2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox presented itself as an attractive crossover, even if it didn't boast the futuristic design of a Kia Sportage or the rugged appearance of a Toyota RAV4. Its restrained bodywork was complemented by a chunky front end, which made the grille appear smaller and more refined compared to the aggressive front fascias common in the industry. The gold Bowtie emblem, while a bit garish against certain paint colours like Radiant Red Tintcoat, looked appealing on others such as Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic. 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, and standard on the RS and Premier.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, a long-standing name in the automotive world, blended into traffic despite its massive size. At 5,733 millimetres in length and 1,923 millimetres in height, it was a vehicle for those who needed ample cargo and passenger space. The Suburban was offered in six trims: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country, each with increasing levels of luxury. While the base LS came with 18-inch alloy wheels, the High Country rode on 22-inch alloys. Despite its size, the Suburban's interior was comfortable, with leather upholstery standard on all but the LS trim. The High Country trim featured a Mocha leather interior, adding a touch of elegance to its spacious cabin.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. While it handled low-speed acceleration adequately, it struggled to deliver the desired performance above 50 km/h. The Equinox's six-speed automatic transmission, though outdated compared to competitors' eight- or nine-speed options, contributed to its noisy powertrain. AWD was available across all trims, but required manual engagement. The Equinox's electronically assisted brake-by-wire system and well-engineered suspension provided a smooth driving experience, with tight and accurate steering.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided excellent fuel economy and smooth acceleration. The Suburban's steering and brakes were well-suited to its size, and the height-adjustable air suspension handled rough roads with ease. The electronic button-style shift mechanism freed up space in the centre console, though it might not appeal to all drivers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 847 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,809 litres with the seats folded down. While it didn't match the cargo capacity of some competitors, passenger space was ample, with plenty of headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, a power liftgate, and optional panoramic sunroof on all but the base LS trim.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 1,175 litres behind the third row, 2,656 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 4,097 litres. This made it a top choice for those needing extensive carrying capacity. The Suburban's 106-litre fuel tank, combined with the diesel engine's efficiency, allowed for long highway drives between fill-ups. Its spacious interior and standard features made it ideal for family road trips.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a simple yet effective infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an 8-inch screen on the Premier. The system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were standard, while a Bose audio system was optional on higher trims.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban came with a 10.2-inch touchscreen on all but the base LS trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The infotainment system included Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Assistant, and Play Store without phone pairing. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, and a rear-seat entertainment system was available. The 10-speaker Bose audio system, while good, lacked the richness of higher-speaker-count systems found in competitors.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and lane-keeping assistance. However, it lacked level two autonomous driving technology and received mixed crash test ratings, with a Poor rating in the IIHS moderate overlap front crash test.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban featured a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Premier and High Country trims offered Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system. The Suburban received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with varying scores in different crash tests.