2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox presented itself as an attractive crossover, even if it didn't boast the futuristic design of a Kia Sportage or the rugged appearance of a Toyota RAV4. Its restrained bodywork was complemented by a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller, offering a refreshing change from the aggressive front fascias common in the industry. The gold Bowtie emblem varied in appeal depending on the paint color, looking garish against Radiant Red Tintcoat but lovely on Blue Glow Metallic or Harvest Brown Metallic. The Equinox was available in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with options for front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Inside, the Equinox Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats, with a heated steering wheel also available. Despite its somewhat dated interior with a small touchscreen and basic driver-information display, the Equinox was practical and user-friendly. The PRNDL shift lever, though taking up more space, was simple and gratifying to use. The Confidence and Convenience II package added valuable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and adaptive cruise control, making it a recommended option despite its cost.

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a complete redesign, emerging with a more rugged and substantial appearance. It was larger than its predecessor, with an upright grille and boxier styling that suited its all-terrain-capable TrailSport model. This trim gained legitimate off-road parts, including a taller ride height, unique wheels, all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. The interior took a more conventional styling route, remaining attractive and functional with elevated materials quality.

The new Pilot emphasized function over form, offering a tidy and utilitarian aesthetic. It was tuned for comfort rather than performance, with a soft brake pedal and feather-light steering. The TrailSport trim provided increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires, maintaining on-road composure and comfort. The Pilot excelled in balancing daily family duties with off-road capabilities, making it a versatile choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Despite the additional five horsepower for the 2023 model year, the Equinox didn't feel particularly spritely, especially above 30 miles per hour. It managed low-speed acceleration well, making it suitable for city commutes, but highway merging and passing required more power. The six-speed automatic transmission, while older, contributed to the powertrain's noise due to longer gear holds.

All-wheel drive was available across all trims, but it required manual engagement via a button on the center console. The Equinox featured an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system, offering smooth braking with a predictable bite point. Its suspension handled bumps well, and the steering was tight and accurate, making it enjoyable to drive in most situations.

The 2023 Honda Pilot featured an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, the Pilot offered quick initial acceleration with a pleasant engine hum. The brake pedal was soft, suitable for a family SUV, and easy to modulate for smooth stops. The Pilot cornered confidently, though it wasn't designed for sporty driving, with noticeable body roll but no alarming rebounds.

The TrailSport trim increased ground clearance and added all-terrain tires, introducing a subtle vibration on pavement. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Pilot maintained on-road composure and comfort, making it an excellent choice for families seeking adventure. The steering was feather-light, ideal for tight spaces but somewhat vague on the highway.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered a cargo area of 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, surpassing the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. However, with the rear seats folded, it provided only 63.9 cubic feet, less than most competitors except Mazda. Passenger space was ample, with sufficient headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver and rear passengers. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, with cup holders for every passenger and a decently sized center console bin. The Premier trim's standard power liftgate operated nearly silently.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional, with a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. The entry-level trims featured a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a nine-inch display. The Elite trim's touchscreen seemed small for the space but was adequate. Primary controls were logically placed, with a large rubberized shelf for phones and a wireless charging pad. The Pilot offered clever storage solutions, including a stowable second-row center seat for easy third-row access.

The second row provided ample space for adults over six feet tall, while the third row was less inviting but suitable for short trips. The cargo area offered 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 60.1 cubic feet with the second row folded, and a maximum of 114.3 cubic feet. The floor could be adjusted for more space or flipped for a hard plastic surface, accommodating dirty or wet gear.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering was simple yet effective. The LS, LT, and RS trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Premier had an 8-inch display. Despite its simplicity, the system was crisp, clear, and easy to use, with quick responses and good voice recognition. Customizable icons and hard buttons provided easy access to features. All trims included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a wireless charging pad standard on the Premier trim.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's technology was more advanced, especially in the EX-L trim and above. It featured a larger infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims included a multi-view camera system, with the Elite trim adding a head-up display and a fully digital instrument panel. The infotainment system was functional, with quick responses and a logical layout. Additional features included Honda's CabinTalk, a navigation system, Bose premium audio, remote monitoring, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came with a suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure assistance, and automatic high beams. However, it lacked genuine level two autonomous driving technology. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, but the IIHS rated it poorly in the moderate overlap front crash test and marginally in the side-impact crash test.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but Honda expected top scores. It received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking, parking sensors, and surround-view camera systems. The advanced safety features functioned well, with no false alarms during testing.