2022 Lexus GX vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured 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 it a sleeker look. The grille appeared more upright and was flanked by large fake air intakes, making the 2022 Equinox look chunkier than the previous model. The Equinox maintained its car-based crossover appearance, 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 design was creative, with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and materials and fit and finish were decent for the price. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, though the interior felt too subdued.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, available in Black Onyx, Starfire Pearl, or Nori Green Pearl, eradicated almost all chrome from the exterior, transforming the SUV into a rolling black hole. However, the Lexus GX looked old, with a design reminiscent of the first-generation 2002 GX 470. Inside, the cabin's quality was undeniable, with smooth, silky refinement and a quiet atmosphere, save for the faint roar of the standard V8 engine. The GX 460 was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the GX 460 Premium, started at $60,535.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. In city driving, the turbo-four engine provided good torque for stop-and-go situations, but at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were a bit rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V, though it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. This powertrain allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds and achieve a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. A six-speed automatic transmission paired with a full-time 4WD system, sending 40% of the power to the front wheels and 60% to the rear in normal conditions. The GX's drag coefficient of 0.35, combined with the V8 engine and 4WD system, resulted in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped maximize wheel articulation off-road while improving stability on pavement. However, the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal detracted from the driving experience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, some competitors provided more front legroom, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made it difficult to find a comfortable driving position. The Equinox's tall seating position and sloping hood provided an unobstructed forward view, though the rear pillars created a bit of a blind spot. The rear window hampered rear visibility somewhat. The Equinox had 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 features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position from a 10-way power-adjustable seat with clear outward visibility. The GX's tall height, narrow width, and short length made it easy to maneuver in various situations. The seats were comfortable, and the interior featured physical controls clearly labeled in white on a matte-black background. However, the placement of the stereo and off-roading controls was confusing. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and the back seats were heated. The GX's third-row seat was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults, and it eliminated cargo space when in use. The GX had 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, 46.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second-row seat folded.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels received 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 significant advantage, and the Equinox offered plenty of USB ports and power outlets. However, the center-console slot for a phone was too small.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX also had a CD player, a Lexus app compatible with smartwatches, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system was available but not installed in the test vehicle. The stereo controls were awkwardly placed below the off-roading controls, making them harder to use. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. For 2022, Lexus made its Intuitive Parking Assist technology standard, and the GX could be upgraded with surround-view and terrain-view cameras.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but received a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and the second-tier "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox 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.

The 2022 Lexus GX lacked crash-test ratings due to its age. However, it came with standard Lexus Safety System+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The GX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling, complimentary for three years. The GX lacked some modern safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and other advanced driving aids.