2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Acura RDX

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, borrowing heavily from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in small headlights and large, busy grilles that didn't quite suit its massive frame. Despite the exterior's divisive look, the interior remained familiar and functional, with controls in their usual places. The High Country trim, which we tested, featured upscale elements like woodgrain and leather but fell short of true luxury with its hard plastic materials.

In contrast, the 2021 Acura RDX, especially with the A-Spec Package, was a good-looking SUV with subtle yet effective styling changes that conveyed sportiness without overpromising on performance. The RDX avoided off-roading frippery, focusing instead on daily driving and road-tripping. The A-Spec trim added sporty interior touches like front sport seats with simulated suede inserts, a sport steering wheel, and red ambient lighting, creating a cabin that felt both sporty and high-quality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of engines, starting with a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Our test vehicle featured the newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive or available four-wheel drive. The Suburban's independent rear suspension provided a more compliant ride, though it still exhibited some truck-like tendencies such as body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds.

The 2021 Acura RDX came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and front-wheel drive was standard, with the option to upgrade to the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The SH-AWD system significantly improved handling, making the RDX genuinely fun to drive. The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, adjusting powertrain response, steering effort, and suspension firmness. The RDX A-Spec's handling was further enhanced by exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and performance all-season tires.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted massive cargo space, with 144.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it offered 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs were particularly spacious. The control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks, though the button shifter design was less intuitive. The power-sliding center console was a complex feature that added little value.

The 2021 Acura RDX, though a compact SUV, offered remarkable passenger and cargo space. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, especially in the A-Spec trim, which included 12-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, rear-seat comfort was compromised by a low and flat cushion and excessive seatback recline angle. Cargo volume measured 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, with additional storage compartments under the cargo floor. Folding the rear seats provided 58.9 cubic feet of cargo space, though Acura also quoted a maximum value of 79.8 cubic feet based on a less practical loading method.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM's intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available wireless device charging pad added convenience. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display with easy-to-read graphics.

The 2021 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, which used a touch-sensing pad on the center console instead of a touchscreen. While TTI mirrored the screen and was an improvement over similar systems from Lexus, it still required a learning curve and could be distracting. The A-Spec trim included a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, which delivered excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Unique options included a rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated for alerts.

The 2021 Acura RDX came standard with AcuraWatch, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available with the Technology Package. The RDX earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four-star ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance.