2022 Lexus NX 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 redesigned 2022 Lexus NX, available in four model series, showcased a design that was unmistakably Lexus, thanks to its jutting spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The NX was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. Most NX models featured NuLuxe simulated leather, while the NX Luxury included real leather and open-pore wood trim. The NX 350 F Sport distinguished itself with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and black mirrors. Inside, sport-bolstered seats and a black headliner defined the sporty version, with a new F Sport steering wheel and unique instrumentation. The interior adopted a minimalist look, with many functions integrated into the available 14-inch touchscreen, which could be challenging to use quickly. Physical controls for frequently used functions remained, and the new electronic shifter was easy to acclimate to. Quality levels were generally high, though the turn signal felt inexpensive.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and 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 fun-to-drive nature of the Mazda CX-5 and the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V, though it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, with FWD and optional AWD. Both models offered Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, with the NX 350 F Sport adding Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. The turbocharged 2.4-liter engine didn't sound as smooth as German rivals, and there was more road and wind noise than expected. The NX wasn't suitable for off-road use, with limited ground clearance and approach/departure angles.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom in both rows and good second-row legroom. However, some competitors offered more front seat legroom, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made it difficult to find a comfortable driving position. The tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, though 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, avoiding the need to dig into menus. 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 it lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room for people and cargo, though it felt more intimate from the driver's seat due to the new dashboard design. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for the front seats, and Lexus thoughtfully padded the driver's door panel and center console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports. The panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat. The NX Luxury trim included a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes. The climate system and ventilated front seats performed well in triple-digit heat. The NX offered 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, increasing to 46.9 cubic feet with the seats 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 offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen, with available navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system. 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 infotainment system covered the basics well, allowing easy access to software features.

The 2022 Lexus NX took a significant leap forward in technology with the new Lexus Interface infotainment system. It featured large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, music streaming from popular services, and cloud-based features. The 9.8-inch touchscreen display was standard, with a 14-inch screen as an optional upgrade. Both versions included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and readiness for five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands, and Lexus included a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect service. Additional technologies included a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and User Profiles for storing preferences and settings. The 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and dust, and it lacked a tuning knob, which was a drawback.

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 earned the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention 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 it 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 NX included the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) collection of technologies, featuring several new advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). These included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist technology. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, rain-sensing wipers, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.