2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier trim, equipped with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive (AWD), a power panoramic sunroof, and a Confidence and Convenience II option package, was priced at $40,040, including the $1,195 destination charge. Despite its high price, Chevrolet factored in expected rebates and incentives, such as a $4,500 discount at the time of writing. The Equinox Premier boasted a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing, giving it a sophisticated look. Inside, the Jet Black and Brandy leather interior, panoramic sunroof, and polished metallic accents created an upscale appearance, though the presence of hard and shiny plastic detracted from the overall feel.

The 2021 Lexus NX, available in NX 300, NX 300 F Sport, and NX 300h hybrid versions, carried over Lexus's familial design and styling attributes. The NX featured sharp design lines, power-folding outside mirrors, and 17-inch wheels as standard. The NX F Sport variant added sportier elements like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the F Sport models had exclusive quilted NuLuxe sport seats with optional Circuit Red interior color schemes. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a familiar gauge cluster and a 4.2-inch multi-information display. However, the center stack design appeared outdated, and the G-Force meter seemed more gimmicky than functional.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version averaged 24.3 mpg, below the EPA's 28 mpg combined rating. The optional 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine delivered 252 hp at 5,500 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This version averaged 22.1 mpg, slightly less than the EPA's 24 mpg combined rating. Both versions had firm ride qualities and more road and wind noise than desirable. The Premier's 19-inch wheels provided a more athletic feel on winding roads, with well-controlled body motions and natural steering and braking response.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds, with some noise under hard acceleration. The F Sport models featured Active Sound Control to enhance the engine note electronically. The NX offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system could transfer up to 50 percent of torque to the rear axle. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while the AWD version had a combined rating of 24 mpg. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed of 124 mph. The adaptive-suspension system provided a smooth and comfortable driving experience, though the steering was numb.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox LS had cloth upholstery with a 10-way power driver’s seat, while the Premier trim featured leather, an 8-way power front passenger’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Both trims were comfortable but could benefit from longer seat cushions. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. Cargo volume was 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The cabin offered plenty of storage, including a large center console storage bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and good legroom for two adults in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seat had a 60/40 split-folding design. The NX offered 17.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it one of the smallest in its class. A power liftgate with kick sensor technology and power-folding rear seats were available. The cabin was quiet, with minimal road and wind noise.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays, Bluetooth pairing for two devices, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Premier trim had the larger high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system. Wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system were also available.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system included HomeLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Lexus Enform Destination Assist. Standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus Premium Audio system had eight speakers, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system. The Lexus Enform Remote mobile app allowed users to control various functions remotely, and Lexus Enform Services Connect provided maintenance alerts.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. A reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology were also standard. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Lexus NX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Optional features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA and had no recalls at the time of writing. Lexus provided a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.