2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2022 Ford Bronco, with its attractive retro styling and go-anywhere attitude, was one of the most sought-after vehicles. It returned with two new range-topping models: the Everglades and the Bronco Raptor. The Everglades model, built for swamp trekking and deep water, featured an intake snorkel, a Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco lineup expanded to seven trims, each with increasing off-road capabilities. Unfortunately, the 2022 models sold out quickly. Buyers could choose between two-door or four-door body styles, a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, and a removable roof with either a soft- or hard-top. The Bronco's design, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and tall ride height, was unapologetically utilitarian, featuring large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, a full-size spare, and modular construction for easy customization.

Inside, the Bronco continued its utilitarian theme with features like sealed switches, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and drain plugs for easy cleaning. The G.O.A.T. mode dial allowed drivers to select specific drive modes for different terrains. Despite its rugged look, the Bronco was equipped with modern technology, including a digital instrument panel, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a full complement of cameras. Advanced safety features were also available. The 2022 Ford Bronco combined brawn and brains to tackle challenging terrain and win over a broad audience, though its popularity led to high prices and limited availability.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as flashy as some competitors, was an attractive crossover with a restrained bodywork and a chunky front end that made the grille look smaller. The gold Bowtie emblem looked garish against some paint colors but lovely on others like Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic. Chevrolet introduced three new paint colors for 2023: Radiant Red Tintcoat, Sterling Gray Metallic, and Harvest Brown Metallic. The Equinox was available in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Equinox's thick C-pillar and big windows gave an impression of spaciousness, which was confirmed by the interior. The Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the interior looked a bit dated compared to some competitors, with a small touchscreen, a basic driver-information display, and many plastic buttons. Despite this, the Equinox was practical and easy to use, with a traditional PRNDL shift lever and large cupholders. The Confidence and Convenience II package added features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an HD surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control, making it a worthwhile investment.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered a base turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine was available with a seven-speed manual transmission, notable for its seventh crawl gear, while the V6 came with a mandatory 10-speed automatic transmission. All Broncos featured four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. Both engines provided ample power, with varying degrees of off-road prowess across the lineup. The Everglades model excelled in challenging terrain, handling deep-rutted muddy trails, deep water crossings, and steep rock climbs with ease.

On pavement, the Bronco impressed with its smooth ride and precise steering, making it a better road trip companion than its direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco tracked straight on the highway, and the ride was noticeably smoother, reducing driver fatigue. Wind noise was a minor complaint, but the absence of tire howl on pavement was a significant advantage. Overall, the Bronco excelled both off-road and on-road, making it a versatile and capable vehicle.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Despite the additional five horsepower for 2023, the Equinox didn't feel overly spritely. It handled low-speed acceleration well but struggled to accelerate above 30 miles per hour. The Equinox took about eight seconds to reach highway speed, making plenty of noise in the process. The six-speed automatic transmission, while older, held gears longer than newer transmissions, contributing to the powertrain's noise.

The Equinox offered AWD in all trims, but it required manual engagement via a button on the center console. The new electronically assisted brake-by-wire system provided smooth and predictable braking. The suspension handled bumps and potholes well, and the Equinox's chassis dynamics made it enjoyable to drive. Steering was tight and accurate, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's squared-off styling contributed to its spacious interior. Headroom was abundant, even for tall passengers, and there was plenty of legroom and lateral space. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required some effort, but grab handles and side steps helped. Cargo capacity varied by model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door hard top increased capacity to 35.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.6 cubic feet with them folded. The soft-top models offered slightly more space. Clever storage solutions included large armrest bins, netted door pockets, and rubberized phone trays. The Bronco also featured stowable doors and removable fender flares for added utility.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, outstripping the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. However, with the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo space was 63.9 cubic feet, less than most competitors. Passenger space was ample, with plenty of headroom and legroom for tall passengers. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, cup holders for every passenger, a decently sized center console bin, and good door pockets. The Premier trim's power liftgate operated nearly silently, adding to the vehicle's convenience.

The 2022 Ford Bronco smartly used technology to enhance its off-road capabilities while keeping the driver engaged. The G.O.A.T. modes provided off-road confidence for novice drivers, while seasoned off-roaders could manually select their preferred setups. The forward-looking trail camera, with overlay lines indicating tire travel, was particularly useful for navigating challenging terrain. The Trail Turn Assist feature allowed for sharper turns in tight spaces. The Bronco's Sync 4 infotainment system was quick, responsive, and loaded with helpful off-road apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an available wireless charging pad.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering was simple but effective. The 7-inch touchscreen in the LS, LT, and RS trims, and the 8-inch touchscreen in the Premier trim, were crisp, clear, and easy to use. The infotainment system responded quickly and offered good voice recognition software. Customizable icons and hard buttons provided easy access to features. All trim levels included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Premier trim came standard with a wireless charging pad, and the upgraded driver-information display offered useful features like music, navigation, and trip computer information.

The 2022 Ford Bronco included standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional safety features, available in various packages, included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist. The Bronco received a four-out-of-five-star rating for frontal crash protection and a three-out-of-five-star rating for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Bronco its best score of "Good" in frontal, side, and roof strength tests and an "Acceptable" rating for head restraints and seats.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included a suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure assistance, and automatic high beams. However, it lacked genuine level two autonomous driving technology. The NHTSA awarded the Equinox five stars overall in crash tests, but the IIHS gave it a Poor rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and a Marginal score in the side-impact crash test.