2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban carried forward the brand's full-size truck design language, which was introduced with its 2021 redesign. This design shared similarities with the Tahoe SUV and Silverado 1500 pickup, giving the Suburban a supersized appearance with its tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels. The Suburban offered a variety of grille, fascia, and wheel designs across its six available trims, allowing for a degree of customization despite its single body style. Our RST test vehicle, with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior and 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, showcased a sporty look enhanced by a monochromatic black grille and RST-specific badging. Inside, the Suburban provided a spacious cabin ranging from economically comfortable in the base LS trim to plush in the High Country. The RST trim featured 10-way power seats, Jet Black perforated leather with Victory Red stitching, and an optional Luxury package, though the predominantly black interior felt somewhat dark despite its open and airy design.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design, emphasizing clean and simple lines. While not flashy, the Range Rover Sport offered a sophisticated appearance with options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle, in Eiger Gray with silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim added to the luxurious feel. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with our SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle featuring heated and ventilated front seats, a Cold Climate Pack, and a Technology Pack. The design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and excellent aerodynamics. The interior boasted a high-tech appearance with sustainable materials like Ultrafabrics, while the Windsor leather upholstery added a touch of decadence.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine choices: a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six, all paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The new 3.0-liter diesel engine provided 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Suburban's independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, and the RST test vehicle featured the 6.2-liter V8, part of the Sport Performance package, which included Magnetic Ride Control and dual exhaust tips. The Suburban's maximum towing capacity was 8,300 pounds, and it excelled in towing tests, providing a stress-free experience.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The Range Rover Sport also featured a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was available for early-build 2023 models. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The SUV's fuel efficiency was commendable, averaging 22.3 mpg on evaluation routes. The Range Rover Sport's new architecture improved torsional stiffness, and its adaptive damping air suspension enhanced ride comfort and handling. However, it struggled to match the driving dynamics of sport-tuned SUVs from competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in providing ample space for passengers and cargo. With the optional front-row bench seat, it could accommodate up to nine occupants, while most configurations offered seven- or eight-passenger seating. The third row was notably spacious, with excellent access. The Suburban boasted 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The second-row seats could slide forward or backward, and both rows folded flat with ease. The cabin featured a power-sliding center console with hidden storage, a big glove box, and various storage cubbies. However, the Suburban's size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces, and the switch to electronic push-button transmission controls required adjustment for those accustomed to a column-mounted shifter.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable armrests. Our test vehicle featured Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and available massage functionality. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a shallow tray under the center console and a deep bin under the armrest. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport included a full-size spare and a contraption to prevent items from rolling around in the cargo hold.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban featured a surprising level of technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in on LT trims and above. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while the LT and higher trims received a 10.2-inch system with Google built-in and satellite radio. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, and voice recognition were standard, along with a WiFi hotspot. The Suburban offered a range of audio systems, with a nine-speaker Bose system on the LT and a premium Bose CenterPoint system on the Premier and High Country. The test vehicle's mid-level Bose system provided decent sound quality but fell short of the premium system's performance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform proved confusing and frustrating, with difficulties in accessing features and using the digital assistant. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included, though it was challenging to access.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban featured the Chevy Safety Assist suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, rear park assist, and more. For 2022, front park assist, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-departure warning became standard. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, and a head-up display. The Suburban received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. It featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were less satisfactory, with slow responses and challenges on freeway curves. The steering assist struggled with inconsistent lane lines, requiring driver intervention.