2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs 2021 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban presented a bold and polarizing front-end design, borrowing heavily from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in a combination of small headlights and large, busy grilles that did not favor the Suburban's massive frame. Despite the exterior's divisive appearance, the interior maintained a familiar layout with controls in their expected places, ensuring ease of use. The Suburban offered a range of trims, from the base LS to the luxurious High Country, each adding features like leather upholstery, adaptive suspension, and advanced driver assistance systems. However, the High Country trim, while upscale, lacked the soft-touch materials typical of true luxury SUVs, making it more akin to an upscale pickup.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, or G-Wagen, retained its iconic boxy design, a nod to its rugged roots and military origins. The G-Class stood out with its straight-edged, two-box design, offering a retro exterior that was unique within the Mercedes-Benz lineup. Inside, the G-Class boasted a tasteful design with a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment screen and a matching virtual instrument panel, allowing for a customizable and immersive driving experience. The G-Class was a status symbol, often seen in bold custom colors and adorned with luxury features, yet it remained a capable off-road machine. The G550 and AMG G63 models offered extensive customization options, ensuring each G-Class could be tailored to the owner's preferences.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of engine options, starting with a standard 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 6.2-liter V8 was available, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Suburban also introduced a Duramax turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive available. The Suburban excelled in towing, with the 5.3-liter V8 capable of towing up to 8,300 pounds. Its independent rear suspension improved ride comfort, though it still exhibited some truck-like handling characteristics.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, specifically the G550, featured a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive, allowed the G550 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The G-Class boasted a sophisticated suspension system, with a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle, providing a smooth ride on various terrains. The G550's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like adjustable suspension, three locking differentials, and impressive approach and departure angles. For those seeking more power, the AMG G63 offered a tuned V8 with 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was renowned for its massive cargo space, offering 144.7 cubic feet 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. The interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. 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 novel feature, though its practicality was questionable.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class offered a more modest cargo capacity, with 38.1 cubic feet behind the third row and 68.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The G550 had a payload capacity of over 1,000 pounds and could tow up to 7,700 pounds. The interior was roomy, with comfortable seats and ample storage. The tall roofline provided excellent headroom, and the second row accommodated three adults comfortably. However, some luxury features, like ventilated seats, were only available in expensive packages, and the lack of hands-free access for the tailgate was a notable omission.

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's layout was sensible, with a helpful home button for easy navigation. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class impressed with its twin 12.3-inch HD screens for the instrument panel and infotainment system. These screens were customizable, allowing drivers to coordinate colors with the ambient lighting for a personalized experience. The COMAND system was controlled via unique Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel, offering more functionality than traditional controls. The G550 included a Burmester Surround Sound system, WiFi, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though it lacked wireless device charging.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. The Teen Driver system allowed parents to set speed and volume limits for young drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as a rearview camera, Pre-Safe, traffic-sign assist, attention assist, active lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, and adaptive cruise control. The active lane-keeping assist was noted for its abrupt intervention, which could be distracting. The G-Class had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for crash-worthiness.