For years the Suburban has been used for towing. Through the late 1990s the big-block 454-that's 7.4L in today's engine language-got the call for the heaviest loads. However, because of advances in fuel delivery, cooling, and combustion, engines as small as the current 5.3L Vortecs produce 310 hp and can pull the same loads as those early big blocks.

Powered by the 5.3L V-8, the 1/2-ton, two-wheel-drive Suburban is rated to tow 8,100 pounds, and it does so far more efficiently and with lower emissions than earlier models.

Braking systems have also improved dramatically. Today's Suburban features antilock disc brakes standard on front and rear axles, so not only do you have the confidence to tow heavy trailers but also a lot more braking power to stop them.

Even better, if you need more towing capacity and horsepower but don't want to give up the features and interior room for which Suburbans are famous, you can opt for the 2500 series. The 2500 comes standard with a 6.0L V-8, still only 364 ci, which makes 352 hp and can pull up to 9,600 pounds with two-wheel-drive running gear.

For most people an 8,100-pound towing capacity is plenty, but the Suburban does so much more than grunt work, which is what makes it one of our favorite tow vehicles suitable for everyday use. For example, it can accommodate up to nine people when equipped with a front bench seat and will still have room in the cargo area for lots of gear. And because its wheelbase is shorter than that of, say, crew cab pickups, it's also easier to maneuver and park. That might be why it's so popular among soccer moms.

Some of the nicer passenger features include a standard HVAC system with individual temperature controls for the driver, front passenger, and rear seat passengers.

The Suburban also has dual-stage front airbags, side-curtain airbags in the first and second rows, and new-for-2010 seat-mounted airbags for pelvic and thorax protection. In fact, for 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Suburban a five-star rating in frontal crashes for driver and front-seat passenger.

Also for 2010, Chevrolet is offering two new exterior colors, and all Suburbans now feature a USB port for connecting digital music players or charging the batteries of mobile devices.

The Suburban certainly has come a long way from its humble Depression Era beginnings and its midlife as a work truck. Today it remains one of the best, if not the best, vehicles for towing trailers and hauling a large family with lots of gear.