2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2024 Lexus TX

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox presented itself as an attractive crossover, albeit without 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, offering a refreshing change from the industry trend of oversized front fascias. The gold Bowtie emblem, while 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 Equinox's design language shared similarities with the larger Chevrolet Traverse, particularly in its thick C-pillar and large windows, which contributed to a sense of spaciousness. Inside, the Premier trim featured two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats across all trims in Canada. Despite its somewhat dated interior with a small touchscreen and basic driver-information display, the Equinox was practical and user-friendly. The PRNDL shift lever, though taking up more space, was simple to use, and the Confidence and Convenience II package added desirable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2024 Lexus TX, based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, distinguished itself as a luxury SUV with upscale looks. Its styling was more conservative compared to other Lexus models, appealing to those who found previous designs off-putting. The TX 350 Executive package included striking 22-inch wheels that enhanced its presence. The TX was available in three model series: TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid, with prices ranging from $72,036 to $87,486, including destination charges and dealer fees.

The TX 350, likely the most popular version, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with standard AWD. The Ultra Luxury package added premium interior features, though the dark Peppercorn interior felt too sombre even with a panoramic sunroof. Despite this, the TX 350's interior was luxurious enough to bear the Lexus badge, offering a comfortable ride with a firm yet compliant suspension. The steering was accurate, and the cabin remained quiet on highways. However, the brake pedal felt too soft, though it was easy to modulate for smooth stops.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Despite the slight increase in horsepower from the previous model year, the Equinox's performance was not particularly lively. It handled low-speed acceleration adequately, but its power output felt insufficient for highway merging or overtaking. The six-speed automatic transmission, while older, contributed to the engine's noise due to longer gear holds.

The Equinox offered AWD across all trims, but it required manual activation via a button on the centre console. The new electronically assisted brake-by-wire system improved braking performance, and the suspension handled road imperfections well, making the Equinox enjoyable to drive with tight and accurate steering.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Despite initial concerns about its suitability for a midsize luxury SUV, the engine performed adequately for typical driving scenarios. Lexus claimed an acceleration time of approximately eight seconds to 100 km/h, though the TX felt quicker due to its torque delivery. The official fuel economy rating was 10.3 L/100 km in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 13.8 L/100 km.

The TX 350's suspension provided a balance between road feel and comfort, with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. The interior remained quiet on highways, though the brake pedal felt too soft, it was easy to modulate for smooth stops.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered a cargo area of 847 litres behind the rear seats, surpassing the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. However, with the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo space was 1,809 litres, less than most competitors except Mazda. Passenger space was ample, with sufficient headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver and rear passengers. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, and the Premier trim included a nearly silent power liftgate. A panoramic sunroof was available on all trims except the base LS.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs. The TX 350 test unit featured premium semi-aniline leather and artificial suede upholstery, with standard heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel in Canada. The second-row bench seat was comfortable, though not as welcoming as expected. The third-row seat was habitable for adults, offering leg support and a good view through large side windows. Cargo space measured 572 litres behind the third-row seat, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 2,746 litres with the second-row seats down, surpassing most competitors.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offerings included a small touchscreen interface, with a 7-inch display on the LS, LT, and RS trims, and an 8-inch display on the Premier. Despite its simplicity, the system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Premier trim featured a wireless charging pad, while all trims offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The upgraded driver-information display provided useful features, and a Bose seven-speaker audio system was available on the RS and Premier trims.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a digital rearview mirror on all but the base package. The Executive packages included a head-up display, surround-view camera, and semi-autonomous parking assist system. The Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen, offered a cloud-based navigation system and a digital assistant with natural voice recognition through a Drive Connect subscription. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with free 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional on all trims except Premier. The Equinox received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but scored poorly in the IIHS moderate overlap front crash test and marginally in the side-impact crash test.

The 2024 Lexus TX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist was part of the system, though it was not entirely transparent in operation. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system. The Executive packages offered front and rear parking sensors, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and traffic jam assist, which provided hands-free driving at low speeds on approved highways.