2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design made it a modern choice for family transportation. However, the interior was a mix of high-quality materials like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims, clashing with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were upgrades of a commodity car rather than true premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, borrowing elements from the Camaro, which didn’t always translate well to its massive frame. The combination of small headlights and large, busy grilles was not universally liked. However, the interior was more consistent, with controls in familiar places and a user-friendly layout. The Suburban’s interior featured a chrome-framed touchscreen, although it had the drawback of reflecting sunlight into the driver’s eyes. The trim levels ranged from the basic LS to the luxurious High Country, with each offering a variety of features to suit different needs.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), provided a responsive and fuel-efficient driving experience. The CR-V’s car-like road manners, nimble handling, and low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its excellent performance. The CR-V achieved impressive fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 30 miles per gallon combined and AWD models at 29 mpg, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its class.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engines, including a standard 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Suburban could tow up to 8,300 pounds with the Max Trailering package. Our test vehicle featured the newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided excellent pickup and V8-level torque, making it suitable for both city driving and highway speeds. The Suburban’s independent rear suspension improved ride quality, although it still exhibited some truck-like tendencies such as body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, matching the Volkswagen Tiguan despite being three inches shorter. The CR-V featured a deep center console with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey minivan, and a two-position load floor in the rear for flexible cargo space. Even the door pockets were spacious, making the CR-V a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted massive cargo space, with 144.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom, especially in the second-row captain’s chairs. The control layout was similar to GM’s pickup trucks, with a button shifter design that was less intuitive. The power-sliding center console was a complex feature that added convenience but was slower than a traditional latch-released design.

The 2020 Honda CR-V showed its age in terms of infotainment. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch screen, offering limited features like Bluetooth connectivity and Pandora compatibility. Higher trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration felt tacked on. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger for 2020.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM’s intuitive infotainment system. It featured crisp graphics, a sensible layout, and a helpful home button. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it convenient when combined with the available wireless charging pad. Optional features included a navigation system, a rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display with easy-to-read graphics.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were also standard, while EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, although lower trims had marginal headlights.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors as standard. It also featured the Teen Driver system for setting speed and volume limitations. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Unique options included a rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated for alerts.