2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox showcased several styling updates, presenting a more modern and refined exterior. It featured a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. The headlights were divided by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving a somewhat sleeker appearance, while the grille itself appeared more upright and was flanked by large, fake air intakes. These changes contributed to a chunkier look compared to the previous year's model.

The Equinox’s design didn’t attempt to imitate rugged SUVs like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4; instead, it maintained a car-based crossover appearance. However, its tall roof line and puffed-up front fascia made it seem less car-like than the Ford Escape, striking a middle ground that might have appealed to some buyers. Inside, the dashboard was creatively divided into two petal-like elements, housing a touchscreen and two large air vents at the center. This design was both aesthetic and functional, and the materials and fit and finish were considered decent for the price. Cloth seats were standard on most trims, but perforated leather was available.

The new RS model of the Equinox introduced black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, a black interior with red stitching, and a model-specific shift knob. The exterior trim added personality, but the black interior was too subdued for some tastes, reminiscent of a taxi's interior.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to break away from the traditional minivan stigma. Toyota styled the front-end to resemble a Japanese bullet train, which was a significant departure from the usual minivan aesthetic. Most trims featured 18-inch wheels, with the XSE and Platinum trims offering 20-inch wheels for their front-wheel-drive (FWD) versions.

The Sienna offered a broad range of trim levels, from the base LE to the top-shelf Platinum, including a special 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim. The XLE trim, likely the starting point for value-conscious shoppers, added standard LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate, making it a practical choice for families.

Inside, the Sienna was designed for comfort and quality. The Platinum trim boasted high-quality brown leather upholstery and elegant wood-grain accents on the center console, creating a luxurious feel. The Sienna could seat seven or eight passengers depending on the trim, with the eight-seater versions capable of accommodating three car seats in the middle row, thanks to LATCH anchors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generated 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD).

In urban driving, the Equinox’s torque was quite beneficial, allowing it to navigate stop-and-go traffic smoothly. However, its relative lack of horsepower became evident at higher speeds. The engine lacked responsiveness at elevated RPMs, which made highway overtaking efforts feel labored. The automatic transmission’s shifts were also described as somewhat rough.

Even with its RS model, the Equinox wasn’t designed for sporty handling. It offered a comfortable ride, but lacked the fun factor found in the Mazda CX-5 and didn’t have the refinement of the Honda CR-V.

For the 2023 Toyota Sienna, Toyota opted for a hybrid-only powertrain. It featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front electric motors and an additional rear electric motor for AWD models. This combination delivered 245 net system horsepower. Despite being less powerful on paper compared to its competitors, the Sienna’s hybrid setup offered decent performance for daily driving.

The continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the Sienna wasn’t particularly pleasing, especially at higher rev ranges, producing an uninspiring sound. While the Sienna’s acceleration might have felt lackluster compared to the Honda Odyssey, its chassis and steering were a different story. The Sienna’s platform provided a nimble and comfortable driving experience, making it easy to maneuver around town and a confident cruiser on the highway.

Drivers appreciated the Sienna’s light steering feel, especially in city driving. The minivan also offered different driving modes: EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport. While Normal mode was adequately balanced, Eco mode was generally considered too dampened, and EV mode was difficult to maintain without the gas engine kicking in. Sport mode, despite its name, didn’t transform the Sienna into anything other than a well-behaved minivan.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had seating for five across two rows. It offered decent headroom in both rows but was slightly lacking in front legroom compared to some competitors. The high seating position provided a good forward view, but the rear pillars and small rear window somewhat hindered rear visibility. The climate control buttons and knobs were conveniently placed below the touchscreen, making them easily accessible without delving into the touchscreen's menus.

Cargo space in the Equinox was relatively limited, with 29.9 cubic feet available behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. These figures were near the bottom of the segment. While a power liftgate was available, the lack of a sliding second-row seat or equivalent cargo-area storage bins, like those in the Nissan Rogue, was a drawback.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. The minivan’s vast interior storage solutions included a large cubby below the center console, a long shelf extending across the dash, a big bin in the center console, and numerous cupholders. These features made it exceedingly practical for families.

With over 200 inches in length and a 120.5-inch wheelbase, the Sienna maximized its spacious platform. It offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a total of 101 cubic feet with both rear rows of seats down. Although the total cargo space fell short of competing minivans like the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica, the Sienna’s middle-row seats provided exceptional comfort, thanks to extending ottomans and a long sliding track.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen, with available navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system.

The MyLink infotainment system was praised for its usability and fairly good screen graphics, although tech-savvy buyers might have desired a larger screen or more advanced features. The inclusion of wireless smartphone integration was a significant advantage.

On the technology front, the 2023 Toyota Sienna used an older infotainment interface. Core features included SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional navigation system. The Sienna had seven USB ports throughout the cabin. While the system's physical buttons were appreciated for their functionality, the interface itself felt outdated and could be cumbersome to use. For example, accessing Android Auto required navigating through the menu each time, and there was no dedicated shortcut for it. Despite these quirks, the tech in the Sienna was reliable, with a 9-inch touchscreen that didn’t seem undersized, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system that provided good sound quality.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received impressive safety scores. It earned top “Good” ratings in most IIHS crash tests but received a “Marginal” score in the updated side crash test. It achieved the highest “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention and a second-tier “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA awarded the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test.

Standard safety features on the Equinox included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, like its predecessor, was a standout in terms of safety. It came standard with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Important in a family vehicle, these features provided added security.

The Sienna received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and the 2022 model, which shared the same mechanicals, was awarded the Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. While competitors also achieved high safety ratings, Toyota focused on essential safety features without adding more gimmicky options like Honda’s CabinTalk or Chrysler’s FamCam.