2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The interior boasted high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox underwent styling changes, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, giving it a sleeker look. The grille appeared more upright, flanked by large fake air intakes, making it look chunkier than the previous model. The Equinox maintained a car-based crossover appearance, avoiding the rugged styling of some competitors. Its dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and two large air vents at the centre, and materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, although the interior was considered too subdued.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing it to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. It boasted 25.4 cm of ground clearance and could ford up to 60 cm of water. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. It came with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. It performed well in stop-and-go driving, with peak torque available between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. However, at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive, and the transmission's shifts were rough. The Equinox was not designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of some competitors.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than some competitors but had limited space up front. With all three rows in place, it offered 775 litres of cargo space, expanding to 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kg. The Grand Wagoneer featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, although forward visibility was limited.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had seating for five across two rows, offering decent headroom and second-row legroom. However, some competitors provided more front seat legroom. The Equinox offered a tall seating position with an unobstructed forward view, although rear visibility was somewhat hampered by the small rear window. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed, and keyless entry and start were standard. It provided 847 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them folded, near the bottom of the segment.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had their own touchscreen, and an optional rear seat entertainment system added two screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, although the screen was slow to respond.

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 had an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. The Chevy MyLink system was responsive and easy to use, with large menu icons. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, and the Equinox offered multiple USB ports and power outlets.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It included standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top scores in most IIHS crash tests, with 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 features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.