2022 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured several styling changes that year, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. It also had some subtle rear fascia changes. The new headlights, bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, provided a sleek look. The grille appeared more upright, flanked by large fake air intakes, giving it a chunkier appearance compared to previous models.

Chevy stayed true to the car-based crossover look, avoiding the rugged styling seen in the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Yet, with its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia, the Equinox looked less car-like than the Ford Escape, placing it somewhere in between rugged and sleek. Unfortunately, Chevy did not add distinctive styling features like Hyundai’s Tucson with its unique front lighting.

Inside, the dashboard was split into two petal-like elements with a central touchscreen and large air vents, creating a cohesive and creative design. The materials and fit-and-finish were commendable for its price range. Most trims provided cloth seats, while perforated leather was optional. The RS model sported black exterior trim, 19-inch darkened wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, lending it a distinct personality but perhaps a bit too subdued.

In contrast, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 appeared mostly unchanged at first glance, though it had new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheels. The top-line Signature trim featured body-color lower exterior trim, aiming to cement Mazda's move towards a premium brand image.

Inside, the CX-5's interior retained its luxurious feel, especially in the Signature trim, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. New seats significantly improved comfort, an area that previously drew criticism. The sportier driving position and a height-adjustable front passenger seat enhanced ergonomics and convenience, absent in many of its competitors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a single powertrain option—a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine outputting 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. With a six-speed automatic transmission, the Equinox offered standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

While the Equinox had more torque than many rivals, it lagged in horsepower. For example, the Honda CR-V’s 1.5-liter turbo-four engine produced 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque, while the Nissan Rogue’s turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder generated 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. The Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 featured naturally aspirated engines producing 182 hp and 176 lb-ft, and 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, respectively.

In city driving, the Equinox's torque was advantageous, enabling swift starts. However, at higher speeds, the lower horsepower was noticeable, with the engine feeling coarse and unresponsive, especially during highway overtakes. The automatic transmission’s shifts were occasionally rough. Unlike the Mazda CX-5, the Equinox wasn’t designed for sporty handling and lacked the solidity and refinement offered by the Honda CR-V.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, competitive for a base engine. The new model year featured a revised six-speed automatic transmission for more responsive performance and standard all-wheel drive. Its fuel economy was commendable at 26 mpg combined.

For those preferring turbocharged engines, the 2.5 Turbo variant offered 256 hp (with premium gas) and 320 pound-feet of torque. On regular gas, it delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. Like the 2.5 S, the Turbo models came with the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD, achieving a combined 24 mpg, though our testing saw 21.1 mpg in mostly Normal mode.

Mazda's improved suspension tuning and increased structural rigidity resulted in a quieter, smoother, yet sportier ride. The 2022 CX-5 nearly eliminated body roll and ride chop, providing sure-footed grip and a blend of compliance and composure. The enhanced driving dynamics positioned the CX-5 as a standout in its class, rivaling even entry-level luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered a practical, if somewhat unremarkable, interior layout. It accommodated five passengers across two rows. Headroom was ample in both rows, and second-row legroom was decent, though front-seat passengers might find competitors more generous. A significant drawback was the lack of telescoping steering wheel adjustment, which, combined with limited front legroom, made finding a comfortable driving position challenging.

The tall seating position was a strong point, providing the elevated view many SUV buyers favor. Visibility was clear to the front due to the sloping hood, but rear visibility was slightly compromised by the rear pillars and a small rear window.

Controls for the dual-zone automatic climate control were placed below the touchscreen, easy to locate and operate without navigating the touchscreen menus. The layout was sensible, with small knobs displaying the current temperature.

In terms of cargo space, the Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with them folded, which was below average for its segment. While a power liftgate was available, it lacked features like the Ford Escape’s sliding second-row seat or the Nissan Rogue’s cargo-area storage bins.

The Mazda CX-5 also seated five, but its interior design and functionality saw significant improvements. The new seats eradicated previous complaints, providing a comfortable and supportive experience. The driving position was sportier with an improved relationship to the steering wheel and controls. Unlike many competitors, the height-adjustable front passenger seat added to comfort and convenience.

The rear seat remained snug, but features like heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents enhanced passenger comfort. The control layout was initially frustrating due to the non-touchscreen Mazda Connect infotainment system, but familiarity improved usability. Storage options were modest, with small bins and limited space but practical additions like wireless smartphone charging.

Cargo capacity in the CX-5 was 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with them folded. These numbers were unremarkable compared to typical crossovers but favorable against entry-level luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The instrument cluster had a 3.5-inch display screen between the analog gauges. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available but not standard.

The 8-inch touchscreen in our test car was responsive and user-friendly. The Chevy MyLink system’s large, smartphone-like menu icons enhanced usability, and the screen graphics were satisfactory for its class. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity was a major plus, as most competitors still required a cord. Multiple USB ports and power outlets were useful, though the center-console slot for a phone fell short in size.

In contrast, the 2022 Mazda CX-5’s Mazda Connect infotainment system had a larger 10.25-inch display but lacked touchscreen capability, relying on center console and steering wheel controls. Mazda believed touchscreens caused distractions and did not include natural voice recognition, necessitating manual interaction.

While acclimation to Mazda's system was possible, many users preferred the inclusion of touchscreen functionality and better voice recognition, features available in yet competitive brands. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services with a generous three-year trial.

Starting from the 2.5 S Premium trim, the CX-5 featured a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio, providing decent audio quality though Mazda generally lagged behind luxury competitors in technology integration.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox earned excellent safety ratings. The IIHS awarded it top "Good" scores in most crash tests, though it received a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It obtained the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, but four stars in rollover tests.

Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian braking, forward collision warning, following distance indicator, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Safety Alert Seat. Optional features covered adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera, while competitors like the Honda CR-V came with some of these features standard.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 did not cut corners on safety. Its robust structural engineering was paired with the standard i-Activsense package, featuring adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Higher trims included additional safety features. The 2.5 S Premium added adaptive headlights, while the 2.5 Turbo Signature offered a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, a driver monitoring system, and Traffic Jam Assist.

Mazda's i-Activsense technology was mostly intuitive, though moderate traffic conditions occasionally revealed delays in adaptive responses. The head-up display showing blind-spot warnings was a user-friendly highlight. The IIHS rated the 2022 CX-5 as a "Top Safety Pick+," a distinction few competitors matched.