2022 Nissan Armada 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 interior featured a creative dashboard design 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 Nissan Armada, closely related to the Nissan Titan and Nissan Patrol, was a large SUV with a commanding presence. It measured 208.9 inches in length, 75.8 inches in height, and 79.9 inches in width, with a minimum ground clearance of 9.1-9.2 inches and a step-in height of nearly two feet. The Armada's exterior featured sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and tasteful chrome accents, including sharp-looking vents on the front fenders. The tailgate had a large expanse of convex glass and big taillamps. Available in seven colors, the Armada was beautifully finished with deep, rich paint and lustrous chrome. Wheel options ranged from 18-inch on the S and SV models to 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels on the Platinum, which filled the wheel arches and added sparkle.

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. For instance, the Honda CR-V's 1.5-liter turbo-four produced 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque, while the Nissan Rogue's turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine delivered 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. The Equinox's torque was appreciated in stop-and-go driving, but at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling and lacked the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V, though it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with a naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard, with four-wheel drive (4WD) available, both using a seven-speed automatic transmission. RWD models earned an EPA rating of 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined, while 4WD versions achieved 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined. The Armada weighed between 5,650 and 6,034 pounds and could carry up to eight passengers and tow up to 8,500 pounds. The Armada's performance was impressive, with no difficulty in accelerating from a stoplight or merging onto the freeway. The standard 13.8-inch vented disc brakes with hydraulic brake assist and electronic brake force distribution provided effective stopping power. The Armada's four-wheel independent suspension delivered a supple, controlled ride, even on rutted roads. The tall ground clearance and ample torque made off-roading tempting, though our test vehicle didn't venture beyond gravel and dirt roads.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with a decent amount of headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good for the segment, though 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. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked a sliding second-row seat and cargo-area storage bins found in some competitors.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was designed to transport seven to eight people in comfort and style. The first row featured two comfortable bucket seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way power adjustment for the front-seat passenger, both with power lumbar adjustment. The second row offered a fold-flat 60/40-split bench seat or available captain's chairs, with an optional removable center console. The third-row 60/40 split bench seat was roomy enough for three passengers and could be equipped with power folding and reclining functions. The Armada's interior featured nine cupholders, four bottle holders, and storage cubbies throughout the cabin. The Armada offered 16.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third-row seats, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with the second row down. A power liftgate was standard on SL and Platinum models, optional on the S.

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 major advantage, as most competitors still required users to plug in. The Equinox also offered multiple USB ports and power outlets, though the center-console slot for a phone was too small. Overall, the infotainment system covered the bases without too much fuss.

The 2022 Nissan Armada featured standard NissanConnect technology with a 12.3-inch color touchscreen in a horizontal orientation, allowing for a customizable split-screen option. Standard tech features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging pad (on all but S models), NissanConnect telematics services, navigation, hands-free text messaging, a rear-view monitor, satellite radio capability, and a proximity key with push-button start. The audio system for the base S trim level included four speakers, while the SV added two more. The SL and Platinum models featured a Bose-branded audio system with 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and a digital amplifier. All models came with USB-A and USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and redundant steering wheel audio controls. Platinum models also included a "Family Entertainment System" with dual 8-inch headrest monitors and wireless headphones.

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 also 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 Nissan Armada came with a comprehensive list of standard passive and active safety and driver-assistance features. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 included high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other active safety systems included adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and rear-door alert. An available intelligent rear-view mirror provided a high-resolution camera view on an LCD monitor. The Armada featured dual-stage front supplemental airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags for all three rows. A trailer brake controller was standard on SV, SL, and Platinum models, while trailer sway control was standard on the SL and Platinum. The IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the 2022 Nissan Armada.