2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, while the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering a deep well behind the third row to prevent items from tumbling out. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, with kinked sliding doors and character lines adding flair to its classic minivan silhouette. The Touring trim, with its dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, added a touch of sophistication to the vehicle's appearance.

Inside, the Odyssey's open-concept design featured quality leather upholstery and a low console between the front seats, providing ample storage space. The centre stack, though initially appearing cluttered, was intuitive to use, with commonly used controls placed conveniently near the infotainment display. The expansive windshield and small front quarter windows enhanced visibility, creating a fishbowl sensation for drivers. Overall, the Odyssey's design prioritized functionality and comfort, making it a reliable choice for families seeking a practical yet stylish minivan.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban, redesigned for the 2021 model year, adopted Chevrolet's full-size truck design language, giving it a commanding presence on the road. Its tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels contributed to its supersized appearance, while the grille, fascia, and wheel designs varied across the six available trims, allowing for customization. The RST trim, with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior and black-painted 22-inch wheels, exuded a sporty look, making it one of the more attractive full-size SUVs on the market.

Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin with varying levels of comfort, from the economically comfortable base LS trim to the plush High Country. Leather seats were standard from the LT trim onwards, with material quality improving as the price increased. The RST trim featured Jet Black perforated leather seats with Victory Red stitching, adding a touch of elegance to the interior. However, the predominantly black cabin felt a bit dark, despite the chrome sill plates and red seat stitching. Overall, the Suburban's design emphasized space and customization, catering to those seeking a large, versatile SUV.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, although its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

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. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base 5.3-litre V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-litre V8, standard on the High Country and available on other trims, delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The new 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine provided 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, offering excellent fuel efficiency and towing capability. The Suburban's independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, while the 6.2-litre V8 provided effortless power and acceleration, making it a capable and versatile SUV.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height, making it convenient for families. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey's storage space was impressive, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, while the third-row seat provided comfort for adults. With 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with the seats removed, the Odyssey offered ample room for family adventures.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in space, accommodating up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most models offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with a comfortable third row and excellent access. The Suburban boasted 1,175 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 4,097 litres with the seats folded flat. The power-sliding centre console and hidden storage drawer added convenience, while the large glove box and storage cubbies provided ample space for belongings. However, the Suburban's size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces, requiring careful planning in congested areas.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system lagged behind competitors. Starting with the EX-L Navi trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. The Touring trim added CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, along with a rear entertainment system featuring a 10.2-inch display. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks, and the embedded navigation system required specific voice commands. Overall, the Odyssey's technology package needed a significant upgrade.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered a surprising level of technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in on LT trims and above. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while the LT and higher trims featured a 10.2-inch Premium System with satellite radio and wireless device charging. The Suburban also offered a range of camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view, and a choice of audio systems, with the Premier and High Country trims featuring a premium Bose CenterPoint system. Overall, the Suburban's technology offerings were comprehensive and up-to-date.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety performance.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban featured the Chevy Safety Assist suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and pedestrian braking. For 2022, additional features like lane-keeping assistance and lane-departure warning were added. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display. The Suburban received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with strong side crash protection but lower rollover resistance. The IIHS had not yet tested the current-generation Suburban.