2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Chevrolet Suburban

In 2021, the Chevrolet Suburban presented a polarizing front-end design derived from the Camaro's styling cues, characterized by small headlights and oversized, busy grilles. Despite its grandiosity, critiques suggested that Chevy might need an early refresh, similar to what happened with a disliked Camaro redesign. While the exterior design faced potential resistance, the interior maintained familiarity. The controls were well-configured, with radio and climate controls conveniently placed, despite the touchscreen sometimes reflecting sunlight directly into the driver’s eyes.

The Suburban's trim levels—LS, LT, Z71, RST, Premier, and the top-tier High Country—offered a range of features. The LS came with 18-inch alloy wheels and a WiFi hotspot, while the LT added luxury elements like leather upholstery and a wireless charging pad. For off-road enthusiasts, the Z71 provided a rugged style with 4WD and tow hooks, whereas the RST was tailored for on-road performance. The Premier trim included adaptive suspension and heated-and-ventilated front seats. The High Country model, which Chevy equated to the GMC Denali, featured additional luxury elements like woodgrain and leather, although it fell short of true luxury standards due to an abundance of hard plastic materials.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between two-door and four-door models, equipped with various engine options including a turbocharged four-cylinder, several V6 variants, a gas V8, and a plug-in hybrid. Transmission choices included a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. The Wrangler offered four core trims—Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon—each with multiple configurations and optional features. Our test vehicle, the High Tide special edition, brought in LED lighting, a body-color hardtop, a Gorilla Glass windshield, and High Tide/Beach decals, while its distinguishing Xtreme Recon package added enhancements like a 1.5-inch suspension lift and 35-inch tires.

Inside, the High Tide model offered basic comfort with durable cloth upholstery and essential tech features. The Wrangler's cabin, designed to endure rough conditions, included hard plastics, yet provided some padded areas for comfort. However, visibility could be problematic with the spare tire blocking the rear view and necessitating frequent reliance on the reversing camera. Rear-seat passengers had sufficient amenities like air vents and grab handles, although entry and exit posed challenges, especially in dirty conditions.

Under the hood, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 5.3-liter V8 generating 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 6.2-liter V8 offered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. With the newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, our test model delivered 277 hp and an impressive 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines routed power through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and 4WD optional. The diesel engine proved efficient for quick pickups, and its auto stop-start feature was noticeable but easily defeatable. Handling revealed the Suburban's truck-based nature, with commendable braking power despite noticeable body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds. Nonetheless, the independent rear suspension added a smoother ride compared to previous models.

Our 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, boosting performance during acceleration. This V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission was necessary for the Wrangler High Tide, with the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD suitable for challenging road conditions. Despite an EPA rating of 21 mpg for combined driving, our real-world testing averaged 16.8 mpg over a week, highlighting the Wrangler’s fuel inefficiency. The driving experience in the Wrangler was rugged and immersive, placing the driver in direct contact with the environment, which was both exhilarating and demanding. The Wrangler’s distinct character emphasized off-road capabilities, though at the expense of on-road refinement and comfort.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted substantial cargo space, proving one of its standout features. With rear seats folded, it offered a staggering 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Even with the second row in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet, and behind the third row, it still held 41.5 cubic feet—comparable to many small crossovers. The Suburban offered ample headroom and legroom, with front seats adjusted to accommodate rear passengers comfortably. However, the button shifter and power-sliding center console were seen as impractical deviations from simplicity.

Comparatively, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide’s raised suspension posed difficulties for entry and exit, especially for shorter individuals. Front seats featured a manual height adjuster, but the lever location required constant readjustment as it easily shifted when climbing in and out. The interior, though basic, included durable cloth upholstery and essential soft-touch materials. Visibility varied, with larger rear items like the spare tire obstructing the view, mitigated by a reversing camera and optional safety features. Cargo space was limited at 31.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat, extending to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Suburban’s 10.2-inch touchscreen provided an intuitive infotainment experience, featuring clear graphics and user-friendly menus, enhanced by a convenient home button. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration made smartphone connectivity seamless, especially when paired with the wireless charging pad. Optional upgrades included a navigation system and a rear entertainment setup with large screens, alongside a helpful head-up display.

For the Wrangler High Tide, based on the Sport S trim, the infotainment setup was modest, centered around a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Though the optional Uconnect 8.4 system could offer satellite radio and premium sound, our test vehicle’s configuration met basic needs without feeling deprived of crucial tech features. Available options like remote engine start and heated seating added to convenience, while the new air filtration system catered to comfort.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with vital safety features including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. Optional features expanded to include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system. Notable unique options included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver—an intuitive, albeit unusual, safety measure.

In addition to convenience, the Wrangler High Tide's Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Advanced Safety Group contributed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Jeep Wrangler faltered in crash-test ratings, scoring a mediocre three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and earning Marginal ratings in IIHS evaluations for small overlap crash tests and side-impact protection, and Poor ratings for standard headlights.