2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured several styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. The grille was more upright and flanked by large fake air intakes, giving the Equinox a chunkier appearance. The dashboard design was creative, with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, although the interior felt too subdued.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid had a cleaner, more minimalistic interior with contemporary textures and backlit ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury model featured beautiful Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. The RX 500h also had a more aggressive exterior with a blacked-out grille and matte-black 21-inch wheels. Despite its popularity, the RX's design was not considered gorgeous, with a blunt nose and a visually shortened rear end.

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, making it feel responsive in city driving but coarse and unresponsive at higher speeds. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough, and the vehicle lacked sporty handling and refinement compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h produced 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with an estimated 36 mpg in combined driving. It accelerated to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. It featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, making it more fun to drive. However, the RX 500h's fuel economy was lower, averaging 20.9 mpg compared to the RX 350h's 32 mpg.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had 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 Equinox offered a tall seating position and an unobstructed forward view, but rear visibility was hampered by a small rear window. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid also had seating for five, with the RX 350h Luxury model offering ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard leather. The battery packs were housed under the back seat, providing excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. Cargo space was improved, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, although it still fell short compared to some rivals.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came 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 Bose 7-speaker audio system. The infotainment system was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons. However, the center-console slot for phones was too small, and tech-savvy buyers might long for more features.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new infotainment system called Lexus Interface, which required activation of connected services plans after complimentary trial subscriptions. The system included Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The touchscreen was large but could only display one menu at a time, and it suffered from reflections. The available head-up display had dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which were unmarked and distracting to use.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned a "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. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included new features like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. It also had Proactive Driving Assist, which slowed the vehicle when the accelerator pedal was released. The front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed reduction tech had some irritations, and the driver monitoring system could be blocked by the driver's arm. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, although the latter was not tested.