2023 Lincoln Navigator 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 appeared more upright and was flanked by large fake air intakes, giving the Equinox a chunkier look compared to the previous model. The headlights were bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, adding a sleeker touch. The Equinox maintained its car-based crossover appearance, avoiding the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. However, its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape. Inside, 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.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, rolled into 2023 without significant updates. The test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring the Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The interior was all black, with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, and ambient lighting added contrast at night. The Navigator Reserve’s cabin looked upscale and used quality materials, although some chrome plastic on the switchgear failed to convey luxury. The test vehicle also included the Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV streaming capability, although it went unused by the teenagers in the test.

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. In city driving, the turbo-four engine provided good torque for stop-and-go situations, 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 competitors like the Honda CR-V, although it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving, but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. Drivers could choose between five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Hill Climb mode available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension included Road Preview, which used the front camera to identify upcoming bumps. However, the Navigator’s ride quality was inconsistent, with the SUV riding like a truck over smaller cracks and bumps while floating over dips. In Excite mode, the suspension stiffened, solving most ride complaints but negatively impacting fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller on mountain roads, with excellent outward visibility and impressive grip from the big wheels and wide tires, but the steering was slow and lifeless, and the nearly three-ton curb weight challenged the brakes.

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, but some competitors offered more legroom for front seat occupants. The tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, although 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 features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in competitors.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. Power-deploying running boards made it easier to enter and exit the cabin. The test vehicle had Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, although the numerous adjustments made it difficult to find the perfect position. The second-row captain’s chairs were roomy and provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which could comfortably accommodate taller adults. Storage space was generous throughout the Navigator, with large trays and smaller compartments for third-row passengers. The extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats.

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 in the test car 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 numerous USB ports and power outlets, although the center-console slot for a phone was too small. Overall, the infotainment system covered the basics without too much fuss.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an available widescreen head-up display, a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system, and a control screen on the back of the center console. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition, and Alexa Built-in. Pairing an iPhone and using CarPlay was seamless, although the wireless smartphone charger made the phone uncomfortably hot. The digital assistant performed excellently, understanding and responding to commands accurately. The test vehicle also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing lush sound. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the Navigator using a digital key. The Lincoln Play system installed two touchscreens for rear-seat passengers, although they went unused by the teenagers in the test.

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 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 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a long list of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) bundled in the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. The test vehicle included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. BlueCruise struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones, and lacked a lane-change assist function. It also failed when another motorist suddenly cut in front of the Navigator, causing sudden and excessive braking. The NHTSA gave the Navigator a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating, but a full assessment of its crashworthiness was not available.