2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox underwent several styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, which contributed to a sleeker appearance. The grille was more upright and flanked by large fake air intakes, giving the Equinox a chunkier look compared to its predecessor. While it maintained a car-based crossover design, it avoided the rugged styling of some competitors, offering a happy medium for buyers seeking a balance between SUV and car-like aesthetics. The interior featured a creative dashboard design with a touchscreen and large air vents, and while materials were decent, the RS model's black interior was considered too subdued.

In contrast, the 2022 Genesis GV70 stood out with its distinctive styling, diverging from the rest of the brand's lineup. It featured the brand's two-line lighting signature, creating an illusion of a contiguous circle around the vehicle. The GV70 offered six grades, with the Sport and Sport Plus grades receiving unique styling elements like a sculpted hood and dark chrome finishes. Genesis provided a wide range of exterior and interior colour combinations, allowing for personalization. The cabin featured an elliptical theme inspired by airplane wings, with premium materials and unique upholstery configurations, including quilted leather seats in higher grades.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It featured a six-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. While the Equinox offered more torque than many rivals, it had less horsepower, which became apparent at higher speeds. The engine was responsive in city driving but felt coarse and unresponsive at higher RPMs. The Equinox was not designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of some competitors, but it provided decent comfort on rough roads.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options, with the test unit featuring a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70's performance was competitive with mid-level performance competitors, and it offered various drive modes, including Sport+ for aggressive driving. The electronically controlled suspension system provided a balance between comfort and road feedback. The GV70's turning radius was notably tight, making it manoeuvrable in urban environments.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox provided seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, front seat legroom was somewhat limited, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made finding a comfortable driving position challenging. The Equinox offered a tall seating position and good forward visibility, but rear visibility was hampered by a small rear window. The cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with the seats folded. The Equinox lacked some storage features found in competitors.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 prioritized driver-focused design, with a tall centre console and intuitive controls within easy reach. The climate controls were configured under a single pane, providing haptic feedback for inputs. The GV70 offered standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available. The rear space was enhanced by a panoramic sunroof, but storage was limited. The GV70 provided 819 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,610 litres with the seats folded. The tonneau cover could be stowed under the rear load floor.

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 user-friendly, with large menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, and the Equinox offered multiple USB ports and power outlets. However, the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen with high-resolution graphics and a split-screen layout. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not in wireless form. The premium Sport Plus grade offered a 3D digital instrument cluster with a unique display and Blind View Monitor system. The GV70 introduced a fingerprint recognition system for keyless start. A nine-speaker audio system was standard, with an 18-speaker Lexicon surround sound system available on top grades. The GV70 provided USB ports for both front and rear passengers.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but received 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 awarded the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with ten standard safety features, including blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and forward collision avoidance assist. It introduced a rear occupant alert system using radar to detect movement in the second row. The Genesis Highway Driving Assist system included lane centring and automatic lane changing functions. As of publication, safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the GV70, but the quality and performance of its on-board systems were highly regarded.