2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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 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 Lincoln Aviator offered a choice of powertrains, including a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring models featured a plug-in hybrid version of the V6, adding a 75-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with standard AWD. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, with the top-of-the-line Black Label Grand Touring model costing $91,225. The Aviator's design was appealing, with the most successful execution of the modern Lincoln face. However, the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were too plain, and the multi-spoke machined-finish rims did not justify the high price. The Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence, electric door handles, and ambient cabin lighting added a touch of luxury, though the electronic door latches could pinch fingers. Inside, the Black Label Grand Touring featured high-end materials, but some chrome detailing and stitching looked cheap. The key fob also felt too inexpensive for a luxury vehicle, though the Phone As A Key digital key technology was a convincing alternative.

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. For example, 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 Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 used larger naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines, with outputs of 182 hp and 176 lb-ft for the Subaru and 203 hp and 184 lb-ft for the Toyota. The Equinox's torque was appreciated in stop-and-go driving, but the lack of horsepower was noticeable at higher speeds. The engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher rpm, and the automatic transmission's shifts were rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V, though it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, generated an impressive 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The EPA estimated 21 miles of electric driving range and 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Tow/Haul. During an extended evaluation drive, the Aviator achieved 22.3 miles of electric driving range, with a fuel economy equivalent to 163.4 mpg. Over 94.7 miles, it averaged 24.3 mpg. The Aviator's powertrain was powerful but sometimes unpredictable, with inconsistent acceleration and braking behavior. The Dynamic Handling Package with adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension helped manage the extra weight, providing a flat, predictable cornering stance. However, the Aviator wasn't particularly fun to drive, even in the Excite mode, with heavy and numb steering. It excelled in providing a quiet, smooth ride, ideal for gliding down highways and byways.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom in both rows 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, near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but it lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in competitors.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and automatic heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The massaging, 30-way Perfect Position front seats were highly comfortable, and the second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive. However, the third-row seat was not suitable for adults, with limited kneeroom and legroom. The Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the third-row seats in use, 41.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and a maximum of 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

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, 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 and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a major advantage, and the Equinox offered plenty of USB ports and power outlets. However, the center-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was loaded with technology, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect connected services, SiriusXM satellite radio, and navigation. However, it ran Lincoln's outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system was spectacular, and the warning chimes recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra were a nice touch. The Aviator also featured wireless charging, Phone As A Key digital key system, digital instrumentation, and a comprehensive head-up display. The front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful, though the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system was not tested.

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 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. 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 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 Lincoln Aviator came with Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 collections of driver aids, depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle included automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The driver aids performed well on straight highways with light traffic but struggled in denser traffic and wider freeways. The IIHS awarded the standard Aviator a Top Safety Pick, and the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating.