2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, framed the new headlights, giving the SUV a stronger and more assertive look. LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were standard across the lineup, while LED taillights were standard on SEL trims and above. The top Calligraphy trim was distinguished by premium rear accent lighting, body-color bumpers, a unique grille, and a wider rear spoiler. The new XRT trim featured a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels. The Palisade's interior was stylish, with premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The seating configurations allowed for either seven or eight passengers, with heated and ventilated seats available in higher trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as visually striking as some competitors, was an attractive crossover with a restrained bodywork and a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller. The gold Bowtie emblem varied in appeal depending on the paint color, with Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic being particularly complementary. The Equinox was available in four trims: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with both FWD and AWD options. The interior of the Premier trim featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats. Although the interior design felt a bit dated compared to rivals, it was practical and user-friendly, with a traditional PRNDL shift lever and ample storage space. The Confidence and Convenience II package added desirable features like lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, and an HD surround-view camera.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and while FWD was standard, AWD was available for an additional cost. The Palisade's towing capacity was competitive, able to haul up to 5,000 pounds, and AWD models featured a dedicated Tow Mode. Fuel economy for FWD models was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Despite a slight increase in horsepower for 2023, the Equinox's acceleration was modest, particularly at higher speeds. The six-speed automatic transmission, while older, provided a straightforward driving experience. AWD was available across all trims, but required manual activation. The Equinox's braking system was updated to an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system, offering 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.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. The passenger volume was 155.3 cubic feet, and the cargo space measured 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows and a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base trim. The interior was designed with convenience in mind, offering plenty of storage options and intuitive controls.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox provided 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, the Equinox offered ample passenger space, with good headroom and legroom for taller occupants. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, and the Premier trim included a nearly silent power liftgate. Storage options were plentiful, with cup holders for every passenger and a decently sized center console bin.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium Harman Kardon sound system was available in higher trims. The Palisade also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy trims, and an in-car intercom system. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system was standard, allowing remote access to vehicle information and features. The Palisade introduced Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, allowing for key sharing and remote vehicle access.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology was straightforward, with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and an 8-inch screen in the Premier trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick response times and good voice recognition. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, and the Premier trim included a wireless charging pad. The driver-information display, while simple, offered useful features like music and navigation information.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims. The Palisade also offered navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist. The 2022 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assistance. However, it lacked level two autonomous driving technology. The Equinox 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.