2022 GMC Terrain 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 exterior's divisive look, the interior remained familiar and functional, with controls in their usual places. The High Country trim, which we tested, featured woodgrain and leather but lacked the soft-touch materials expected in a luxury SUV, making it more akin to an upscale pickup.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level added a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came with a black leather interior and several packages, including the Tech Package and Infotainment Package II, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. Despite the upscale appearance, the Terrain's interior materials and execution didn't fully meet expectations for its price range.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a standard 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a newly available 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available four-wheel drive (4WD). The diesel engine provided great pickup and V8-level torque, making the Suburban capable of towing up to 8,300 pounds with the Max Trailering package. The independent rear suspension improved ride quality, but the Suburban still exhibited body roll and truck-like tendencies.

The 2022 GMC Terrain, on the other hand, came with a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and could tow up to 1,500 pounds. The Terrain AT4 offered FWD, AWD, Off-Road mode, and Hill Descent Control. While the turbocharged engine provided decent performance, it lacked the power of the previously available 2.0-liter engine. The Terrain's ride quality was smooth on highways and city streets, but it struggled off-road due to its low ground clearance and lack of grip from the sport-terrain tires.

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 a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, and the control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks. However, the button shifter design and power-sliding center console were less intuitive and added complexity.

The 2022 GMC Terrain provided a roomy interior for a compact crossover, with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat offered proper support, plenty of legroom, and rear USB charging ports. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Terrain also featured numerous storage solutions, although some were less practical, such as the narrow storage tray forward of the cupholders.

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 available navigation system and rear entertainment system with large touchscreens added convenience. The head-up display provided large, easy-to-read graphics.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. Our test vehicle had the larger screen and Infotainment Package II, which added connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, but the Bose speakers were less impressive. The Tech Package option included a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. 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 options included the rear-view camera mirror and Safety Alert Seat.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of this review.