2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2022 Lexus RX

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 some competitors. The interior featured a creative dashboard design with a touchscreen and large air vents, and materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, though the interior was considered too subdued.

The 2022 Lexus RX continued to offer a modern and sporty design, with sharp character lines and angular features that stopped short of being excessive. The F Sport models added performance-oriented styling elements, including larger wheels, black-housing mirrors, and unique front fascia. The interior maintained a luxury appeal, with F Sport models adding sporty touches like model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. However, the centre stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats were less comfortable than expected. Despite these drawbacks, the RX provided a high-quality feel with soft-touch surfaces and a quiet cabin, making it a comfortable choice for long drives.

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 featured a six-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. While it had more torque than most rivals, it lacked horsepower, which became apparent at higher speeds. The engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher rpm, and the automatic transmission's shifts were rough. Despite its RS trim, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of some competitors.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h added electric motors for a combined 308 hp. All RX models featured an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lack of sporty driving dynamics. The F Sport models included adaptive suspension and additional drive modes, but the differences between modes were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, providing a smooth ride and isolating road noise effectively.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and second-row legroom. However, front seat legroom was limited, and 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 small rear windows. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with them folded.

The standard two-row Lexus RX had 2,826 litres of passenger volume, comfortably accommodating four adults. Headroom and legroom were ample for front passengers, while rear legroom was slightly less generous. The three-row L models offered limited cargo space with all seats upright, but folding the rear rows increased capacity. The RX featured thoughtful interior features like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net, though the rear seats didn't fold completely flat.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen and additional features like navigation and a Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large menu icons and good screen graphics. However, the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The Lexus RX featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreens were moved closer to the driver but still had ergonomic issues. The infotainment system was responsive, but the touchpad was hypersensitive and unintuitive. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, wireless charging, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided additional connectivity options.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top scores in most IIHS crash tests, with 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 it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and a pre-collision system. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests.