2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox underwent several styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, along with subtle changes to the rear fascia. The headlights were bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving it a sleeker appearance. The grille appeared more upright and was flanked by large fake air intakes, making the Equinox look chunkier than its predecessor. While it maintained a car-based crossover design, it didn't adopt the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The Equinox's tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it less car-like than the Ford Escape, offering a middle ground for some buyers. Inside, the dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and two large air vents at the centre, and materials and fit and finish were decent for the price. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, giving it a bit more personality.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer, available in LT, True North, Premier, and RS trim levels in Canada, offered a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Higher trims came with a V6 engine and all-wheel drive, with the RS grade featuring a sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system. The Blazer's design was inspired by the Camaro, with a sporty appearance enhanced by 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim rising from the lower rear bumper gave it an unfinished look. Inside, the Blazer featured Camaro-inspired infotainment and climate control systems, with an 8-inch touchscreen and innovative temperature adjustment rings. While the interior had plenty of hard plastic, the red interior accents in the RS trim matched the exterior paint, adding sophistication to the Blazer's overall look.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. While the Equinox had more torque than most rivals, it lagged in horsepower. The engine's peak torque was available between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, making it responsive in stop-and-go driving. However, at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. Despite its RS trim, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer LT featured a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Higher trims came with a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, with a dual-clutch AWD system in the RS trim. The V6 engine offered satisfying acceleration, though it was loud and unrefined. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and highway driving, with decent grip from the 20-inch wheels. However, on winding roads, the suspension was too bouncy, and the nine-speed automatic was slow to downshift. The steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode, and the Blazer's styling promised a level of driving dynamism that wasn't delivered. The Blazer RS AWD had a fuel consumption rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres, but our test averaged 11.5 L/100 km.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good, but some competitors offered more legroom for front-seat occupants. The tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, though the rear pillars created a bit of a blind spot. The Equinox's cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them folded. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's interior featured black leather upholstery with red perforations, giving it a sporty appearance. The steering wheel had power tilt and telescopic adjustment, and both front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and optional ventilation. The Blazer's back seat was wide and flat, with plenty of room for legs and feet, and it could slide forward and back to adjust cargo or passenger space. Storage space was impressive, with a large glove compartment, centre armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The Blazer's cargo area measured 864 litres with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, both small for a midsize crossover SUV.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. The infotainment system was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, as most competitors required a wired connection. The Equinox also offered a plethora of USB ports and power outlets, though the centre-console slot for a phone was too small.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with simple physical controls beneath it. The Blazer's interior had plenty of USB ports and a household-style power outlet, with rear air vents to keep passengers comfortable. The Blazer's infotainment system was easy to use, with large menu icons and responsive controls. The Blazer also offered a range of storage options, including a large glove compartment, centre armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The Blazer's technology was user-friendly, with features like dual-zone automatic climate control and a power rear liftgate with hands-free operation.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and Chevy's Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with the Chevy Safety Assist suite, including forward-collision alert, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Blazer also featured a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Blazer's advanced driving assistance systems worked well, with smooth adaptive cruise control and effective lane-keeping assistance. However, the IIHS didn't give the Blazer a "Top Safety Pick" rating due to its headlights' low illumination.