2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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 the Equinox a sleeker appearance. The grille appeared more upright and was flanked by large fake air intakes, making the 2022 model look chunkier than its predecessor. The Equinox maintained its car-based crossover identity, avoiding the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it less car-like than the Ford Escape, offering a middle ground for some buyers. The interior featured a creatively designed dashboard with a touchscreen and large air vents, and materials and fit and finish were decent for the price. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, giving it a bit more personality.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design philosophy, resulting in a clean and simple appearance. While it offered limited flashy options, such as Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels, our test vehicle arrived in subdued Eiger Grey with silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, paired with aluminum and shiny black trim, created a luxurious atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The SUV featured premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights. Its aerodynamics were impressive, with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, providing a smooth and fragrant cabin experience.

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 standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. While the Equinox had more torque than most rivals, it lagged in horsepower. The engine's torque was appreciated in stop-and-go driving, but at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became evident, with the engine feeling coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the fun-to-drive factor of competitors like the Mazda CX-5. However, it provided decent comfort on poorly maintained roads.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography model, providing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One featured a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. The SUV's fuel efficiency was notable, averaging 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the evaluation route. The Range Rover Sport's new vehicle architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for optimal ride comfort and handling. However, it didn't match the driving dynamics of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled, with impressive ground clearance, approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a 90 cm wading depth.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good for the segment, 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 slight blind spot. The Equinox's climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed, and keyless entry and start were standard. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, however, was less hospitable, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The back seat provided excellent thigh and lumbar support, but the seatback angle was too reclined. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport featured a power liftgate, and controls in the trunk lowered the air suspension for easier loading.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels 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. The Equinox also offered multiple USB ports and power outlets, though the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an Online Pack with connected services. While the screens were generally intuitive, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating. The SUV's native digital assistant struggled with basic tasks, and the system's automatic driver exit assist feature was inconvenient. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included, though it was challenging to access.

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 tech 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 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on highway curves and bends.