2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2021 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, borrowing heavily from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in small headlights and large, busy grilles that didn't favor the Suburban's massive frame. Despite the aggressive exterior, the interior remained familiar with controls in their usual places, making it user-friendly. The Suburban offered various trim levels, with the High Country being the top-tier model, featuring upscale amenities but lacking the soft-touch materials found in true luxury SUVs.

In contrast, the 2021 INFINITI QX80 combined Nissan Armada's body shell with Infiniti's styling elements, giving it a distinctive look. The QX80's front-end design, introduced in 2018, included a unique grille and headlight design, making it assertive yet not overly flashy. The interior, while luxurious with wood trim and leather upholstery, still carried over many elements from the Armada, including the dashboard shape and switchgear. Despite this, the QX80 maintained a properly luxurious feel, though it lacked the exclusivity some buyers might seek.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a standard 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower, and a newly available 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine producing 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive optional. The Suburban's diesel engine provided excellent pickup and V8-level torque, making it suitable for both city driving and highway speeds. The independent rear suspension improved ride quality, though the Suburban still exhibited some truck-like tendencies, such as body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came with a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive available as an option. The QX80's engine was responsive, making highway overtaking stress-free, though the transmission shifts could have been smoother. The independent suspension, combined with Hydraulic Body Motion Control on Sensory models, provided a comfortable ride, though the QX80 felt less composed in corners. The QX80's body-on-frame construction offered advantages in towing and off-road capability, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 144.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, 93.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats in use, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed ample head- and legroom, with the second-row captain's chairs providing impressive space. The control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks, though the button shifter design was less intuitive. The power-sliding center console was a complex feature that added little value, but the overall passenger and cargo space made the Suburban highly practical.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 offered a seven-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs and an optional eight-seat configuration with a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat. Standard features included power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, though the front seat cushions lacked thigh support. Passenger space was competitive, with even the third-row seats accommodating adults. Cargo space was 16.6 cubic feet with all seats in place, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both the third and second rows folded. The center console provided limited storage space, and the front-door cupholders were not well-designed for holding drinks.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM's intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had crisp graphics and a sensible layout, with a helpful home button. Optional features included a navigation system, a rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display with easy-to-read graphics.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 featured the Infiniti InTouch dual-screen infotainment system with 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and navigation. The system also included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system, with optional upgrades to a 17-speaker Bose system and a Theater Package rear-seat entertainment system. However, the user interface was not intuitive, with small screens and controls that were difficult to use. The Smart Rearview Mirror and Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system were helpful features for driving the large SUV.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. The Teen Driver system allowed owners to set speed and volume limitations for younger drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view monitor camera system. Unique optional features included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated for alerts.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 received a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars for side crash tests, four stars for frontal crash tests, and a three-star rollover rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the QX80. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and Backup Collision Intervention.