The Chevrolet Division of General Motors constructs truck-based sport-utility vehicles in all categories - subcompact and compact, midsize, full-size, even super-size, thanks to Tracker, Blazer, TrailBlazer, Tahoe and Suburban. In addition, Chevrolet carries the Venture minivan in two wheelbase lengths with three tiers of seats inside plus a sliding door on each side.

Largest of the lot is the super-size Suburban that stretches 18 feet long and spreads more than six feet wide across the beam. Its enormous cabin has seats for as many as nine passengers, and there are high-tech handling devices aboard including optional Quadrasteer electronic steering system that turns all four wheels so Suburban can maneuver at slow speed with amazingly tight turns to match the nimble movements of a small car.

A full-size wagon just one step down in size from Suburban is called Tahoe, and it now offers the StabiliTrak vehicle skid control system as an option, along with power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals with memory settings.

Chevy's TrailBlazer wagon in the midsize class comes in regular-length and stretched editions and brings two powertrain choices with in-line-six and V8 engines. Tracker, the subcompact wagon, conforms strictly to a four-door format for 2004 but offers rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) formats plus V6 power. The Venture minivan in 2004 divides into three trims and two wheelbase lengths with optional Versatrak all-wheel-drive (AWD).

New designs for big aluminum wheels will be added to the 2004 models of the largest SUV from Chevrolet.

The series includes 1500 (half-ton) and 2500 (three-quarter-ton) versions with Vortec V8 engines and automatic transmissions for all. Suburban 1500 totes a 5.3-liter V8 rated at 285 hp. The 2500 stocks Chevy's 6.0-liter V8 that runs to 320 hp, with the Vortec 8.1-liter V8 also available for a whopping rating of 340 hp. Both 1500 and 2500 Suburbans host RWD and 4WD editions, but the latter has a dash-mounted switch to jockey between full-time AWD traction, rear-wheel or four-wheel high and low settings.

Optional Quadrasteer four-wheel steering (4WS) for a 2500 Suburban dramatically enhances the vehicle's handling and agility. A boxy package provides the largest passenger cabin among all sport-utility wagons with room inside for eight or nine passengers. Seating consists of a bench or twin buckets mounted on the front row and followed by a choice of second-row bench seating or bucket seats plus a third-row bench in sections that fold and flip forward to make more room for cargo.

Entertainment systems are also available for Suburban, from customized Bose sound systems to rear-seat entertainment equipment with a DVD player wired to a flip-down video screen and the subscription-based XM satellite radio service. Body paint comes in new shades like Dark Blue Metallic, Silver Birch and Sport Red Metallic. (CONTINUED...)