2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

Chevrolet's redesign of the Suburban for the 2021 model year gave the SUV the brand’s contemporary full-size truck design characteristics. Sharing its exterior design with the Tahoe and Silverado 1500, the Suburban showcased a tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels, giving it an imposing look. The design elements varied across its six trim levels (LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premiere, and High Country), allowing a degree of customization. Our RST test model featured a Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior, 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, and a monochromatic black grille with Black Ice accents, resulting in a sporty yet elegant appearance.

Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious, versatile cabin. While the base LS trim provided economically comfortable seating, the top High Country trim exuded luxury. Leather seats became standard starting from the LT trim, with material quality enhancing as one moved up the trims. The RST variant boasted 10-way power driver and front passenger seats, Jet Black perforated leather seats with Victory Red stitching, and heated second-row outboard seats through the optional Luxury package. Despite the spacious and cohesive interior, the predominantly black color scheme made the cabin feel somewhat dark, a minor shortcoming mitigated slightly by chrome sill plates and red seat stitching.

Cadillac's 2022 Escalade combined massive size with unapologetic extravagance. The grille, LED running lights, and taillights scaled to match the Escalade's grandiose dimensions, with the taillights harkening back to Cadillac's classic sky-high tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights, resembled a diesel locomotive, emphasizing its imposing presence. Our test model's 22-inch wheels, while large, appeared modest against the expansive body.

The exterior followed Cadillac's pattern of offering variant-specific trim pieces for “sport” and “luxury” models. Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trims flaunted darkened elements, including a dark mesh grille.

The interior flaunted luxury, albeit without a distinctive cohesive design theme. Leather upholstery, wood trim, and a massive panoramic sunroof were standard, but the overall design didn't match the Lincoln Navigator's mid-century modern-inspired look. Although offering luxurious materials, noticeable cheap plastic bits detracted from the Escalade’s high-end interior perception.

Chevrolet expanded its engine lineup for the 2022 Suburban, offering a choice of a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six. All engines paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base 5.3-liter V8 delivered 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, standard across most trims except the Premier. The more powerful 6.2-liter V8, standard on the High Country and available on select trims, generated 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. Notably, the new 3.0-liter turbodiesel, producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft, offered remarkable towing capacity and fuel efficiency.

Our RST test model sported the 6.2-liter V8, providing impressive power and effortless acceleration. The 6.2-liter engine's added 65 hp and 77 lb-ft greatly enhanced overall performance, particularly noticeable during an 80-mile tow test with a car-hauler trailer. The Suburban towed the extra weight easily, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,300 pounds. The move to an independent rear suspension in the 2021 redesign improved ride quality and handling, contributing to a more comfortable driving experience.

The Escalade offered two engine choices—a standard 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine delivering 277 hp and 460 lb-ft, both mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Notably, the diesel engine provided excellent power delivery, propelling the Escalade smoothly with its substantial torque at low RPMs. While the 6.2-liter V8 had a slight edge in towing capacity, at 8,200 pounds, it fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's maximum capacity of 8,700 pounds.

Despite featuring an independent rear suspension, air suspension, and Magnetic Ride Control dampers, the Escalade’s ride quality was less refined than expected. The body-on-frame architecture and 22-inch wheels led to a less settled ride compared to luxury competitors like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. The Escalade struggled with comfort, often feeling unsettled on various road surfaces.

The Suburban excelled in passenger and cargo space. It offered configurations for up to nine occupants, with most models accommodating seven or eight passengers. The third-row seats provided adequate space for adults, with easy access. The cargo area behind the third row measured 41.5 cubic feet, extending to 144.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat—the largest among any SUV. The second-row seats could slide forward or backward up to 5.5 inches, and both rows folded flat easily. An optional power-sliding center console revealed additional storage space.

However, the Suburban's massive size posed challenges in urban environments, complicating parking and maneuvering in tight spaces. The transition to electronic push-button transmission controls from a column-mounted shifter required an adjustment period for drivers accustomed to older models.

The Escalade shared its platform with other GM SUVs, offering substantial interior space. The standard version, at 211.9 inches long, and the extended ESV at 227 inches, provided the most first and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs. It featured second-row captain’s chairs or an optional bench seat, and a power split-folding third-row bench.

The Escalade's cargo capacity was impressive, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 63 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats stowed, outpacing the Navigator. Despite its spacious interior, the raised center console lacked practical storage space for loose items, and front seats, although adjustable with massage and lumbar support, felt similar to those in lesser GM models.

The Suburban integrated advanced technology across most trim levels. The LS trim featured the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims, starting with LT, included a 10.2-inch Infotainment 3 Premium System with Google built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and third-party app access. A new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster became standard on LT and above.

Optional technology included a 13-view camera system, with features like a “transparent trailer” view, hitch guidance, and several park assist features. Wireless device charging and a WiFi hotspot were standard on higher trims. Audio options ranged from a six-speaker setup in the LS trim to a premium 10-speaker Bose CenterPoint system in Premier and High Country trims.

The Escalade’s infotainment system was eye-catching with its 38-inch curved OLED display, combining three screens—a 14.2-inch digital cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. The display integrated seamlessly into the dashboard, featuring user-friendly icons for navigation, phone connectivity, and audio. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard. Physical toggles for climate control and critical functions complemented the digital interface.

The Escalade’s technology suite included a 360-degree camera system, Super Cruise driver-assist system, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. The standard 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, although extensive, had tuning issues, particularly due to headrest-mounted speakers distorting front-seat audio.

Chevrolet endowed the Suburban with an extensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian braking, and park assist. Additional safety features for 2022 included lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, and front park assist. Optional safety technologies comprised adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, and more.

The Suburban’s Safety Alert Seat provided tactile feedback for potential hazards, and Teen Driver and Buckle to Drive features promoted safe driving practices. NHTSA awarded the Suburban a four-star overall safety rating, with individual scores of four stars for front crashes, five stars for side crashes, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The Escalade’s safety technologies included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision warning. Premium Luxury trims and higher added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with trailer blind-spot monitoring on the top trims. Super Cruise was an advanced option, enabling hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, complemented by a driver-facing camera for safety monitoring.

While the Escalade offered sophisticated driver aids, both IIHS and NHTSA had not released crash test ratings for this model year.