2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured a refreshed design with 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 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design, focusing on clean and simple lines. For those seeking attention, Land Rover offered limited flashy options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle arrived in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with various upgrades pushing the MSRP to $98,420. Highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights. The interior boasted luxurious materials like Windsor leather and Ultrafabrics, with a high-tech appearance and sustainable materials.

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). While the Equinox had more torque than most rivals, it lagged in horsepower. The Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4 all offered more horsepower. The Equinox's torque was appreciated in stop-and-go driving, but at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were rough, and the Equinox lacked sporty handling and the refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V. However, it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The SE P360 model had 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, offering 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport P530 models featured a 523-horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, though it was temporarily unavailable. The Range Rover Sport excelled in off-road capability, with features like adaptive damping air suspension, Dynamic driving mode, and various off-road technologies. It offered a smooth and comfortable ride, but its steering lacked involvement, and it struggled on twisty roads compared to competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, front seat legroom was limited, 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 rear visibility was hampered by the small rear window. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed, and the touchscreen was easy to use. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 29.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable inboard armrests. Our test vehicle featured Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and available massage and air purification features. The rear seat offered more legroom than before but remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat was deeply bucketed with excellent support, but the seatback angle was too reclined. Storage space was decent, with various bins and pockets. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare tire was included, and the cargo area featured handy storage solutions.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 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. 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 phones was too small, and tech-savvy buyers might desire more features.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. Wi-Fi access required an extra-cost data plan. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform was designed to learn user habits, but it proved confusing and frustrating during our evaluation. The native digital assistant struggled with basic commands, and the system's complexity detracted from the user experience. However, the Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but difficult to access.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but earned a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It achieved the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox received an "Acceptable" score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded 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 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with numerous advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard, aiding in water crossings during off-road driving. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology was unsatisfactory, especially on freeway curves, and required frequent driver intervention. The system struggled with inconsistent lane markings, making it challenging to trust.