2021 Lexus GX vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years. The GX adopted Lexus’ trademark spindle grille in 2014, which was further updated in 2020 with a new textured insert and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t see any major styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim level, with 19-inch wheels also available. Despite not being originally designed around the spindle grille, the GX’s styling remained coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its tough, aggressive look. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury SUV standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received several styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, along with subtle changes to the rear fascia. The headlights were bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving the Equinox a sleeker look. The grille appeared more upright, flanked by large fake air intakes, making the 2022 model look chunkier than its predecessor. The Equinox embraced its car-based crossover identity, avoiding the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape, striking a balance for some buyers. The dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and the materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, giving it a bit more personality.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept it simple in the powertrain department with a single engine option: a 4.6-liter V8 producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier generation of SUVs. The V8 engine provided ample grunt when moving away from a stop, with a zero to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, the GX’s 5,130-pound weight was noticeable at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. Stopping the SUV also required advanced planning, and the ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the refinement of modern unibody SUVs. Despite its traditional SUV driving experience, the GX excelled in off-road capability with a Torsen center differential, standard 4WD system with a low range, and several driver aids. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, multi-view camera system, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX 460 had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and a respectable 8.1 inches of ground clearance.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, offered a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. In stop-and-go driving, the Equinox’s torque was appreciated, with peak torque available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. However, at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher rpm. The automatic transmission’s shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox wasn’t designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V. However, it was decently comfortable even on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics betrayed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that left little legroom. The steering wheel was positioned at an odd angle, and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited due to the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with a small center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, but the third row was best reserved for children. Accessing the third row was difficult, and cargo space was limited with the third row up. With the second and third-row seats folded, the GX offered 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Land Rover Discovery’s 73.0 cubic feet.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with a decent amount of headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good for the segment, but some competitors offered more legroom for front seat occupants. The tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, but the rear pillars created a bit of a blind spot, and the small rear window hampered rear visibility. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed below the touchscreen, making them easy to use. The Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked a sliding second-row seat and cargo-area storage bins found in some competitors.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity as standard, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions, with a seven-segment display for time and temperature. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels got an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The 8-inch touchscreen was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a major advantage, and the Equinox offered plenty of USB ports and power outlets. However, the center-console slot for a phone was too small.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX missed out on some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top “Good” scores in most IIHS crash tests but got a “Marginal” rating in the updated side crash test. It received the highest “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox also received an “Acceptable” score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a Safety Alert Seat, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera system.