2023 Mazda CX-5 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. The Equinox's tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it less car-like than the Ford Escape, offering a balanced aesthetic for some buyers. Inside, the dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents, and materials were decent for the price. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and a subdued black interior with red stitching.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained a stylish and high-quality choice in the compact crossover SUV segment. It exuded a sense of luxury with its refined materials and sophisticated design, making it feel more like a small luxury SUV. The available turbocharged engine provided impressive power, and the CX-5 boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Mazda's decision to redesign and rename the CX-5 as the CX-50 was part of a broader marketing strategy, allowing consumers to transition to the new model. Regardless of the version chosen, the CX-5 offered quality, refinement, and sophistication, with a choice between a standard 187-horsepower engine and a more powerful 256-hp turbocharged option.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with 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 the Equinox had more torque than many rivals, it lagged in horsepower. The engine's torque was beneficial in city driving, but at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became evident, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were somewhat rough, and the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the driving enjoyment of the Mazda CX-5.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered a choice between a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with up to 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The turbo engine provided a rewarding driving experience, with smooth acceleration and a pleasant engine note. Mazda's updates to the CX-5's structural rigidity, suspension, and transmission improved its driving dynamics, making it feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle. The CX-5 excelled on twisting roads, offering a firm and connected ride quality, responsive steering, and brakes, making it a delight to drive.

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. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with the seats folded. The Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in some competitors.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 featured improved front seats for better comfort and support, with height-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger. Higher trims offered power-adjustable seats, heated and ventilated seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. However, the CX-5's interior space was limited, with small storage areas, cramped rear-seat head and legroom, and less cargo space than many rivals. It provided 871 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,680 litres with the seats folded. The CX-5's technology and storage space were areas where it fell short compared to competitors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 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 smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, although the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system featured a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics but was frustrating to use. It lacked a helpful voice recognition system, and the physical controls on the centre console were awkward and distracting. The system required memorization and focus, making it less intuitive than touchscreens. Despite its user interface issues, Mazda Connect offered features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Bose audio system. The test vehicle also had a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system for easier parking.

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 in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave 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, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with most i-Activsense driver assistance tech as standard. Exclusive features for the 2.5 Turbo Signature included a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and Traffic Jam Assist. The i-Activsense tech operated smoothly, with an Active Driving Display showing alerts. The CX-5 received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick ranking from the IIHS. However, it lacked a warning message for driving without headlights at night, a safety concern Mazda needed to address.