2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling updates, featuring a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look, a redesigned rear bumper that conceals the tailpipes, and fresh wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. Built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the XC60 shared its foundation with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. Inside, the XC60 retained its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter, though the interior felt subdued compared to other Volvo models. The Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for added luxury.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, along with subtle rear fascia changes. The grille appeared more upright, flanked by large fake air intakes, giving the Equinox a chunkier look. Unlike rugged competitors, the Equinox maintained a car-based crossover appearance, with a tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia. The dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the centre, offering decent materials and fit and finish for its price. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, though the interior felt too subdued for some tastes.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 options. Both combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 delivered 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard AWD in Canada. The XC60 B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 emphasized luxury with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by optional air suspension. The plug-in hybrid XC60 Recharge offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered a single powertrain: a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard FWD and optional AWD. The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. In city driving, the Equinox's torque was beneficial, but at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were somewhat rough. Despite the RS trim's sporty appearance, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V. However, it provided decent comfort on rough roads.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 611 litres of cargo space with rear seats up and 1,410 litres with them down, while plug-in hybrids had slightly less capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox seated five across two rows, offering decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, front-seat legroom was limited, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made finding a comfortable driving position challenging. The Equinox's tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, though rear visibility was hampered by a small rear window. The climate control buttons were prominently placed, and keyless entry and start were standard. Cargo space was 847 litres with rear seats up and 1,809 litres with them down, near the bottom of the segment.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 featured a 9-inch touchscreen with Android Automotive OS, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Google Assistant provided voice control, and Google Maps handled navigation. Android users could sync profiles, and the system supported OTA updates. The system was compatible with iPhones, though Apple users might find the Google-based design less appealing. The digital cluster offered a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. The MyLink system was responsive, with large menu icons and good graphics. Wireless connectivity was a major advantage, and multiple USB ports were available, though the centre-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 hadn't been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received top ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. An optional driver assistance system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centring.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned "Superior" for vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention and "Advanced" for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall 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.