2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic, boxy design that many enthusiasts missed since the 2016 LR4. Its squared-off edges, rising roofline, and roundish headlights evoked a sense of nostalgia. The Defender's rugged exterior, complete with short overhangs and skid plates, was designed for off-road adventures. Despite some modern touches like plastic step plates and a three-piece ladder, the Defender retained its utilitarian charm. The interior was basic and industrial, with cloth seats and exposed screws, emphasizing durability over luxury. The HSE trim, priced at $75,000, lacked the opulence expected at that price point, making it feel more like a commercial vehicle than a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban's front-end design was polarizing, with small headlights and large grilles that didn't appeal to everyone. However, the interior was more familiar and user-friendly, with controls in their expected places. The Suburban offered a range of trims, from the basic LS to the luxurious High Country. The High Country trim, which we tested, featured woodgrain and leather but lacked the soft-touch materials found in true luxury SUVs. Despite its upscale appearance, the Suburban felt more like an upscale pickup truck than a luxury vehicle.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender justified its price with its impressive performance. The optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine produced 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, making it both powerful and smooth. The mild-hybrid system eliminated turbo lag and provided consistent power. The Defender's off-road capabilities were exceptional, thanks to its Terrain Response 2 system and adjustable-height suspension. It could tackle steep inclines, deep water, and rocky trails with ease. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, was better suited for the smaller two-door 90 model.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engines, including a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle featured the newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, which produced 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Suburban's truck-based underpinnings provided excellent towing capabilities, with the 5.3-liter V8 able to tow up to 8,300 pounds. The independent rear suspension improved ride quality, but the Suburban still exhibited some truck-like tendencies, such as body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender was designed for durability and off-road performance. Its interior was minimalist, with rubber floors and exposed screws. The two-door 90 model could seat up to six people with an optional jump seat, while the four-door 110 model offered an optional third row for seven seats. Cargo space varied depending on the configuration, with the four-door 110 providing up to 79 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Defender's towing capacity was an impressive 8,200 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering a massive 144.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The Suburban's interior was spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom for all passengers. The control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks, with the main difference being the button shifter design. The power-sliding center console was a unique feature, but it felt unnecessary and added complexity.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender featured the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, which was a significant improvement over previous Jaguar Land Rover systems. It had two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air software updates. The interface was more user-friendly, but some issues remained, such as small zoom icons on the map. The Defender also offered advanced off-road capabilities, with cameras that showed the ground underneath the front hood and a rearview mirror that doubled as a screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LED headlights, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM's intuitive infotainment system. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an available navigation system and rear entertainment system. The head-up display provided large, easy-to-read graphics. The Suburban's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button and a sensible layout.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by any U.S. crash testing agency. It came with six airbags, forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. Optional safety features included rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts upon exiting the vehicle.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. The Teen Driver system allowed parents to set speed and volume limitations for younger drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system. Unique features included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to provide alerts.