2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

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, especially in the Premier trim, featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats, although the overall design felt somewhat dated with its small touchscreen and basic driver-information display.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. Inside, the Defender felt more durable and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. Offered in three body styles—two-door 90, four-door 110, and extended-wheelbase four-door 130—the Defender came in various trims, including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. The Defender 110 S, our test model, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, emphasizing its throwback appeal. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments, although the multifunctional climate control dials were a minor inconvenience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. While it handled low-speed acceleration adequately, it struggled to accelerate above 30 miles per hour, making it less ideal for highway driving. The Equinox's six-speed automatic transmission, though older, contributed to the powertrain's noise due to its longer gear holds. The vehicle offered all-wheel drive across all trims, but it 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. Its suspension handled bumps well, and the steering was tight and accurate, making it enjoyable to drive in most situations.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, with 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 model had ample power for highway speeds, though it exhibited a slight lurch at low speeds, likely due to off-road gearing.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space 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 plenty of storage options, including cup holders, a center console bin, and door pockets. The Premier trim's standard power liftgate operated quietly.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 provided more space but still limited for adults. Cargo capacity differed by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offerings were straightforward, with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and an 8-inch screen in the Premier. While not as flashy as competitors, the system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Premier trim included a wireless charging pad, while all trims offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The driver-information display, though simple, provided useful features like music and navigation.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited the Defender's utilitarian nature. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup blended refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

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

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.