2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

The fifth-generation 2022 Nissan Pathfinder took design cues from the new era of Nissan’s SUV design. It featured a new take on the V-motion grille, similar to the Rogue and Armada, with the new Nissan logo on its three-slot grille, paying homage to the first-generation Pathfinder. LED headlights and slim LED daytime running lights flanked the grille, leading to a bulky, slated C-pillar reminiscent of the original Pathfinder. The Pathfinder was available in 14 paint jobs and color combinations, with an optional black roof that extended onto the C-pillar. The side panels and hood gave the SUV a beefier look, more in line with the Kia Telluride than the Toyota Highlander. The sleek, thin taillights wrapped around the large liftgate, accented by bold, gate-wide badging. The Pathfinder was 0.6 inches wider with a track 1.2 inches wider, giving it a planted look. It was 0.2 inches higher and 0.8 inches shorter end-to-end, with more legroom than the previous generation. The design changes aimed to position the vehicle as more capable and rugged.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as space-age as the Kia Sportage or as rugged as the Toyota RAV4, was an attractive crossover. Its chunky front end made the grille look smaller, a refreshing change in an industry filled with aggressive front fascias. The gold Bowtie emblem looked garish against some paint colors but lovely on others like Blue Glow Metallic or Harvest Brown Metallic. The Equinox was available in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with either FWD or AWD. The thick C-pillar shared design language with the larger Chevrolet Traverse, and big windows on a relatively short profile gave an impression of spaciousness. The interior didn’t disappoint, with handsome two-tone leather upholstery in the Premier trim, standard heated front seats, and a standard heated steering wheel. Despite looking a bit dated inside, the Equinox was practical, approachable, and easy to use, with a simple PRNDL shift lever and large cupholders.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old CVT. The transmission, sourced from ZF, was smooth through the gears. The Pathfinder was available in FWD and AWD configurations, with FWD models featuring a five-position drive mode selector and AWD models offering seven drive and terrain modes. Hill-start assist was standard, and hill descent control was exclusive to AWD models. The FWD Pathfinder had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the AWD version maintained 23 mpg combined. The fully-equipped Pathfinder Platinum with AWD achieved 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The Pathfinder had a 6,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with a Class II tow hitch and trailer harness standard on the Platinum grade. The suspension setup provided a stable ride, and the tight turning radius made it easy to park and steer.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Despite the additional five horsepower for 2023, the Equinox didn’t feel overly spritely. It handled low-speed acceleration well but struggled above 30 mph. The Equinox took about eight seconds to reach highway speed, making plenty of noise in the process. The six-speed automatic transmission held each gear longer than an eight- or nine-speed, contributing to the powertrain’s noise. The Equinox was available with 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 braking, and the suspension handled bumps and potholes well. The Equinox’s steering was tight and accurate, making it enjoyable to drive in most situations.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s interior was designed for comfort and flexibility. Improved insulation, acoustic laminated glass, and thicker second-row glass reduced road and engine noise. The rear door Intelligent Key, wide-opening doors, optional second-row captain’s chairs, and the ability to fit three car seats across the second-row bench seat were customer-requested features. The EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat technology allowed easy third-row access, even with a forward-facing car seat installed. The removable second-row center console could be stored in the rear under-floor cargo space. The front center console offered 13.4 liters of storage space. The Pathfinder had 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 45.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 80.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The flush rear cargo space sides made it easy to load large items. The Pathfinder could fit three adults across the 60/40 split-folding rear seat, though average-sized passengers were recommended for comfort. The front and second-row seats were spacious and comfortable, with heated seats standard on all models above base. The Pathfinder Platinum also had ventilated seats. Tri-zone automatic climate control was standard, and there were 16 cup and bottle holders. The front doors could accommodate plus-sized bottles. A power liftgate was standard on SL and Platinum models, with a motion-activated power liftgate standard on the Platinum.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox had a cargo area measuring 29.9 cubic feet 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 head- and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver and rear-seat passenger. The Equinox used higher-quality plastic components, with cup holders for every passenger, a decently sized center console bin, and good door pockets. The Premier trim’s standard power liftgate operated nearly silently.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder was loaded with user-friendly technology. Standard features included a six-speaker audio system, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, Bluetooth, satellite radio, hands-free text messaging, a 7-inch digital driver-information display, two 12-volt DC power outlets, and four USB ports. The Pathfinder Platinum featured a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel and head-up display. A 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system was available on the SL and standard on the Platinum. Upper trim levels also had a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, door-to-door connected navigation, additional USB ports, HomeLink, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and NissanConnect Services.

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, were easy to use. The infotainment system responded quickly and offered good voice recognition software. Customizable icons and hard buttons provided easy controls. The Premier trim had a standard wireless charging pad, while all trims featured wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The upgraded driver-information display on the LT, RS, and Premier trims offered useful features like music, navigation, and trip computer information.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. A driver alertness monitor, rear door alert, and forward-collision warning were also standard. A rearview camera was standard, with a surround-view monitor available on upper trims. The Pathfinder had ten airbags, with the Platinum trim featuring 11. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the Pathfinder.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included a suite of standard 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.