller parking lots/ garages. City gas mileage isn't very good. The factory Bose stereo has issues switching from front to rear controls. Multi climate control sometimes does not work.

dislikeFilled Alexandria C.

It is pretty old and we are actually thinking about purchasing a new vehicle. It also feels pretty plain now. There are a few other Chevrolet cars that outmatch this one. They are more practical... Better looking and some are even more affordable.

Ranks #4 Full Size SUV by Owners

The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban has an average owner rating of 4.47 out of 5 which ranks it #4 of 9 other Full Size SUVs.

1
car
2005 Ford Excursion
4.83
2
car
2005 Toyota Sequoia
4.51
3
car
2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
4.48
4
car
2005 Chevrolet Suburban
4.47

Ranks #2 Full Size SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban has a combined MPG of 18 which ranks it #2 of 8 other Full Size SUVs.

1
car
2005 Ford Explorer
20 MPG
2
Tie
car
2005 GMC Yukon
18 MPG
2
Tie
car
2005 Chevrolet Suburban
18 MPG

Is The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban A Good Car?

Yes, it is a good vehicle with good mileage. It handles ok and it still works fine after many years.
Riley F.
Yes it's a great vehicle, comfortable seats and wonderful storage. I have 4 kids, and this car is perfect for a large family. They all play sports and I always have all their gear in my car. I have... Read More
Lissette O.
Yes! It drives very safely and is ready to take care of. It helps with directions, good size as well! It is very easy to drive!
Janice R.
Yes good running comfortable, good on gas nice looking vehicle pretty color plenty yg of room for the whole family plenty of room for groceries .
Kathy D.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban?

It does have a couple problems, the radiator leaks and multiple gauges on the dashboard do not work including the speedometer and gas gauge.
Riley F.
No, I have had no problems with it at all. This car handles well, has great comfortable seating, very spacious, and awesome stereo system.
Lissette O.
It is very reliable! There are very few problems. When there were problems, they were very easy to fix.
Shea S.
It is reliable doesn't seem to have too much or to many problems most problems have been minor and have been fixed by my husband. He even fixed a problem with the air conditioner.
David L.

Is The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban A Good Value?

It didn't cost much and it has a very good value for it is cost even though it has some problems that are frustrating.
Riley F.
We bought this car used for $12,000. It was a great price for this vehicle. My family has 4 cars and of the 4 cars, the suburban is the one car we choose for all our travel. We use this car to go in... Read More
Lissette O.
I got mine for 7 thousand! It was a good price and is an extremely good value! I am very pleased with the price and it is lasting a very long time!
Taylor Z.
$6,000.00 I think we bought it on a note through my husbands local credit union yes it has been a good value.
Patricia C.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Chevy Suburban fuel filter location?

Answer: The 2005 Chevy Suburban fuel filter is located inside the fuel pump module and is listed by the manufacturer as a non-serviceable part. This essentially means that the fuel filter should last the life of the...

2005 Chevrolet Suburban: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban useS6 quarts of oil for all engines except the 8.1L V8 which useS6.4 quarts of oil. All of the engine options use SAE 5W-30 oil and Chevrolet recommends that You use synthetic...

What kind of oil does the 2005 Chevy Suburban use?

Answer: The 2005 Chevy Suburban useS5w30 full synthetic motor oil. The oil capacity iS6 quarts with a new filter. Your vehicle requires engine oil changes every 7,500 miles or once a year. You can change the oil...
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Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test
(Not Tested)
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety