2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Buick Encore GX had an unmistakable family resemblance to its sibling, the Encore, making it difficult to distinguish between the two at a glance, especially if they were painted the same color. Both SUVs showcased Buick's signature trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, a high beltline, and similar headlight styling, front fascia designs, and fog light placements. Despite having almost identical silhouettes, the Encore GX, with its slightly longer wheelbase and additional length of three inches, managed to avoid looking quite as squat and stubby as the Encore.

Visually, the Encore GX was quite a handsome small SUV, particularly when equipped with the optional ST (Sport Touring) appearance package. This option enhanced its aesthetic with body-color bodyside and rocker moldings, custom grille and sport bumpers with red accents, 18-inch aluminum wheels with gloss inserts, and an "ST" badge on the liftgate. Buyers also had the option of a Black Roof package, though the tested vehicle lacked this feature.

Inside, the Encore GX offered an attractive, albeit not truly premium, cabin. Soft-touch materials were more generous than expected, and hard plastics were kept to a minimum. Base models featured standard cloth seats, while the top Essence trim came with standard leather seats. The test vehicle sported heated seats covered in Whisper Beige leather with Ebony accents, which added a touch of contrast to the overall interior aesthetic.

The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel had just the right size and thickness, providing plenty of handy redundant controls. However, the rotary toggles and dials embedded in the steering wheel spokes were somewhat cumbersome. Despite this minor inconvenience, all other controls and instrumentation were straightforward, clearly legible, and easy to use—an approach that Buick’s customers appreciated.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received notable styling updates for the model year, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, alongside subtle changes to the rear fascia. The new headlights were now bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving the Equinox a somewhat sleeker appearance. The grille looked more upright, and was flanked by large, fake air intakes, which made the 2022 Equinox appear chunkier than its predecessor.

The Equinox embraced its identity as a car-based crossover and did not attempt the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4. However, the Equinox’s tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia lent it a less car-like appearance than the Ford Escape, a middle ground that might appeal to some buyers. Nevertheless, some critics thought Chevy could have infused the Equinox with more distinctive styling features.

Inside, the dashboard was creatively split into two petal-like elements, with a touchscreen and two large air vents at the center. This design element formed a coherent whole, which was more effort than typically seen in commodity crossovers. The material quality and fit and finish were decent for the price point. Most trim levels came with standard cloth seats, though perforated leather upholstery was available.

The new RS model introduced black exterior trim instead of chrome, darkened 19-inch wheels, a black interior with red stitching, and a model-specific shift knob. While the exterior trim of the RS added personality, the subdued black interior was not to everyone's taste, invoking a taxi-like feel.

For 2022, the Buick Encore GX came with a choice of two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The base 1.2-liter engine produced 137 horsepower, while the slightly larger 1.3-liter engine generated 155 hp. The 1.2-liter unit was standard on the Preferred and Select trims, whereas the 1.3-liter engine was standard on the top Essence trim and optional on the other trims.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) was the standard for all trims, but all-wheel drive (AWD) was available across the board. FWD models featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), whereas AWD models used a traditional nine-speed automatic transmission.

In practice, the 1.3-liter turbo engine paired with the CVT proved to be surprisingly capable. While it did exhibit some buzziness and harshness typical of a small three-cylinder engine, it delivered the necessary power when needed, such as merging onto highways or overtaking. The engine's stop/start feature, aimed at improving fuel economy, could be somewhat annoying, though an override system was available. Despite adequate power and drama-free handling, the driving dynamics were uninspiring. The ride was less settled than expected from a Buick, and interior noise levels were higher than anticipated, despite Buick's emphasis on QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technologies.

On the other hand, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was pared down to a single powertrain option—a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. All Equinox trims came with a six-speed automatic transmission, offering Standard Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or Optional All-Wheel Drive (AWD).

While the Equinox boasted more torque than many of its rivals, it fell short in horsepower. For example, the Honda CR-V's 1.5-liter turbo-four engine delivered 190 hp, and the Nissan Rogue's turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine produced 201 hp. Even the naturally aspirated engines in the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 offered outputs of 182 hp and 203 hp, respectively.

On the road, the Equinox's torque shone in stop-and-go driving, with peak torque accessible between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, making urban driving a breeze. However, at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became evident. The engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher rpm, providing the required power for highway overtaking only reluctantly. Additionally, the six-speed automatic transmission's shifts felt somewhat rough.

Despite its sporty RS trim, the Equinox was not designed for spirited handling. Buyers seeking a small crossover with engaging driving dynamics might look towards alternatives like the Mazda CX-5. However, the Equinox managed to provide decent comfort even on poorly maintained roads, though it lacked the solidity and refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V.

Though the Buick Encore GX was a compact vehicle, it never felt cramped or uncomfortable during testing. Buick's attention to ergonomics was apparent, ensuring easy ingress and egress, user-friendly controls, and excellent visibility. The seat hip points were ideally positioned for easy access, and buttons, controls, and switchgear were clearly marked and readable. The slightly elevated ride height compared to a traditional car improved all-around visibility, further aided by the optional rear camera mirror.

Front-seat headroom and legroom were adequate, but rear-seat knee room was tight. Although the rear bench had three seat belts, comfortably fitting three adults was a stretch. Cargo space in the Encore GX measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. Comparatively, the smaller Encore held 18.8 cubic feet and 48.4 cubic feet, respectively. The Encore GX's cargo area, while not exceptionally spacious, was not a significant drawback. With the front passenger seat and rear seats folded flat, it could accommodate items up to eight feet long (positioned diagonally). A notable feature was the two-level cargo floor, designed to create a flat load surface when the rear seats were folded. Additionally, the optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, with an adjustable maximum height for easier access.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, similar to most competitors in its segment. Headroom was ample in both rows, and second-row legroom was decent, although some rivals offered slightly more legroom for front-seat occupants. Personal experience highlighted this shortfall, with the lack of a telescoping steering wheel making it challenging to find a comfortable driving position, even with the optional power driver's seat.

The Equinox boasted a high seating position, a key advantage of SUVs. The sloping hood provided an unobstructed forward view, though the rear pillars created minor blind spots. Still, these were not as severe as in some competitors. The relatively small rear window, however, did hinder rear visibility.

Chevrolet clustered climate control buttons and knobs below the touchscreen, creating an awkward appearance but ensuring easy access. The design kept drivers from needing to dig through touchscreen menus to adjust temperature. Small knobs displaying the current temperature were a user-friendly touch.

Cargo space in the Equinox was near the segment's lower end, with 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked a sliding second-row seat like the Ford Escape or the Nissan Rogue's cargo-area storage bins.

The Buick Encore GX offered impressive tech features given its price point. The standard Buick infotainment system featured an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services with a built-in WiFi hotspot, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio were also standard.

Navigation was available on Select and Essence trims, along with built-in Amazon Alexa capability. The tested Encore GX had a basic audio system, unexpectedly minimalist for such a tech-laden vehicle.

In terms of driver-assistance and safety features, the Encore GX came equipped with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The standard Driver Confidence package included automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The Advanced Technology package on the test vehicle added HD surround vision, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and a memory card receptacle. It also upgraded the infotainment system with navigation, advanced voice recognition, in-vehicle apps, and customizable user profiles. The Convenience package added automatic parking assist with braking, wireless phone charging, a rear camera mirror, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was seamless, with apps clearly laid out and easy to navigate. The voice-recognition system reliably performed tasks, making the Encore GX's infotainment intuitive even for less tech-savvy users.

The Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The instrument cluster included a standard 3.5-inch display screen between analog gauges, while higher trims featured 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 in the test car functioned without issues, with the Chevy MyLink system’s large, smartphone-like menu icons enhancing ease of use. While the graphics were not extraordinary, they were competent relative to the price range. The inclusion of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, as many competitors still required wired connections. USB ports and power outlets were plentiful, though the center-console slot meant for phones was too small.

Tech-savvy buyers might desire a larger screen or more features, but the Equinox's infotainment system sufficiently covered the basics, allowing easy access to software features without causing frustration.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX included several standard driver-assistance features, with additional safety options available. The crossover came with Teen Driver technology, which allowed owners to track driving habits, set speed and volume limits, and establish geographic boundary alerts. A tire-fill alert system was also included for maintaining optimal tire pressures.

The Encore GX excelled in crash tests, earning a maximum five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for overall crash protection, including five stars in both frontal and side crash tests and four stars for rollover resistance.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2022 Encore GX its highest "Good" ratings in all crash tests. The Encore GX also received differing results for crash avoidance and mitigation based on its headlights; the Essence trim’s LED headlights earned an "Acceptable" rating, while the Preferred and Select trims' halogen headlights received a "Marginal" rating. The crossover obtained "Superior" ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention.

The Chevrolet Equinox also performed well in safety tests. The 2022 Equinox received top “Good” scores in most IIHS crash tests, but a “Marginal” rating in the updated side crash test. It secured a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox achieved an "Acceptable" score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, though headlight ratings were pending.

The NHTSA awarded the 2022 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 with pedestrian braking, forward-collision warning, following distance indicator, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a Safety Alert Seat, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system.

Optional features comprised adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera system. Front and rear park assist parking sensors and automatic parking assist were also available, though adaptive cruise control was a standard feature on rivals like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.