Chevrolet Equinox vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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 and more refined compared to the aggressive front fascias common in the industry. The gold Bowtie emblem, while garish against certain paint colours like Radiant Red Tintcoat, looked appealing on shades 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.

Inside, the Equinox Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats across all trims in Canada. The interior, though practical and user-friendly, appeared somewhat dated with its small touchscreen and basic driver-information display. Despite the abundance of plastic buttons, the Equinox remained approachable and easy to use, with a traditional PRNDL shift lever and spacious cupholders. The optional Confidence and Convenience II package added desirable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and adaptive cruise control, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, priced at just over $50,000 for the base Hybrid LE, offered standard AWD in Canada. The Limited trim with the Platinum package, priced at $61,800, featured minimal appearance changes for 2023, with a new Cypress Green paint colour. The Highlander Hybrid's design was over-styled, with exaggerated forms and scowling headlights, making it visually overwhelming. Inside, the cabin continued this theme with oversized elements like a 12.3-inch touchscreen and large climate control knobs, resulting in a visually chaotic interior.

The Highlander Hybrid's interior quality was questionable, with primary controls feeling inexpensive and storage areas unlined, leading to potential noise issues. The leather upholstery struggled to stay tucked, and the front seatback storage pockets appeared warped. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander Hybrid was quiet on the road, with Toyota focusing on minimizing noise for a more pleasant driving experience.

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 accelerate efficiently above 50 km/h. The Equinox's six-speed automatic transmission, though older, contributed to the powertrain's noise but offered a predictable driving experience. The AWD system required manual engagement, but the new electronically assisted brake-by-wire system improved braking performance. The Equinox's suspension handled bumps well, and its steering was tight and accurate, making it enjoyable to drive.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, producing 243 combined horsepower. The electric motors assisted with acceleration and allowed for low-speed electric-only driving. However, the gas engine's 175 lb-ft of torque limited high-speed passing power. The Highlander Hybrid offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with AWD and a Trail mode for light off-road use. Despite its focus on fuel economy, the Highlander Hybrid returned 8.2 L/100 km on the evaluation loop, higher than the expected 6.7 L/100 km. The driving experience was uninspiring, with soft suspension and a noisy CVT, making it suitable for city and suburban driving.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 847 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,809 litres with the seats folded. While not the largest in its class, it provided ample passenger space, with good headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, with plenty of storage options and a nearly silent power liftgate. A panoramic sunroof was available on all trims except the base LS.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim and configuration. Most models featured second-row captain's chairs, making the third row suitable only for occasional use. Standard equipment included three-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats in the Platinum package. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, with sunshades for added protection. However, accessing the third row was challenging, and the seats were uncomfortable for adults. The Highlander Hybrid offered 453 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,387 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a simple yet effective technology offering, with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and an 8-inch display in the Premier. While not as flashy as competitors, the system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Premier trim included a wireless charging pad, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot standard across all trims. The upgraded driver-information display offered useful features, and a Bose audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display in upper trims. The infotainment system featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 12.3-inch display in the Limited, with over-the-air updates, dual-device Bluetooth pairing, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Drive Connect service plan offered advanced features like natural voice recognition and cloud-based navigation. The test vehicle included a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system, though the graphics could be improved for better visibility.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came equipped with a suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and lane-keeping assistance. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional on lower trims. While the Equinox received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, it scored poorly in IIHS crash tests, with a Poor rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and a Marginal score in the side-impact test.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid excelled in safety, with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, with additional features like parking sensors and a surround-view camera in higher trims. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, though the ADAS occasionally struggled with lane markings and rural roads.