2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban adopted Chevrolet's full-size truck design language, which was evident in its tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels. Sharing its exterior styling with the Tahoe SUV and Silverado 1500 pickup, the Suburban had a supersized appearance. The grille, fascia, and wheel designs varied by trim level, offering buyers a fair degree of customization. The RST trim, in particular, featured a Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior, 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, and a monochromatic black grille with Black Ice accents, giving it a sporty look.

Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin ranging from economically comfortable on the base LS trim to plush on the High Country. Leather seats were standard starting on the LT trim. The RST trim featured 10-way power driver and front passenger seats, Jet Black perforated leather seats with Victory Red stitching, and an optional Luxury package that included heated second-row outboard seats. However, the predominantly black interior made the cabin feel a bit dark despite the chrome sill plates and red seat stitching.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender outsold the Land Rover Discovery by more than four to one, thanks to its boxy design reminiscent of the old LR4. The Defender's design was all about the corners, with a square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and an abruptly chopped tail. Tasteful accents like the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the sides of the roof, and the body-color square separating the side glass paid homage to the original 1980s Defender. The Defender was available in three body styles: 90 (short two-door), 110 (medium-length four-door), and 130 (extended-length four-door), offering unmatched choice in the SUV market.

Inside, the Defender's interior focused on function and durability, with most surfaces coated in rubbers and plastics designed to wick moisture and resist stains. Despite the optional Windsor leather, the interior featured exposed screws, plain-looking air vents, and a piece of six-inch-wide metal spanning the entire dash. The steering wheel resembled that of an old Toyota. While the build quality and fit were excellent, the interior felt basic and barren compared to the plusher Range Rover models. The Defender's hardcore character remained intact, appealing to those who valued its unique charm.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine choices: a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a new-for-2022 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six, all paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 5.3-liter V8, standard on all but the Premier trim, produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-liter V8, standard on the High Country and available on the RST, Z71, and Premier, delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel, new for 2022, provided 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Our RST test vehicle featured the 6.2-liter V8, part of the $3,815 Sport Performance package, which included Magnetic Ride Control and dual exhaust tips. The extra power was noticeable and appreciated, especially during an 80-mile tow test where the Suburban pulled a Chevrolet Impala sedan on a trailer with ease. The Suburban's maximum towing capacity was 8,300 pounds. The move to an independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, created more space for third-row passengers, and increased cargo capacity.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with its uncanny grip, incredible wheel articulation, and generous clearance. The Terrain Response 2 system adapted the vehicle's powertrain and chassis to the chosen surface, while the permanent four-wheel drive provided excellent traction. However, on-road performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow and imprecise steering, and noticeable wind noise. The Defender's braking also felt uneasy due to long pedal travel.

The Defender's turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines saved the day. The V8, with 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, moved the Defender with alacrity, while the eight-speed automatic transmission was flawless. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, delivered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, offering seamless engine restarts and quick response at low speeds. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, was less impressive, suitable only for local jaunts. The mild-hybrid inline-six provided better fuel economy, with ratings of 18/23/20 mpg, compared to the V8's 14/19/16 mpg.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, offering seating for up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most Suburbans offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with the third row providing adequate headroom, knee room, and legroom for adults. The Suburban boasted 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The second-row seats slid forward or backward up to 5.5 inches, and both the second and third rows folded flat with ease.

The Suburban's cabin featured an optional power-sliding center console, a hidden storage drawer, a big glove box, and other storage cubbies. However, the Suburban's size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces, and it might not fit in some garages due to its height. The switch to electronic push-button transmission controls required some adjustment for those accustomed to a column-mounted shifter.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered unmatched seating configurations, with the Defender 90 seating six with a jump seat, the 110 offering an optional third row, and the 130 seating up to eight. The third row in the 130 featured a separate moonroof, air vents, cupholders, USB ports, and armrests. The Defender's large glass, including "alpine lights," provided excellent outward visibility. The 130 had 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the third and second rows folded, while the 90 and 110 offered 16 and 34 cubic feet, respectively, behind the second row.

The Defender's off-road capabilities were complemented by features like off-road or all-season tires, a metal roof rack supporting up to 360 pounds when moving, a console refrigerator, a heated windshield, a pressurized water rinse system, power-deployable side steps, a brush bar, and a winch. The Defender's versatility made it an excellent choice for both off-road adventures and everyday use.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered a surprising level of technology, with a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster standard on LT and above. Google built-in, including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store access, was also standard on LT and above. The number of available camera views increased to 13, including the "transparent trailer" view. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while the LT and above featured a 10.2-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium System with Google built-in and satellite radio. Wireless device charging and a WiFi hotspot were standard on LT and above.

The Suburban LS came with a basic six-speaker audio system, while the LT featured a nine-speaker Bose audio system. The Premier and High Country trims offered a Bose 10-speaker Surround with CenterPoint audio system. Our test vehicle had the mid-level nine-speaker Bose audio system, which provided decent sound quality but was inferior to the premium Bose CenterPoint system.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro. The standard 10-inch screen was wide and integrated into the dashboard's metal bar, while the optional 11.4-inch touchscreen was an oversize square resting over the central dash. Both screens were quick and simple to operate, with the larger screen offering greater legibility. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation were standard. Heated front seats, a proximity key, and power-folding mirrors were also standard.

The base Defender 110 had manual fabric seats and a no-name stereo, while the Defender S featured heated 12-way power seats with leather and a Meridian stereo. The SE trims included fog lights, half-circle daytime running lights, surround sound, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, auto high beams, and cooled front seats. The X-Dynamic SE added silver exterior accents, black rear tow hooks, and woven fabric lining the outer edges of the seats. The X trim came with air suspension, a locking rear differential, an upgraded Terrain Response 2 system, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, the larger touchscreen, and a rearview mirror with a camera display. A cabin air purifier and configurable ambient lighting were available.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban came with standard safety features as part of the Chevy Safety Assist suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, rear park assist, following distance indicator, automatic high-beam headlights, and an HD rear-vision camera. For 2022, front park assist, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-departure warning were added to the list of standard features. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, new HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, reverse automatic braking, lane-changing assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The Suburban also featured hill-start assist, Teen Driver settings, and Buckle to Drive. Our test vehicle had GM's Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver of potential dangers. In NHTSA tests, the Suburban received an overall rating of four out of five stars, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not tested the current-generation Suburban.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. agencies but scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. The Defender came with six airbags, which seemed low, as there were no front knee airbags or rear side thorax airbags. Optional safety features included a digital instrument panel with full-screen maps, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. Standard features included lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Automatic steering when reversing a trailer was available, but a self-steering highway assist was not offered.