2008 Chevrolet Suburban is like a Member of the Family

I have driven a Chevrolet Suburban for most of my married life. For one year or so, I drove a Chevrolet Tahoe-so that was almost the same. Currently, I have a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban, and I love it. I am a busy mother of two and it really is a dependable and comfortable vehicle. Here are the things I love about my Suburban:

• Flex Fuel. While some folks my think a Suburban is just a gas guzzler, I have to say that this Suburban has afforded us much better gas mileage than the previous ones. Some of the cylinders kick on and off, affording you much better gas mileage depending on your terrain. It kicks in with all its got when you need it, but when you are coasting, some kick off, conserving fuel. We have really noticed this on trips. We have to stop to fill up much less often.

• OnStar. It is insurance that is standard on all GM vehicles. Although other car makers try to offer little fancy gizmos like syncing your MP3 player (besides, you can do this on a GM as well), they miss the point. OnStar is not about gadgets. If you are in accident, they immediately know it and can talk to you over the speaker. If you do not respond, they send out emergency attention right away. This is important to me-because I have small children in the vehicle. If I could not respond, what would my kids do? Lost or stranded? No problem. Just push the blue button and someone will be there within a split second. Lock yourself out? Call the Onstar number and they will remotely unlock your doors for you.

• Vehicle diagnostics in my email box every month. They tell me the exact air pressure in my tires, how much oil life is left and any other concern-it is kind of like a Christmas update letter from your car-except you get one every month.

• Hands Free Calling. I love having a line just devoted to the automobile. I love saying commands and having it call whomever I please. I can do this from the steering wheel.

• XM/Sirius Radio with a very good CD player. A place where I can hook up my Iphone and listen to my downloads.

• The spacious interior. Suburban has always had this in the bag-there is room and more room. Lots of leg room-no Ford Expedition comes anywhere close. There is always more room to pack one more thing-and you know how children always have one more thing to pack.

• Leather appointments. The seats feel like the best leather recliner.

• Towing package and four wheel drive. Okay, these are extra. My husband always insists that our Suburbans have four wheel drive. When I first started driving one, I did not ever think I would use it. But I have several times. I was most thankful when our local school system had no foresight in closing school due to inclement weather conditions and a twenty minute drive turned into a two hour one on pure ice. The Suburban did not slip once, while countless other vehicles were perched in ditches all the way home.

• Great looks. We currently have a black one. It looks great. We have had a red one and a white one in the past. It always makes me laugh when I see the United States Secret Service and FBI driving the exact same vehicle as ours. If it is wonderful enough to protect the most important people in the nation, then it is all I want to protect my family in style.

I really cannot imagine my life without a Chevy Suburban in it. There they all are-throughout the years-in family pictures. Bravo, Chevrolet Suburban-you are our massive hunk of protective steel and style-the modern day family stallion.