2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox underwent several styling changes, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, along with subtle modifications 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 its predecessor. Unlike the rugged styling of the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, the Equinox maintained a car-based crossover appearance, though its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape. The dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and two 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, a black interior with red stitching, and a model-specific shift knob, giving it a bit more personality.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator received subtle styling updates, including new headlights and taillights, different wheel designs, and an updated Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence. The front end was restyled with an Audi-esque grille, which some felt reduced its elegance and presence. Inside, the Navigator dazzled with quality materials and a mid-century modern design, featuring Lincoln’s Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display was a significant upgrade, offering ample display acreage. The Navigator continued in standard and long-wheelbase styles with Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trim levels. The Black Label model featured a new Central Park theme with a green interior and second-row heated, ventilated, and massaging captain’s chairs.

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) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. It performed well in stop-and-go driving, with peak torque available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. However, at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive, and the automatic transmission’s shifts were a bit rough. The Equinox wasn’t designed for sporty handling and lacked the solidity and refinement of some competitors, though it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator retained its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The Navigator’s towing capacity ranged between 8,100 pounds and 8,700 pounds, depending on wheelbase and drivetrain selections. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview and the new electronic brake booster improved ride quality and brake response. The Navigator handled various driving conditions well, including snow and mud, thanks to its 4WD, 9.7 inches of ground clearance, and appropriate driving modes. It achieved an average fuel economy of 18.6 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with a decent amount of headroom and good second-row legroom. However, some competitors offered more legroom for front seat occupants. 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, making them easy to access. 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, which was near the bottom of the segment.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator’s 30-way power-adjustable front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The second-row captain’s chairs also offered heating, ventilation, and massaging features, and the third-row seat provided roomy accommodations. The Navigator offered generous storage and cargo space, with 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat (34.3 cubic feet for Navigator L), 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded (73.3 cubic feet for Navigator L), and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats collapsed (120.2 cubic feet in Navigator L).

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. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The infotainment system 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, though the center-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering two data panels for navigation and music details. The system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and included a voice recognition system that performed well, though it had some limitations. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV provided access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. The test vehicle also had a new 28-speaker Revel 3D high-end audio system, which delivered exceptional sound quality.

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 NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating. 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 Lincoln Navigator introduced several new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system was also newly standard. Intersection Assist could automatically brake during unsafe movements, while Road Edge Detection could steer the SUV away from the road edge. Active Park Assist 2.0 allowed the Navigator to take complete control for parking, and ActiveGlide provided semi-autonomous, hands-free driving on approved highways. ActiveGlide performed well within its operational limits but required the driver to remain attentive.