2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking compact luxury SUV, drawing design inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that curved from behind the rear window were notable design elements that connected it visually to the sedan. This chrome bar cleverly suggested a coupe-like SUV without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, featuring top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface. The physical rollers on the centre console and steering wheel were a nod to practicality, providing a better experience than touch capacitive controls.

In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was an attractive crossover, though it lacked the space-age design of some competitors. Its restrained bodywork was complemented by a chunky front end, making the grille appear smaller and more refined. The Equinox was available in four trims, with AWD as an option on the LS and LT trims and standard on the RS and Premier. The interior of the Equinox, particularly in the Premier trim, featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats. However, the interior design felt somewhat dated compared to its rivals, with a small touchscreen and basic driver-information display. Despite this, the Equinox was practical and easy to use, with a traditional PRNDL shift lever and ample storage space. The Confidence and Convenience II package added desirable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and an HD surround-view camera.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrains: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 excelled in blending comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It offered a smooth acceleration experience, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. The electric GV70 had a range of 383 kilometres and supported DC fast charging.

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 well, it struggled at higher speeds, taking about eight seconds to reach highway speed. The Equinox used a six-speed automatic transmission, which held gears longer than modern transmissions, contributing to its powertrain noise. AWD was available on all trims, but it required manual engagement. The Equinox's braking system was upgraded to an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system, providing smooth and predictable braking. Its suspension handled bumps well, and the steering was tight and accurate, making it enjoyable to drive.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate and practical storage solutions, including large cupholders and a centre console tray. The front seats were comfortable and easy to adjust, but rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward for rear passenger comfort.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox provided 847 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with the seats folded, which was competitive but not class-leading. Passenger space was ample, with good headroom and legroom for both front and rear occupants. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, and storage options included cupholders for every passenger and a decently sized centre console bin. The Premier trim's power liftgate operated quietly, and a panoramic sunroof was available on all trims except the base LS.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. It included a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting, though its proximity to the rotary shifter could cause confusion. The GV70 also offered four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Optional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and an 18-speaker Lexicon audio system.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a smaller touchscreen interface, with a 7-inch screen on the LS, LT, and RS trims, and an 8-inch screen on the Premier. Despite its simplicity, the system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Equinox offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premier trim included a wireless charging pad, and a Bose seven-speaker audio system was available on the RS and Premier trims.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T Advanced Plus trim added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while reverse automatic emergency braking was available on the Prestige grade. The Electrified GV70 included much of this equipment as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included standard safety features such as 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 lacked level two autonomous driving technology. It 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.