2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban had a long-standing presence in the automotive world, being a familiar sight on the roads for nearly 90 years. Despite its massive size, it managed to blend into traffic, becoming an automotive institution rather than a novelty. Measuring 5,733 millimetres in length and 1,923 millimetres in height, the Suburban was not for everyone, especially those navigating urban areas. However, it catered to a specific market that required ample cargo space, passenger capacity, and towing capabilities. Available in six trims, from LS to High Country, the Suburban offered a range of features, including automatic windshield wipers, LED headlights, and tinted windows. While the higher trims provided more luxurious options, some features like power running-board steps and a panoramic power moonroof came at an additional cost. Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin with leather upholstery in most trims, though the interior felt somewhat pedestrian even in the top-spec High Country.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presented a sportier image within the Range Rover family, with a taller stance and a more athletic appearance due to its shorter wheelbase and chopped top. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood, giving it a sleeper look in Marl Grey. Inside, the SV Edition Two boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. The minimalist interior design, with a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button, created a cockpit-like feel, though it could feel cramped. Material quality was up to luxury standards, but the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive. The Range Rover Sport's interior offered a unique blend of sportiness and luxury, appealing to those seeking a dynamic driving experience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 5.3-litre V8 was the most common, providing a towing capacity of up to 3,765 kilograms with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, offered better acceleration, while the diesel engine delivered improved fuel economy and similar towing capabilities. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, though the electronic button-style shift mechanism might not appeal to everyone. Rear-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with four-wheel drive available on others. The Suburban's steering and brakes were impressive, and the height-adjustable air suspension handled rough roads well, though its size meant some body roll was inevitable.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid version increased output to 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, while a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, sourced from BMW, produced 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8's output to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. The SV Edition Two could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring contributed to its agile handling, while the Terrain Response system and off-road capabilities maintained its off-roading heritage.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 1,175 litres behind the third row, 2,656 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 4,097 litres. This made it a top choice for those needing ample storage, surpassing competitors like the Ford Expedition Max and Jeep Wagoneer L. The Suburban's 106-litre fuel tank, combined with the diesel engine's efficiency, allowed for over 1,000 kilometres of highway driving between fill-ups.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seater configuration. While it lacked a third row, it provided adequate headroom and legroom, with reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats. The Sport offered 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,860 litres with the seats folded. Although it didn't match some competitors in cargo capacity, it featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kilograms for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 3,000 kilograms.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen on most trims, with an 8-inch screen on the base LS. The infotainment system included Google Built-in, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. A rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. However, the 10-speaker Bose audio system lacked the richness of higher-speaker-count systems.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional drawbacks, with most controls requiring touchscreen interaction. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, and the Meridian audio system offered up to 29 speakers. The "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers provided a unique, albeit somewhat gimmicky, experience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Higher trims offered Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.