2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

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, which made the grille appear smaller and more refined compared to the aggressive front fascias common in the industry. The gold Bowtie emblem, while a bit garish against certain paint colors like Radiant Red Tintcoat, looked appealing on others such as Blue Glow Metallic and 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. The interior of the Equinox Premier test vehicle featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, though the overall design felt somewhat dated with its small touchscreen and basic driver-information display.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, on the other hand, maintained a clean and minimalistic interior design. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle featured beautiful Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance model had a more aggressive exterior with a blacked-out grille and matte-black 21-inch wheels. Inside, it offered artificial suede on the door panels and seat bolsters, with dark gray aluminum trim. The RX's new design, while not traditionally gorgeous, was more efficient and offered a contemporary approach to textures and detailing. The RX 350h was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged hybrid system, provided a more dynamic driving experience.

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 slight increase in horsepower from the previous model year, the Equinox's performance was not particularly sprightly, especially at speeds above 30 miles per hour. The six-speed automatic transmission, while older compared to competitors' CVTs or eight- and nine-speed automatics, contributed to the Equinox's powertrain noise. The AWD system required manual engagement via a button on the center console. The Equinox's braking system was upgraded to an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system, providing smooth and predictable braking. The suspension handled bumps well, and the steering was tight and accurate, making the Equinox enjoyable to drive in most situations.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two distinct hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, and was expected to achieve 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. It featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and a Dynamic Rear Steering system, providing a more athletic driving experience. The RX 500h's six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in hybrids with CVTs. However, the RX 500h's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 20.9 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. While not the largest in its class, it outperformed the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. Passenger space was ample, with good headroom and legroom for both front and rear occupants. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, plenty of storage options, and a nearly silent power liftgate in the Premier trim.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The RX 350h Luxury trim offered ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance model had eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger side bolsters. The rear seats provided excellent leg support and legroom, though headroom was tight due to the lower roofline. The RX's battery pack placement under the rear seat contributed to a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a simple yet effective infotainment system. The Premier trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims had a 7-inch display. The system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad in the Premier trim. The driver-information display, though basic, offered useful features like music, navigation, and trip computer information.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring subscription plans for full functionality. The Lexus Interface included a cloud-based navigation system, Intelligent Assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system worked well, though it had some limitations, such as the inability to view multiple screen menus simultaneously and issues with screen reflections. The available head-up display featured dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which could be challenging to use with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came equipped with a suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but scored poorly in the IIHS moderate overlap front crash test and marginally in the side-impact crash test.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, helping to maintain safe following distances and recharge the battery through regenerative braking. The RX offered additional features like front cross-traffic alert and Traffic Jam Assist, though some systems had limitations, such as issues with polarized sunglasses and reactive curve-speed reduction.