2021 Honda Pilot vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite a 2019 refresh and the introduction of a Black Edition in 2020, the SUV's exterior design remained polarizing. The Pilot was available in five trims in Canada, with AWD as standard. The Black Edition, which we tested, featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red accents and ambient lighting. However, the interior's minivan-like feel and drab exterior design were not universally appealing.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received styling updates, including a new grille and LED lighting, giving it a sleeker look. The Equinox maintained its car-based crossover identity, avoiding the rugged styling of some competitors. Its dashboard design was creative, with a touchscreen and air vents at the centre. The RS model added black exterior trim and darkened wheels, but the interior was considered too subdued. Overall, the Equinox's design was coherent, but it lacked distinctive features.

The 2021 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and a torque-vectoring AWD system, providing a smooth and refined driving experience. The Pilot offered various driving modes and fuel-saving measures, achieving an average of 10.9 L/100 km in testing. Its suspension provided a comfortable ride and athletic handling, though off-road capability was limited by its ground clearance.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission with FWD as standard and AWD as an option. The Equinox excelled in stop-and-go driving due to its torque, but its lack of horsepower was noticeable at higher speeds. The transmission's shifts were rough, and the vehicle lacked sporty handling. Despite this, it offered decent comfort on rough roads.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided ample space for families, seating up to eight with a bench second-row seat. The Black Edition featured comfortable leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, with optional second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults, but storage was abundant throughout the cabin. The Pilot offered 524 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,583 litres with the seats folded, and a maximum of 3,092 litres.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox seated five across two rows, offering decent headroom and legroom. However, the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made finding a comfortable driving position challenging. The Equinox provided a tall seating position and good forward visibility, though rear visibility was hampered by the small rear window. Cargo space was limited, with 847 litres behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with them folded. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked some storage features found in competitors.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered navigation, wireless phone charging, and a premium audio system. The Touring trim added a rear-seat entertainment system and Cabin Talk feature. However, the infotainment system's screen was small, and voice recognition required specific prompts. HondaLink services were limited to higher trims.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a Bose audio system. The MyLink infotainment system was user-friendly, with large menu icons and good graphics. The addition of wireless connectivity was a significant advantage, though the centre-console slot for phones was too small. Overall, the system was functional but lacked some advanced features.

The 2021 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing, a suite of ADAS features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The system was functional but not refined. The Pilot received favourable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and "good" ratings from IIHS, except for an "acceptable" score in one test.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox earned top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but received a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It achieved a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system.