Air Suspension v. Longer Wheelbase

Looking to compare the ride quality of a tahoe with air suspension to a standard suburban (assuming MRC).

The question is this: Does a tahoe with air suspension ride smoother than a standard Suburban with Magnetic Ride Control OR does the elongated wheel base of the suburban make for a smoother ride even without air suspension?

In general a longer wheel base will ride better. How much? I have a 2021 Suburban High Country with the Magnetic ride and it rides great. The best riding truck I have ever driven.

I honestly don't think the air suspension affects ride quality near as much as the magnetic ride control, esp when unladen. I have both...so hard for me to say for sure.
I do think Air Suspension helps quite a bit when towing, or you load the truck up. It keeps you level, so it improves handling, etc.
Regardless, the longer the wheel base, the better the ride, but you give up manuaverability.
Both are huge vehicles, so I would drive both and decide.
I owned 2 tahoes, then switched to the longer version (Suburbans and YukonXL's). I would not likely go back to a shorty for these reasons: the $$ is not significant, I have the garage space, and for me, parking is not an issue. Depending on your personal situation, you may have a reason to go smaller.

I would say go do some test drives back-to-back. Ride quality is extremely personal.

Wheel diameter and tire sidewall profile have an impact on ride quality, as well.

I have a Tahoe with air suspension and considering going to a suburban without it.

I need to go test drive it for myself, was just curious how much of a difference I can expect

Protect1989 said:

I have a Tahoe with air suspension and considering going to a suburban without it.

I need to go test drive it for myself, was just curious how much of a difference I can expect

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Do you have any reason beyond comfort to want the Air? Do you tow or haul often?

WalleyeMikeIII said:

Do you have any reason beyond comfort to want the Air? Do you tow or haul often?

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Nope. It’s really just comfort and convenience for my older family members to make it easier to get in and out of the car.

Protect1989 said:

Does a tahoe with air suspension ride smoother, than a standard Suburban with Magnetic Ride Control?
OR
does the elongated wheel base of the suburban make for a smoother ride even without air suspension?

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Whichever has smaller wheels with larger sidewalls?
When it comes to ride quality, a longer wheelbase is an advantage in and of itself.
If you've the (parking) space for it, and don't need maneuverability, then get the longer wheelbase / extra cargo capacity.
Separate from that, smaller wheels (nearly always lighter) also have more tire sidewall meat,
which absorbs more badly-maintained road 'features' BEFORE the rest of the suspension deals with them
meaning the steering and suspension bits of the one with 18" wheels will likely last longer before needing replacements vs the ones with larger/heavier wheels.

Protect1989 said:

I need to go test drive it for myself, was just curious how much of a difference I can expect?

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Test drive ought to involve less-than ideal surfaces to fully appreciate the difference.
On well-built & well-kept roads it should be very difficult for even a blind passenger to tell a Tahoe vs a Suburban from the front rider's seat.
Hit a kerb or a pothole, or drive on a pizza-faced road, Mr Magoo will figure it out in a few seconds.

Protect1989 said:

It’s really just comfort and convenience for my older family members to make it easier to get in and out of the car.

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So that question would be
Which 3rd row is easier to get into and out of: the Tahoe's? or the Suburban's?

Protect1989 said:

Nope. It’s really just comfort and convenience for my older family members to make it easier to get in and out of the car.

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Entry/exit height makes a huge difference w/ getting older folks in. Use it often when visiting my family. Won’t have that w/ our Air.

I have owned a few of both. Both ride well for sure but the long wheelbase is always better riding. They also tow more securely.

The longer wheelbase just tracks better at highway speed and offers a little more comfort.

Running across Nevada is pretty much 330 miles of nothing but straight line. In the Suburban you could almost go to sleep it tracks so well. I never felt that in the shorter wheelbase. Tahoe, Denali and Escalade I have owned. Had several Suburbans going back to 1986 3./4 and 1./2 ton versions.

I only gave up the long wheel base bacause I have limited turning radius into my back yard where my garage and trailers are stored and the short wheelbase makes the turns much easier. Otherwise I would still buy the long wheelbase even with the kids all moved out now.

I've had 2 two-doors ['87 Blazer, '95 Tahoe] and 2 short four-doors ['01 Tahoe, '07 Escalade].

The two-doors turned-in just slightly quicker, and rode just a bit choppier. None of the differences would, or did, influence my choice.

They've all been trucks, I never expected cushy rides from them. I've loved them all.

joe

Have both magnetic and air. I don’t tow often but I do have a large family and camp occasionally.

The air just lifts and stiffens up the suspension to keep the rear from sagging. It kicks in often enough with the weight of my family or when loaded for camping that I’m glad I have it. I’d think the air would worsen the plushness of the ride since it stiffens the suspension.

WalleyeMikeIII said:

I honestly don't think the air suspension affects ride quality near as much as the magnetic ride control, esp when unladen. I have both...so hard for me to say for sure.
I do think Air Suspension helps quite a bit when towing, or you load the truck up. It keeps you level, so it improves handling, etc.
Regardless, the longer the wheel base, the better the ride, but you give up manuaverability.
Both are huge vehicles, so I would drive both and decide.
I owned 2 tahoes, then switched to the longer version (Suburbans and YukonXL's). I would not likely go back to a shorty for these reasons: the $$ is not significant, I have the garage space, and for me, parking is not an issue. Depending on your personal situation, you may have a reason to go smaller.

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My hunch is you are right. We have a '25 with air suspension and we have never owned another body on frame SUV so there is nothing to compare it to. The unfortunate thing is we came out of a 2011 Buick Enclave with Bilstein B6s (long story it got installed in 2020 when everything was dirt cheap, $800 parts and labor to include all OE mounts, links, etc). So the Tahoe with air and magnetic does not ride as well as a 2011 crossover with the Bilstein B6. How much better the air suspension is over not I think is questionable and my hunch marginal benefit < marginal cost so that's why most skip it, not to mention when it needs replacement, the cost.

I learned this as well--anyone who routinely drives with the third row up, and you use it often, you do want a Suburban. When we use the Tahoe with people in the third row, the interior space is to their benefit--adults can be pretty comfortable vs. smaller 3rd row SUVs. But, the cargo is vastly shrunk, I believe to 25 cu ft. That's not enough if 7 people are on a trip. That's where Suburban is king. We don't have a driveway large enough and we don't have 3+ kids, just one that plays ice hockey. If we were to get another large dog, the Tahoe would be absolutely perfect.

TomK9er said:

Have both magnetic and air. I don’t tow often but I do have a large family and camp occasionally.

The air just lifts and stiffens up the suspension to keep the rear from sagging. It kicks in often enough with the weight of my family or when loaded for camping that I’m glad I have it. I’d think the air would worsen the plushness of the ride since it stiffens the suspension.

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I never thought of it, but someone here said to raise the air to MAX and oil changes can be done without jacking....this is the first vehicle we've ever owned where no jacking for oil changes. I suspect differential and transfer case as well....

I have an appointment tomorrow to go test drive a z71 suburban. Will be interesting to directly test compared to my Tahoe with air suspension.

I appreciate all the insights

UPDATE: Drove the Z71 suburban today. I did like having the extra length but I was sacrificing too many features in my current Tahoe to justify the additional cost. So for now Ill stick with and be happy with my Tahoe. In time I am sure we will add a suburban to the stable.

To answer my own question about ride quality, the magnaride in the suburban drives really great. Was very smooth and enjoyable on the highway. I do still prefer the air suspension but not having it wouldnt be the end of the world.

My wifes neck is bolted together with plates and bolts for the past 30 years now. This makes her super sensitive to the ride in a car, how it handles bumps. Things I do not even notice can cause her pain. She loves the way the Denali handles bumps and turns. This one has the Z55 option, not sure what this is called in GM speak. In my experience it would ride even better in the XL or Suburban body.

I think Z55 is the air ride set-up.

joe

Mine is Z55. Mag ride and auto level. Z95 is also mag ride and i assume auto level but not the same mag ride as Z55