2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Lexus GX

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. 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 Lexus GX boasted a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille and substantial ground clearance. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned with limited availability and exclusive paint options. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs. The interior, however, was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, which detracted from its luxury appeal. Nevertheless, it offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design and features were geared more towards off-road capability than luxury refinement.

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 both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. 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. Despite these drawbacks, it provided decent comfort on rough roads.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While it didn't excel on paper compared to more advanced engines, the V8 offered a satisfying sound and performance. The GX had a towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms, but its fuel economy was less appealing. The vehicle's weight affected its handling, but it remained predictable and controllable. The GX's driving dynamics were improved over the years, with strong brakes and a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential enhancing its off-road capabilities.

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 small rear windows. The cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them folded. A power liftgate was available, but it lacked features like a sliding second-row seat.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained ample cubby space for small items, with a deep centre console bin and convenient cupholders. It featured hard buttons for controls, which some users preferred over touchscreens. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and good legroom, but the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with 328 litres behind the rear seats, 1,322 litres with the third row folded, and 1,832 litres with both rows down. The side-hinged trunk door required effort to open and limited access.

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 featured an 8-inch touchscreen and a Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large menu icons and good graphics. The addition of wireless connectivity was a significant advantage, although the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Lexus GX received an updated 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was an improvement over the previous version. It included standard features like SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and smartphone compatibility. However, the system felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging performance and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road technology, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, and a multi-terrain monitor. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System enhanced both on-road and off-road driving.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for 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. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it featured the Lexus Safety System+ with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and more. While it lacked some advanced features, it offered a comprehensive suite of safety technologies.