2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Buick Encore GX

Does anyone remember the first-generation Chevrolet Equinox Sport? It represented the one time Chevy tried to make its compact crossover SUV something more than a bread-and-butter commuter vessel, and it lasted all of 2 years.

A decade later, the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox remains a basic tool of its trade, serving drivers who want more foul-weather capability, more cargo space, and a higher driving position than a Malibu midsize sedan can provide, but not much in the way of excitement. That the Malibu is currently cruising toward its sunset while the Equinox is one of the best-selling vehicles in America underscores the dramatic change in automotive consumer preferences that has taken place during the past 10 years.

Built in Mexico, the Chevy Equinox comes in L, LS, LT, and Premier trim levels. For 2020, a new Midnight Edition appearance package debuts for LT trim, and three new colors are available. A light refresh is planned for the 2022 model year when Chevy will tighten up the styling, expand safety equipment availability, and once again try to make the Equinox sporty, this time with a new RS trim level.

Buick should have named this SUV the Enigma. It would fit with Buick family monikers including Encore, Envision, and Enclave, and it would describe the genuine confusion surrounding the small SUV, which debuted last year. Of course, the confusion is due in part to its actual name, which is Encore GX.

Larger, more powerful, and better looking than the standard Encore, the Encore GX sounds like it’s nothing more than a new trim level for an existing model. But it’s a totally different vehicle from the Encore. And, strangely, it has a lower base price than the smaller and older Encore.

See? Quite the enigma.