Show up at a dinner party in Texas in anything smaller than a 2010 Chevrolet Suburban and eyebrows will rise. At one time, this outsized, truck-based wagon sold better than most sedans in the Lone Star state, and for good reasons: The Suburban is the most spacious wagon around, save an airport van.

Its popularity increased as the full-size pickups upon which it is based have continuously improved their driving behavior, interior and exterior styling and their fuel appetites. Today’s multi-functional Avalanche pickup owes its underpinnings to the Suburban. Countless governments, as well as official and unofficial agencies of protection, use the Suburban as the starting point for creating armored staff cars. Suburban has a reliable, overbuilt frame underneath, and smooth-running, efficient drivelines, all matched to its incredible people hauling and towing capacity.

The optional 366-hp 6.0-liter engine is now available as a FlexFuel E85 ethanol-capable engine as is the standard 310-hp 5.3-liter V8, which is a new offering on four-wheel drive models for 2010. Actually, two 5.3-liter V8 engines are available, identical except that one uses an iron block, and one uses an aluminum block, which comes standard on all four-wheel drive versions. All engines power an efficient six-speed automatic transmission, which is state-of-the-art in its size and capacity and smooth shift quality, as well as its ability to transfer torque with low friction and high efficiency. The 1500 is a comfortable passenger wagon, and the heavy-duty 2500 will carry a larger load of people and cargo all day with comfort.

Restyled in 2007, there are three Suburban trim levels: Base LS at $40,635 (MSRP), a more luxurious LT and the loaded LTZ with a navigation system, a rear DVD player and a power sunroof standard.

It is worth noting that StabiliTrak stability control is standard on all models, and a side blind zone alert system is optional. Additionally, Suburban comes in two strength classes – the Suburban 1500 is the mid-weight champ and the Suburban 2500 is the heavyweight champ. The 2500 uses even stronger frame sections, and it is geared a bit lower to move heavier loads. It is designed to carry 900 pounds more than the 1500’s 1,500 pounds of people and luggage. The 2500 will also tow a trailer 1,400 pounds heavier than the 1500’s astounding 8,100 pounds. That’s nearly five tons. While the 2500 is pulling this load, it can carry nine humans weighing 260 pounds each. That is unmatched capacity for passenger vehicles that don’t have the letters “Greyhound” written on their sides. Because these wagons are built on the same chassis as Chevy’s full-size pickups, they ride and drive most closely to trucks. That’s a good thing because Chevy’s full-size pickups have been running as quietly as street cars on the highway for at least the past 15 years.

Just because the capacious Suburban is robust enough to carry a couple of entire families, it doesn’t suffer in performance. The largest 6.0-liter V8 engine will move the big wagon to 60 mph in about nine seconds, which is car performance territory. It means you can drive the Suburban like a car, passing and merging with the rest of the traffic.

Many of the Suburban’s good traffic manners are attributable to the six-speed automatic transmission, the top-line gearbox of Chevrolet’s truck line. Closely spaced gear ratios shift smoothly and quickly and keep the big wagon’s V8 engines operating at speeds where torque is easily summoned by the accelerator pedal.

Carrying and pulling all this weight doesn’t degrade the ride of the Suburban, and the steering maintains its precision even with a large trailer, according to enthusiast magazine testers. General Motors has been continually refining the suspension of the Suburban, and now it boasts sensitive coil-over front shocks and a sophisticated coil-spring rear suspension, both designs at the forefront of full-size truck chassis.

Woodgrain trim is optional inside, and bucket front seat models have a center console between the front seats that can almost swallow an airline carryon bag. There will be no customers accustomed to luxury cars that will find anything lacking in the 2010 Chevrolet Suburban in ride quality, electronic accoutrements or especially capacity.