2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban continued to dominate the full-size SUV market with its enduring brand equity and reputation for being a capable, large vehicle. Despite its long history, Chevrolet managed to update the Suburban's design without alienating its loyal customer base. The exterior changes were subtle yet modern, with a new front fascia and lighting signatures that added a dramatic flair. The trim lineup remained consistent, offering a range of options from the basic LS to the luxurious High Country. Inside, the 2025 model saw significant upgrades, including a sophisticated dashboard, a modern steering wheel, and a stunning 17.7-inch touchscreen display, elevating the Suburban's interior to a new level of luxury.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h F Sport Black Line, was a $90,000 SUV that offered a mix of luxury and performance. While its exterior design was not particularly striking, the RX Hybrid provided a range of models, each with its unique features and performance capabilities. The RX 350h was the most efficient, while the RX 500h offered a more powerful and sporty experience. The interior was contemporary, with quality materials and ambient lighting, although some ergonomic issues were noted. The RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space, making it a suitable choice for those prioritizing luxury and efficiency.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engine options, starting with a 5.3-litre V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, provided 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, making it a preferred choice for those seeking more power. Additionally, the Suburban featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six Duramax diesel engine, which received a significant upgrade for 2025, increasing its horsepower to 305 and torque to 495 lb-ft. This diesel engine was praised for its quiet and smooth operation, making it an attractive option for those who valued efficiency and performance. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission and available Magnetic Ride Control suspension further enhanced its driving experience, although the large 24-inch wheels were noted to be harsh on rough pavement.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three distinct models, each with its performance characteristics. The RX 350h, with its 246 hp hybrid powertrain, was the most efficient, while the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid provided 304 hp and an electric-only driving range of 60 kilometres. The RX 500h stood out with its turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, resulting in impressive acceleration. However, its fuel efficiency was less than ideal, averaging 13.5 L/100 km during testing. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension and Lexus's Direct4 AWD system, enhancing its performance capabilities. Despite its power, the RX 500h's driving experience was somewhat disconnected, with limited communication between the driver and the road.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in providing ample interior space, making it an ideal choice for families with multiple children or pets. It offered enormous passenger space across all three rows and a massive cargo capacity of 1,175 litres behind the third row. Folding the third row increased the cargo space to 2,656 litres, and with all seats folded, it reached an impressive 4,092 litres. The Suburban also boasted excellent towing capacity, with the ability to pull up to 3,765 kilograms when properly equipped. The diesel engine's fuel efficiency further enhanced its practicality, allowing for nearly 1,000 kilometres of highway driving on a single tank.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h's front seats, while snug due to enhanced bolstering, were not very comfortable for long drives. The rear seats, however, offered ample room and comfort, with optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated features. The RX Hybrid provided 838 litres of cargo space, with the ability to fold down the second row to create 1,308 litres of cargo volume. While the RX Hybrid's cargo capacity was not as extensive as the Suburban's, it was sufficient for a midsize SUV.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban made significant strides in improving its in-vehicle technology. The new 17.7-inch touchscreen display was a standout feature, offering crisp and bright visuals. Combined with an 11-inch driver information display and an available 15-inch head-up display, the Suburban provided over 40 inches of screen real estate. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google Built-in, offering seamless connectivity. While the user interface was generally intuitive, some aspects, such as customizing the driver information display, were less user-friendly. The top-range Bose stereo, while improved, still left room for enhancement compared to competitors.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid met luxury vehicle standards with its high-tech features. The RX 500h F Sport Black Line included digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Lexus Interface infotainment system featured a 14-inch touchscreen display, offering a user-friendly experience with a volume knob and large climate control dials. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with generous subscriptions to connected services. However, the steering wheel controls were noted to be distracting and challenging to use while driving. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review, but the 2024 model received four out of five stars in overall crash safety from the NHTSA. The Suburban came equipped with a comprehensive list of advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind zone monitoring. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on most trims, although it was not included in the initial 2025 models.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered Safety Connect, providing automatic collision notification and emergency assistance for up to ten years. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 was standard, featuring a range of advanced driver assistance systems such as forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The RX Hybrid also included Proactive Driving Assist, which monitored forward progress and used braking or steering input to maintain safe distances. The RX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, although the IIHS rated it poorly in the moderate overlap frontal-impact test.