2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as futuristic as the Kia Sportage or as rugged as the Toyota RAV4, still presented itself as an attractive crossover. Its restrained bodywork was complemented by a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller, a refreshing change in an industry dominated by aggressive front fascias. The gold Bowtie emblem, though garish against some colors, looked lovely on shades like Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic. The Equinox's profile, with its thick C-pillar and big windows, gave an impression of spaciousness, which was confirmed by its roomy interior. The Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, though the interior design felt a bit dated with its small touchscreen and plastic buttons.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 made subtle styling changes for the year, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper for improved aerodynamics. The new wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lit up, added to its appeal. Despite its EV distinction, the ID.4 didn't look particularly SUV-like, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance of traditional SUVs. However, it shared the minimalist design and quality feel of recent VW gasoline-car interiors. The base ID.4 Standard model, with leatherette upholstery made partly from recycled fibers, didn't feel like a downgrade from the higher-level Pro S trim.

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 2023, the Equinox didn't feel particularly spritely, especially above 30 miles per hour. It 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 AWD system required manual engagement, a quirk that wasn't overly annoying. The new electronically assisted brake-by-wire system improved braking, and the well-sorted suspension handled bumps nicely, making the Equinox enjoyable to drive.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, with RWD only. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models upped the output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The ID.4's AWD version rivaled hot hatchbacks in acceleration but allowed too much body roll for truly entertaining handling. The regenerative braking system didn't support one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV newcomers.

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. While not the largest in its class, it outstripped the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. Passenger space was ample, with plenty of head- and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver and rear passengers. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, numerous cup holders, a decently sized center console bin, and good door pockets. The Premier trim's standard power liftgate operated nearly silently.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It offered 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, it was the most practical among affordable EVs. The ID.4 also offered towing capabilities, with RWD models towing up to 2,200 pounds and AWD models up to 2,700 pounds. Interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, a better phone spot, and available three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering included a small touchscreen interface, measuring 7 inches in the LS, LT, and RS trims, and 8 inches in the Premier. Despite its simplicity, the 8-inch touchscreen was crisp, clear, and easy to use. The infotainment system responded quickly, with good voice recognition software and customizable icons for quick access to features. All trim levels included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Premier trim added a wireless charging pad and an upgraded driver-information display, offering features like music, navigation, and trip computer.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remaining standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster also remained standard. The user interface featured sharp graphics, smartphone-like icons, and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, replacing conventional buttons, were distracting and lacked physical feedback. The ID.Light system, part ambient lighting and part AI assistant, provided visual cues for navigation and drive modes.

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it a Poor rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and a Marginal score in the side-impact crash test.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model, similar to the 2023 version, received the IIHS' highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for front crash prevention. The ID.4's standard driver-assist features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. For 2023, it added standard Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.