2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

Stylistically, Volvo had come a long way from its days of making boxy cars like the 240dl and the 700 series. The 2023 XC90 showcased a purposeful yet understated design. Its front end appeared stout and solid without being overly flashy, and the grille was assertive without being too large. The recognizable “Thor’s Hammer” headlights added a modern touch that was missing from older Volvos. The XC90’s dimensions and shape still leaned toward rectilinear, but it no longer resembled a toaster.

The XC90’s interior was extremely elegant, featuring a gorgeous steering wheel with two-tone leather and a three-spoke design. The blend of materials was delightful, with metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The interior had a clean, minimalist look with wood deco inlays adding a touch of nature. The front cabin had few buttons, contributing to its minimalist feel.

The Suburban had been an automotive institution for 90 years, blending into traffic despite its massive size. At 18 feet 10 inches long and over six feet tall, it was not for everyone, especially urban drivers. However, for those needing cargo space, passenger space, and towing capacity, the Suburban was a solid choice. Chevrolet offered the Suburban in six trims, with features improving as you climbed the trim ladder. The top-tier High Country trim rode on 22-inch alloys and offered options like power running-board steps and a panoramic power moonroof.

Inside, the Suburban provided a comfortable cabin with plenty of space. Cloth seats were standard only on the LS trim, while other trims featured leather upholstery. The Premier and High Country trims could be fitted with beautiful brown leather interiors. Our test vehicle had a heated steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, and supportive seats with 12-way power adjustments. However, even the top-spec Suburban felt somewhat pedestrian inside.

For 2023, Volvo replaced its older turbocharged 2.0-liter engines with the new B5 and B6 engines, both featuring mild-hybrid technology. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 engine, which added a supercharger, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. These mild-hybrid powertrains improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, though the gains were minimal. The XC90’s eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, and the vehicle handled corners better than expected for its size. The brakes were solid, and the fuel-saving auto stop-start technology was almost imperceptible.

Chevrolet offered the 2024 Suburban with three engine options: two V8s and a straight-six diesel. The 5.3-liter V8, standard on most trims, produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 8,300 pounds. The 6.2-liter V8, available on higher trims, delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder, with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, offered better fuel economy and cost $1,500 less than the V8 on the High Country trim. The Suburban’s 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, and the vehicle handled well despite its size. The height-adjustable air suspension improved ride quality and allowed for easier parking.

The XC90’s front seats were peaceful and pleasant, but the Scandinavian minimalism led to some storage frustrations. There was no dedicated space for a cell phone, and the center console bin was small. The second row was comfortable but challenging to adjust. The standard seven-passenger seating could be changed to six-passenger with captain’s chairs for an extra $500, but this required upgrading to the B6 engine. The third row was difficult to access and offered limited space. With the third row in place, the XC90 had 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, and maxing out at 65.5 cubic feet.

The Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.7 cubic feet. This made it ideal for families needing ample space for road trips and towing. The Suburban also featured a 28-gallon fuel tank, allowing for long stretches of highway driving between fill-ups.

The XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, with Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant as standard features. The 12.3-inch driver information display also showed Google Maps. While the system’s natural-language recognition was excellent, many key functions were buried within the touchscreen interface, leading to some frustration. More physical buttons and redundant controls would have been appreciated.

The 2024 Suburban came with a 10.2-inch touchscreen on all but the base LS trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The infotainment system included Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store without needing to pair a phone. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were also included. The rear-seat entertainment system, a $1,995 option, added twin touchscreens to the front seat backs. The 10-speaker Bose audio system was good but lacked the richness of higher-speaker-count systems.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was well-regarded for its safety, carrying a five-star rating from the NHTSA and being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS in 2022. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear park assist, lane-keeping assist, and Teen Driver. The Premier and High Country trims could be equipped with Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving technology.