2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class's design carried a soft sensuality that might have been seen by some as bordering on boring, but it aged well, especially with upgraded wheels. The GLS 450 test vehicle featured 22-inch AMG rims that were nothing short of stunning, fitting seamlessly with the SUV’s new silver four-louver grille design, polished metal exterior accents, and lustrous Twilight Blue paint color. While the trend was towards blacked-out aesthetics, some preferred the more classic appearance.

Inside, the GLS 450 boasted a luxurious Bahia Brown over Black interior color scheme, with a natural-grain Grey Oak that was a carryover from the previous year. The cabin featured contrast stitching, polished aluminum accents, and an exceptional level of detail that Mercedes interiors were renowned for. The GLS 450, the most affordable version of this SUV, was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology. Our test vehicle included the AMG Line and Exclusive Trim Packages, along with an Acoustic Comfort Package, 22-inch wheels, leather upholstery, wood trim, and artificial leather covering the dashboard and door panels. The second-row captain’s chairs, a no-charge option instead of the standard bench seat, brought the MSRP to $97,730, including a $1,150 destination charge.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, on the other hand, had a historical presence that stretched back 90 years, making it the longest-tenured name in automotive history. Despite its massive 18-feet-10-inch length and over six feet height, the Suburban managed to blend into traffic due to its familiarity. The Suburban was a giant, perfect for those needing substantial cargo space, passenger space, and towing capacity.

Chevrolet offered the Suburban in six trims: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Basic features like automatic windshield wipers, LED headlights and taillights, and tinted windows were standard across all trims, and as one climbed the trim ladder, the offerings became more luxurious. For example, the Suburban LS came standard with handsome 18-inch alloy wheels, while the top-tier High Country trim rode on 22-inch alloys.

Inside, the Suburban provided a comfortable cabin with cloth seats standard on the lowest LS trim, while all other trims featured leather upholstery. The Premier and High Country trims could be fitted with beautiful brown leather interiors—“Maple Sugar” in the Premier and “Mocha” in the High Country. Our High Country test vehicle included a heated steering wheel, front seats with three-stage heat and ventilation, and tri-zone automatic climate control, ensuring comfort for all passengers. However, despite the luxurious upholstery, the interior felt somewhat pedestrian, with 12-way power adjustments on the front seats and supportive but not extraordinarily comfortable seats for longer trips.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class offered a compelling performance with its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the GLS 450 variant. With 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, this model delivered smooth and swift acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The mild-hybrid system contributed an instant 148 lb-ft of torque, making the SUV feel lively from a stop. It had a nine-speed automatic transmission paired with a variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, featuring Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual driving modes. Its maximum towing capacity was 7,700 pounds, with an official fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, though our experience in Southern California resulted in an average of 19.9 mpg. Driving the GLS 450 was a sublime experience, offering quick, responsive handling, especially in Sport mode, with excellent grip from its massive tires.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban presented three engine options: a standard 5.3-liter V8 on the LS, LT, Z71, RST, and Premier trims, an optional 6.2-liter V8 available on the Z71, RST, Premier, and High Country trims, and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder. The 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, providing a substantial towing capacity of up to 8,300 pounds with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-liter V8, generating 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, offered more effortless acceleration. Meanwhile, the 3.0-liter turbodiesel, with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, delivered better fuel economy and substantial towing capacity. Our recommendation leaned towards the diesel for its balance of power and efficiency, delivering excellent acceleration and passing power while managed by a well-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard on all trims except the off-road-focused Z71, with four-wheel drive available across other trims. The Suburban's height-adjustable air suspension handled rough roads smoothly, though the vehicle's significant size necessitated some caution.

Interior space and cargo capacity were strong points for both the GLS-Class and the Suburban, but with notable differences. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class offered a blend of luxury and functionality. The front seats, covered in supple leather and featuring heating, ventilation, and massage functions, were exceptionally comfortable. An expansive view over the hood contributed to excellent outward visibility. The no-cost optional captain’s chairs in the second row provided good thigh support and legroom, although the third-row seat felt cramped for adults and was best suited for children. Accessing the third-row seat was challenging, especially in inclement weather. The GLS had practical cargo space, with 17.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 42.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 84.7 cubic feet with all seats folded down.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban boasted remarkable cargo capacity, one of its standout features. With 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, it greatly exceeded many other three-row SUVs. Folding down the third row expanded the cargo volume to 93.8 cubic feet, and the maximum capacity was a staggering 144.7 cubic feet. The Suburban easily outperformed its competitors like the Ford Expedition Max and Jeep Wagoneer L in this regard. Additionally, a 28-gallon fuel tank enabled long distances between refuels, especially when equipped with the diesel engine.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class integrated the latest MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen arranged on a horizontal plane, offering a seamless and high-tech appearance. The system included improved graphics, intuitive touchscreen operation, and outstanding natural voice recognition technology. However, steering wheel touch sensors and a touchpad near the cupholders caused occasional frustration by unintentionally altering screen displays. Despite these minor issues, the MBUX system was a model of automotive technology, integrating augmented reality for navigation and an impressive Burmester surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos technology.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen on all trims except the base LS, which had an 8-inch screen. While the display was functional and easy to use, it seemed small against the Suburban’s vast interior. The infotainment system featured Google Built-in, allowing access to critical apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant without needing smartphone pairing. Additionally, the Suburban offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. An optional rear-seat entertainment system, with twin touchscreens for $1,995, proved valuable for long trips. However, the 10-speaker Bose audio system, though decent, lacked the richness expected of high-end audio setups, making it less impressive compared to alternatives in rivals like the Ford Expedition and Jeep Wagoneer.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class was well-equipped with a comprehensive suite of over 20 advanced safety features. Our experience indicated that adjusting the sensitivity and alert settings through MBUX could enhance the usability of these systems. The forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist systems were particularly effective, providing necessary alerts and corrective actions without being overly intrusive. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems performed admirably, handling various road conditions smoothly and transparently, enhancing driver convenience and safety.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, despite its robust appearance, received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five stars in side-crash tests, and three stars in rollover tests. The Suburban included numerous standard advanced driver assistance systems such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and the Teen Driver feature. Higher trims could be equipped with Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving technology that managed speed, steering, and lane changes on pre-mapped roads. Super Cruise, part of the Advanced Technology Package, cost $4,825 on the Premier trim and $2,700 on the High Country, providing a hands-free driving experience on over 400,000 miles of roads.