Used Holden Suburban review: 1998-2001

Holden Suburban is a very large 4WD, good towing workhorse and spacious people mover. The Suburban can seat up to nine adults, though a more realistic use is seven adults and two children - nothing else comes close in this designed-for-the-USA giant. It can also carry their luggage, whereas other big 4WDs can seat eight people, but lose most of their luggage room when the rear seats are occupied.

A rebadged Chevrolet, the Holden Suburban was only imported from February 1998 until January 2001, though the last of them weren't sold for several months after that.

Though it appears gigantic, Holden Suburban is only half a metre longer and 150 mm wider than a Commodore station wagon. On suburban roads it fits comfortably into traffic lanes and is easy to place in traffic. When turning sharp corners at crossroads you need to make allowance for the extra length, otherwise the required driving technique is pretty much as usual.

Off-road the big Suburban copes easily

Parking? That can be the downfall of the Suburban in tight suburban areas. It has a reasonable turning circle of 13.7 metres, and a moderate height of 1.9 metres, so it can be slotted into most spots by an experienced driver.

Off-road the big Suburban copes easily. Though its paintwork is likely to suffer in tighter situations as shrubs and tree branches drag down its flanks, so plan ahead if you want to do serious off-road driving.

Suburban can tow 2.7 tonnes with the 5.7-litre petrol engine and 3.4 tonnes with the extra-heavy-duty 6.5-litre turbodiesel. All Australian Suburbans came as standard with a towbar.

Suburban uses part time four-wheel drive with a high-low range transfer box. It can be shifted from two-high to four-high and back at speeds of up to 100km/h, but must be stopped for shifts from four-high to four-low and vice versa. The front hubs engage and disengage automatically.

Fuel consumption isn't as bad as you might expect. Somewhere about 15.0-18.0L/100km in suburban driving, dropping to 'only' 12.0-14.0L/100km on the highway. Suburban has a huge 159-litre fuel tank.

Build quality - the Suburban is screwed together in Mexico - is reasonable, though nowhere near the high standard of Japanese or Australian cars.

Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping around

The big underbonnet space means you can do a lot of your own work without doing any real damage to your knuckles or your temper. Pick up a workshop manual before you start, and stay away from safety related items unless you are a professional.

Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping around as there seems to be quite a difference between premiums from company to company. This policy range isn't unusual in relatively rare vehicles. As always, make sure you're comparing apples with apples, and be aware a longtime relationship with one company can be a valuable asset.

Call to your local Holden dealer to check whether they stock parts, or get them in from elsewhere - or are no longer interesting in the vehicle.