2023 Genesis GV80 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 competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Inside, the dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents, and materials were decent for its price range. The RS model added black exterior trim and darkened wheels, but the interior was considered too subdued.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 exuded sophistication with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille, presenting a stately presence just shy of 5 metres long. The rear echoed the quad lamp look with four-part taillamps, and the matte Brunswick Green paint added elegance. Inside, the dark green quilted leather seats and a dash split by thin air vents showcased luxury. The centre console featured three large dials for infotainment, transmission, and drive modes, while the two-spoke steering wheel added a unique touch. The 14.5-inch infotainment screen, though slightly awkwardly placed, was part of a spacious and luxurious interior.

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 came with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. While it had more torque than many rivals, it lagged in horsepower. The Equinox excelled in city driving with its torque, but at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were somewhat rough, and the vehicle lacked sporty handling and refinement compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came standard with all-wheel drive and offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, or a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The GV80 was not particularly quick, taking about five and a half seconds to reach 100 km/h, and it lacked the agility of its German rivals. However, it excelled in highway driving with smooth power delivery and shifts, and its electronically controlled suspension provided a comfortable and quiet ride.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and 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 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, but lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 compensated for its lack of driving excitement with luxury features. It came standard with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated mirrors. The Ergo driver's seat offered fatigue-reducing features, and the Nappa leather seats were sumptuous. A third row was available, but legroom was limited. The GV80 featured a proximity key, tri-zone climate control, and a 21-speaker Lexicon sound system. It offered 988 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 2,378 litres with the seats folded, and had a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi 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. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, though the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster. While the infotainment screen was slightly out of reach, the dial for control was cumbersome. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not wirelessly, and offered wireless charging and multiple USB ports. The GV80 featured remote smart parking assist, allowing the car to park itself without the driver inside, a standout feature.

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 awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. It featured Hyundai's Blind-Spot View Monitor system, displaying a video feed of the blind spot in the digital gauge cluster. The GV80 also had Highway Drive Assist, providing hands-on/eyes-up driving aid on approved highways. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating, and the IIHS rated it "Good" for crashworthiness and "Superior" for front crash prevention.