2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its familiar look since its 2017 redesign. It resembled a smaller Grand Cherokee, with our test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels in a dark sparkly finish that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and infotainment systems. The cabin boasted soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening, elevating its sophistication. The Trailhawk Elite was the most expensive version, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795, excluding destination charges. A Compass Trailhawk Elite with standard 4WD and the Sun and Sound option package had an MSRP of $47,385, including an estimated destination charge to Southern Ontario.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as bold as some competitors, was an attractive crossover with a restrained bodywork and a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller. The gold Bowtie emblem varied in appeal depending on the paint colour, with Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic being particularly complementary. The Equinox was available in four trims: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with AWD as an option on the LS and LT trims in Canada. The Equinox's profile, with its thick C-pillar and big windows, gave an impression of spaciousness. Inside, the Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery, with heated front seats standard across all trims in Canada. Despite a somewhat dated interior, the Equinox was practical and easy to use, with a PRNDL shift lever and ample cupholders. The $2,595 Confidence and Convenience II package added desirable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and an HD surround-view camera.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. Dubbed the "Tigershark," this engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs, and a turbocharger would have been beneficial, especially for those planning mountain adventures. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, except for FWD models, which had a six-speed automatic. The transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard drivetrain engagement. The Compass Trailhawk Elite averaged 9.9 L/100 km in testing, slightly above the expected 9.5 L/100 km. With 20.6 cm of ground clearance, the Compass was capable of light off-roading, and the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. However, the driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride and excessive lateral motion on uneven surfaces.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. While it handled low-speed acceleration well, it struggled at higher speeds. The Equinox used a six-speed automatic transmission, which held gears longer than newer transmissions, contributing to a noisy powertrain. AWD was available but required manual engagement. The Equinox's braking system was upgraded to an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system, providing smooth and predictable braking. The suspension handled bumps well, and the steering was tight and accurate, making the Equinox enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among smaller compact SUVs, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The cabin was enhanced with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,693 litres with the seats folded, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox provided 847 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, surpassing the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. With the rear seats folded, the cargo space expanded to 1,809 litres, less than some competitors. Passenger space was ample, with good headroom and legroom. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, cup holders for every passenger, and a decently sized centre console bin. The Premier trim included a nearly silent power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof was available on all trims except the base LS.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option on upper trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply. Additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with some requests. Overall, Uconnect 5 was impressive but not the easiest to use.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering was simple yet effective. The 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and 8-inch on the Premier was easy to use, with good voice recognition software. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premier trim featured a wireless charging pad, and a Bose seven-speaker audio system was available on higher trims. The driver-information display, though simple, offered useful features like music and navigation information.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features for 2022, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring available from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was expected later in the model year in the U.S. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA rollover resistance rating was three stars, and the IIHS scores indicated a need for improved headlight performance.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional on all trims except Premier. The Equinox lacked level two autonomous driving technology. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, but the IIHS gave it a Poor rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and a Marginal score in the side-impact crash test.