2023 Cadillac Escalade 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 didn't adopt the rugged styling of some competitors like the Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4. The interior featured a creative dashboard design with a central touchscreen and large air vents, offering decent materials and fit and finish for its price range. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, although the subdued interior was not to everyone's taste.

In contrast, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade was a towering presence, nearly two metres tall and requiring significant space to park. It was designed for show, with its massive size and luxurious features appealing to a range of buyers. The Escalade's athletic appearance was enhanced by thin LED lights and darkened chrome elements, which helped mask its size. The interior was rich, with a 38-inch curved screen array and high-quality materials, although some components were shared with cheaper GM vehicles. The Escalade's spaciousness was unmatched, offering generous headroom and legroom across all three rows, making it a standout in the luxury SUV market.

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 offered more torque than many rivals, it had less horsepower, which became apparent at higher speeds. The engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher RPMs, and the transmission's shifts were somewhat rough. Despite its sporty RS trim, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, offered a standard 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, suitable for towing up to 3,629 kilograms. However, it felt heavy during passing situations. The Escalade-V variant addressed acceleration issues with a supercharged V8 producing 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. An optional 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel V6 provided smoother torque delivery and better fuel economy. The Escalade's 4WD system was rudimentary, but its magnetic ride control dampers and optional air suspension improved handling and maneuverability, although wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five 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, but rear visibility was hampered by a small rear window. It offered 847 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them folded, which was below average for the segment.

In contrast, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an exceptionally spacious interior, with 722 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,426 litres with both rows down. The Escalade ESV variant offered even more space. The interior was designed for comfort, with simple controls and an optional front console refrigerator. Power-retractable side steps and an air suspension made access and loading easier. However, the second-row seats were not powered like the third row.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen 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, and tech-savvy buyers might desire more features.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a cutting-edge OLED screen array across the dash, providing sharp and clear visuals. It offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Super Cruise, an advanced hands-free highway driving system, was available, along with night vision and a 36-speaker AKG audio system. The Escalade's tech offerings were extensive, with features like a pedestrian-detection display and massaging front seats.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top scores in most IIHS crash tests but was rated "Marginal" in the updated side crash test. It earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane keep assist. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included reverse emergency braking and Super Cruise.