Shopping around while making any major purchase is the best way to be sure you’re satisfied with how you spent your money. The Chevrolet Suburban is high in the rankings for large SUVs, so you might be looking for good comparisons to determine if it’s the right vehicle for your needs. This rundown of the Suburban and similar SUVs will help you get started on your deeper research.
The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban
Official Chevrolet Suburban Website
The Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV with a starting MSRP ranging from $54,595 to $74,745 depending on trim level. With the top-end High Country trim and loading up the optional features, the price maxes out at around $95,000. Engine options include:
- A 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel with 277 hp at 3750 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 1500 rpm.
- A 5.3L V8 with 355 hp at 5600 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 4100 rpm.
- A 6.2L V8 with 420 hp at rpm at 5600 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4100 rpm.
Each trim level is available in both a four-wheel drive (4WD) and two-wheel-drive (2WD) style. With the 6.2L V8 in the 4WD High Country Suburban, it accelerates to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The 2WD style has a slightly lower price and better fuel economy on a highway than the 4WD builds, but it sacrifices some of the off-road capabilities. The economy is not spectacular for either version, at a combined 16 mpg for the 4WD and a combined 17 mpg for the 2WD.
Every version has seating for at least 7, 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and a 5,000 lb dead weight towing capacity, so you can take the whole pack on a trip with all of your gear. With the 5.3L engine option and a max trailering package, the towing capacity jumps up to 8,300 lbs. That’s enough to bring an average ski boat and camping equipment with weight to spare.
GMC Yukon XL
The XL version of the Yukon is comparable in size and space to the Suburban. Its cargo space is exactly equal to the Suburban. It has the same engine options of 3.0L Turbo Diesel, 5.3L V8, and 6.2L V8 engines. The towing capacity is slightly better at 8,400 pounds with the max trailering package.
Since the performance differences are so minimal, the minute price differences and available features will be the key factors for anyone deciding between the two. Because of how similar they are, it’s good to have other options to highlight the differences between the two models and the rest of the field.
Dodge Durango
Official Dodge Durango Website
The Durango is significantly cheaper than any other SUV on this list. The highest trim level is $55,590 to start, lower than many of the middle-tier prices. You won’t see much loss in performance for the price drop, either. The towing capacity is actually higher than the Suburban at a maximum of 8,700 pounds, and its fuel economy is much more efficient at up to 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
For engine options, it comes in stock with a 3.6L V6. It will be hard to say to the iconic branding and matching performance of the 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI engine options that hit that 8,700 pounds towing mark.
With the lower price, it does have to give somewhere. The maximum seating is 7, and the cargo space is 17.2 cubic feet before cutting that further. As far as downsides go, that’s fairly minimal, making this one of our favorite alternatives for its economy and performance.
Ford Expedition
Official Ford Expedition Website
The price for the Expedition starts a little lower than the Suburban at $51,080, but it peaks higher at $76,765. The Expedition’s shining point is its 9,300-pound towing capacity, but it’s not the speediest with a 6.2 second 0-60 time. Its EcoBoost 3.5L V6 engine has excellent overall performance with 16 city mpg and 23 highway mpg while pushing out up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.
Seating varies from 5 to 8 depending on the trim level. The minimum cargo space is an acceptable but underwhelming 20.9 cubic feet, and it only hits 104.6 cubic feet with all of the seats down. Otherwise, the Expedition is a strong competitor based on its towing capacity and fuel economy.
Jeep Wagoneer
Official Jeep Wagoneer Website
The Wagoneer sits on the same level of mid-tier large SUVs like the Suburban, ranging in MSRP from $60,995 to $81,340 for the Series III package. The 5.7L V8 has 404 lb-ft of torque with 392 hp, giving it more power than the Suburban’s 5.3L but underperforming against the torque of the 3.0 Turbo Diesel and 6.2L V8. Despite the lower torque, its towing capacity is a touch higher than the Suburban’s with a maximum of 8,790 pounds. Its overall fuel economy is better, with 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The cargo space is significantly smaller with the seats installed, but it still has a spacious interior.
While slightly more expensive, it compares strongly with the Suburban overall. Middle-tier Suburbans will roughly match Wagoneer’s performance metrics, so you have to look deeper into the features and options to truly pick a favorite between the two.
Nissan Armada
Official Nissan Armada Website
The Nissan Armada is the budget buy for this list with a starting MSRP ranging from $50,495 to $66,895 – lower than many luxury SUV starting points. The fuel economy is roughly on par with the Suburban at 14 mpg city and mph highway ratings, and the 5.6L V8 is not too far off the specs of the Suburban’s enhanced engine options. With 8,500 pounds of towing capability on every model, the Suburban needs a full trailer package to come close to it.
You can take the Armada off the beaten path, but its low angles make it struggle with exceptionally irregular terrain. The cargo space is also much smaller, with only 16.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. If you don’t need that extra space, you can get most of the essential traits of the Suburban in a cheaper package.
Chevrolet Tahoe
Official Chevrolet Tahoe Website
The Tahoe is Chevy’s own entry-level full-size SUV, so you will find much of the same performance and features as the Suburban. Although it has the same engine options, the towing capacity caps at 7,900 pounds. The 0-60 time is faster on one specific trim at 6 seconds, but the most clock in at 6.5 seconds. It also sacrifices a hefty portion of the Suburban’s cargo room, with 25.5 cubic feet of space, before removing passenger space.
If the Suburban is just outside your price range and you want most of the same features, the Tahoe is close enough that you won’t feel the difference unless those extra few hundred pounds of towing capacity become a problem. For most people in the market for a new SUV, the minimal price difference isn’t worth the lost features.
Cadillac Escalade ESV
Official Cadillac Escalade Website
The Escalade is synonymous with a luxury SUV experience with enough space for all your friends and family. The expectation of luxury shows with a starting MSRP of $76,295 and a top-end close to $105,000. The engine options are comparable to the Suburban with a 3.0L diesel and a 6.2L V8 that matches the 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque that Chevy’s version has.
For tough work and off-roading, the Escalade is not worth the additional cost. Even with the trailering package on a 2WD, it maxes out at 8,200 pounds. You only get 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space before cutting into the seating, but it can hit 142.8 in a full cargo-hauling configuration. Taking one look at the front should clue you into the minuscule approach angle, so any off-roading is likely to damage the front and undercarriage.
The Escalade zips along the road much faster than the Suburban, though, with a fastest 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds. As long as the towing capacity isn’t a major concern, an Escalade can perform the same role as a family SUV while providing a sleek and powerful driving experience.
Official Lincoln Navigator Website
Like the Escalade, the Lincoln Navigator is on the upper end of luxury full-size SUVs with a maximum starting MSRP of $102,980. The premium pricing mostly shows up in the comfort and style features, but its performance is on par with similar full-size SUVs.
Its only engine option is a meaty 3.5L V6 that pushes out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. While not quite as fast as the Escalade, it still consistently hits 60 mph within 6 seconds, and its towing capacity is an equitable 8,300 pounds. The fuel economy is one of the best on the list at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
The Navigator is a great option if the overall performance of the Suburban meets your needs, but you’d like a more luxurious package wrapped around it.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Official Mercedez-Benz G-Class Website
This is a luxury SUV that begs to be taken off-road. Decent clearance and angles combine with a stellar 627 lb-ft of torque from its 4.0L V8 Biturbo engine to make easy work of most obstacles. Although still lower than the Suburban’s base cargo space, the G-class comes within striking distance at 38.1 cubic feet. The towing capacity is comparatively low at 7,000 pounds, but it still has plenty of hauling strength. In terms of speed, the premium trim’s 4.5 seconds 0-60 time advertised by the company is shockingly fast for such a large vehicle.
Unfortunately, the price tag matches the height of its performance and luxury. Even the basic version starts at $131,750 for its MSRP, and the more powerful AMG G 63 starts $25,000 higher than that. Despite costing twice as much as the Suburban, it’s worth considering if the cost doesn’t immediately put you off of it.
Toyota Sequoia
Official Toyota Sequoia Website
The Toyota Sequoia is an affordable large family SUV with an entry MSRP of $50,500 – only $5 more than the Nissan Armada’s entry point. As a family vehicle, the 13 mpg city and 17 mph highway fuel economy ratings are less than attractive, but the 5.7L V8 engine has more power than the Suburban’s 5.3L for a zippy 5.8 second 0-60 time with the Sport trim. Despite its 401 lb-ft of torque, the towing capacity trails behind other SUVs in this list at just a 7,000 lb start and a maximum of 7,400 lb.
If you don’t mind spending just a little bit more, the Suburban is the better purchase. The Armada is a closer cousin to the Sequoia, but the former’s better engine and fuel economy make it a stronger choice. It can help as an extra comparison point when shopping on a budget.
Infiniti QX80
Official Infiniti QX80 Website
The QX80 is a full-size luxury SUV priced slightly lower than the Escalade or Navigator at an entry-level MSRP of $71,995. Although the specs on the QX80 aren’t necessarily bad, they are close enough to the Suburban in key metrics that the higher price tag seems unwarranted. Sure, you get an extra 200 pounds of towing capability, but the fuel economy is the same, and its 0-60 time is only 0.2 seconds faster than the typical 6.8 for most Suburban trims. A shallow approach angle and other off-roading metrics make it harder to justify taking the luxury-priced SUV into rough terrain.
There are some luxury features worth considering, and there’s nothing wrong with a QX80 compared to a Suburban. If there is a particular option that strikes your fancy and the price is within your budget, it’s a decent option for a shortlist to research further.
Hummer EV SUV
The current selection of full-size SUVs are all traditional or hybrid vehicles. There are some midsized SUVs that are also electric vehicles (EVs), but we have to look a little into the future to find the best potential comparison to the Suburban’s performance. Hummer’s upcoming EV line has both a pickup and SUV configuration with plenty of boasted power in the advertised specs. For example, the Z71 Suburban with Air Ride has a max approach angle of 34.5 degrees, while the EV with Extraction Mode can take on 49-degree inclines.
Unfortunately, since it’s not actually out yet, real-world performance and customer satisfaction data are not available. Given Hummer’s reputation for building gas-guzzling but powerful machines, it’s unlikely they would venture into the market unless they were confident their EVs could represent the brand. If you aren’t rushing your purchase, you could consider waiting until the Hummer EV is out in the Fall and receives further testing.
Lexus LX
The LX is another luxury SUV that doesn’t quite stand up to the Suburban on a base capability level, but it’s still attractive enough that you might consider it if you enjoy its style. The price isn’t quite as extreme as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but it’s still high even for luxury SUVs with an $88,245 entry-level MSRP.
8,000 lb of towing capacity is acceptable, but it’s nowhere near the best in class. 11 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in place is frustratingly low, but dropping from 8 to 5 passengers does help if you don’t need all the seats. It’s not particularly fast with a 6.9 second 0-60 time. The fuel economy is at least decent at 17 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.
