2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban was a testament to Chevrolet's full-size truck design language, which was evident in its tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels. This design gave the Suburban a supersized appearance, sharing its exterior styling with the shorter Tahoe SUV and the Silverado 1500 pickup. The Suburban offered a variety of grille, fascia, and wheel designs across its six trims, allowing for a degree of customization despite its single body style. Our RST test vehicle, with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior and 22-inch black-painted wheels, showcased a sporty look enhanced by a monochromatic black grille and RST-specific badging.

Inside, the Suburban provided a spacious cabin that ranged from economically comfortable in the base LS trim to plush in the High Country. Leather seats were standard from the LT trim upwards, with material quality improving with price. The RST model featured 10-way power front seats, Jet Black perforated leather with Victory Red stitching, and an optional Luxury package. Despite its open and airy feel, the predominantly black interior made the cabin feel somewhat dark, with chrome sill plates and red stitching offering limited relief.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its unapologetic size and distinct styling. Its front end, reminiscent of a diesel locomotive, featured a tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights. The Escalade's design elements emphasized its bulk, with 22-inch wheels appearing small against its vast sheet metal. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with bright exterior trim for Luxury and Premium Luxury models and darkened trim for the Sport variant.

The Escalade's interior was luxurious, with leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof available. However, it lacked a cohesive design theme, unlike competitors like the Lincoln Navigator. While most materials were high-quality, some cheap-looking plastic bits detracted from the overall luxury feel. Despite this, the Escalade's cabin was spacious, offering the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs. Cargo space was also generous, with up to 3,426 litres available with all rear seats folded.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine choices: a 5.3-litre V8, a 6.2-litre V8, and a new 3.0-litre turbodiesel inline-six. The base 5.3-litre V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-litre V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The new 3.0-litre diesel engine offered 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, providing excellent fuel efficiency and towing capability. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Suburban's maximum towing capacity was 3,765 kilograms, with the Max Trailering Package.

Our RST test vehicle featured the 6.2-litre V8 and Magnetic Ride Control, offering noticeable power and acceleration. During a 130-kilometre tow test, the Suburban performed admirably, pulling a Chevrolet Impala sedan on a trailer with ease. The independent rear suspension, introduced in the 2021 redesign, improved ride and handling while increasing third-row passenger space and cargo capacity.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a 6.2-litre gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The Escalade's maximum towing capacity was 3,629 kilograms with the gasoline engine and 3,629 kilograms with the diesel, slightly less than the Suburban.

We tested the Escalade diesel, which provided smooth power delivery and a low torque peak of 1,500 rpm, making it ideal for city driving. However, the Escalade's ride was unsettled, with vibrations from pavement imperfections affecting cabin comfort. Despite its body-on-frame construction, the Escalade lacked the off-road capability of its GM cousins, making it less suitable for rugged terrain.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, accommodating up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most models offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with a livable third row providing adequate headroom, knee room, and legroom. The Suburban boasted 1,175 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 4,097 litres with the second and third rows folded flat. The optional power-sliding centre console and various storage cubbies added to its practicality. However, the Suburban's size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain's chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat as standard. Cargo space was generous, with up to 3,426 litres available with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console limited storage space, and the seats felt similar to those in GM's other SUVs.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban featured a surprising level of technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in standard on LT trims and above. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while a 10.2-inch Premium System was standard on LT and above. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot were standard across all trims. The Suburban offered up to 13 camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view, and a range of audio systems, with a nine-speaker Bose system on the LT and a 10-speaker Bose CenterPoint system on the Premier and High Country.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot were standard. The display integrated seamlessly into the dashboard, with functional icons and physical toggles for climate control. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller were awkward to use. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and the SUV offered advanced tech features like night vision and augmented-reality navigation.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban came with standard safety features as part of the Chevy Safety Assist suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, and blind-spot monitoring. The Suburban received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered standard driver-assistance technology, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available on most trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. However, the IIHS and NHTSA did not publish safety ratings for the 2022 Escalade.