2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban carried forward the brand's full-size truck design language from its 2021 redesign. Sharing its exterior styling with the Tahoe SUV and Silverado 1500 pickup, the Suburban's tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels gave it 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, stood out with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior, 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, and sporty monochromatic black grille with Black Ice accents.

Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin that ranged from economically comfortable on the base LS trim to downright plush on the top-spec High Country. Leather seats became standard starting on the LT trim, with material quality improving as the price increased. 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 open and airy space.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its huge spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a total height of 74.2 inches. The front end looked ready to swallow the road ahead, framed by massive headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and exclusive Nori Green Pearl.

From the side, the GX's dimensions seemed to shrink, with a short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs at the front and rear bumpers. The GX's design leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky designs, making it easier to place in technical driving situations. Inside, the GX's interior featured a disappointing amount of plastic material, but it still had luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery.

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 engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine provided 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Suburban's RST trim 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 from the 6.2-liter V8 made a noticeable difference, 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 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While it didn't win many battles on paper, the GX's V8 provided a satisfying driving experience with a linear power delivery. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity but lagged behind other SUVs in fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX's weight made it roll through corners, but its predictable and controllable handling made it manageable. The Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential distributed the 4WD system into a 40:60 front:rear split, adjusting based on wheel slip. The GX also featured strong brakes and a communicative road feel, although the steering was vague off-center.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in space, offering room for up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most Suburbans provided seven- or eight-passenger seating, with a livable third row that had adequate headroom, knee room, and legroom. 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 rows folded flat with ease.

The Suburban's cabin featured an optional power-sliding center console, a big glove box, and various storage cubbies. However, its sheer size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces. The switch to electronic push-button transmission controls also required some adjustment for those used to a column-mounted shifter.

The 2023 Lexus GX had plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter, and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX retained hard buttons for controls, which was a blessing for those put off by touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with captain's chairs or a three-across bench seat.

The third row in the GX was too tight for regular use, even for children, making it more of a two-row SUV with extra seats for emergencies. The side-hinged trunk door required muscle to open and offered only 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. With the third row folded, the GX provided 46.7 cubic feet, and with both rows folded, it offered 64.7 cubic feet, less than a Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered a surprising level of tech, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in on LT trims and above. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, including Bluetooth audio streaming, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice recognition. 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 the LT and above.

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

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment technology, revamped for the 2022 model year, already looked dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was a significant improvement, with integrations like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo with a CD player.

However, the GX's tech offerings paled in comparison to newer Lexus models. The touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as competing models. The GX's strength lay in its off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, a two-speed transfer case, low range, and a locking center differential. The GX also featured downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, stability control, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).

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. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, reverse automatic braking, lane-changing assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The Suburban received an overall rating of four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the current-generation Suburban.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Despite its older engineering, the GX included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. While it lacked some top-end features, its safety technology was significantly newer than its body.