2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Aviator offered a luxurious and sophisticated design. It featured a modern Lincoln face and grille, although the wheel designs on the Grand Touring model were considered plain. The Aviator's interior was undeniably fancy, with patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, and chrome accents. The cabin was equipped with high-end materials, including soft leather and a simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome detailing felt cheap, and the key fob was lightweight and plasticky. The Aviator's design aimed for a quiet and comfortable experience, with features like electric door handles and ambient lighting.

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 used 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, making it less responsive at higher speeds. The Equinox excelled in city driving, thanks to its torque, but the engine felt coarse during highway overtaking. The automatic transmission's shifts were somewhat rough, and the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, boasted impressive power with 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. It offered 34 kilometres of electric driving range and averaged 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in hybrid mode. The Aviator featured multiple driving modes, including Pure EV and Preserve EV, to optimize efficiency. During testing, it achieved 1.4 L/100 km in electric mode and 9.7 L/100 km overall. The Aviator's powertrain was quick but sometimes unpredictable, and the brake pedal exhibited inconsistent behaviour. The available Dynamic Handling Package improved suspension, but the Aviator wasn't particularly fun to drive, focusing more on a quiet and smooth ride.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox provided seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good 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 offered a tall seating position and good forward visibility, but rear visibility was hampered by small windows. It had 847 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them folded, which was near the bottom of the segment.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy, but the third-row seats were cramped and lacked leg support. With the third-row seats in use, the Aviator offered 519 litres of cargo space, expanding to 1,183 litres with them folded. Maximum cargo space reached 2,200 litres.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, 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, although the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a navigation system. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The Aviator included a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system and smartphone-related tech like wireless charging and Phone As A Key. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were effective, and parking sensors and a surround-view camera system aided parking.

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. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and evasive steering assist. The Aviator's safety tech performed well, although the lane-keeping system struggled in curves. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.