2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured several styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, along with subtle changes to the rear fascia. The headlights were bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving it a sleeker look. The grille appeared more upright and was flanked by large fake air intakes, making the 2022 Equinox look chunkier than its predecessor. The Equinox maintained its car-based crossover appearance, avoiding the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape, striking a balance for some buyers. The interior featured a creative dashboard design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and materials and fit and finish were decent for the price. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, although the interior felt too subdued.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was offered in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trim levels. All but the RS had a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine with FWD or AWD. The Blazer RS included a V6 engine and a more sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system for improved responsiveness on low-traction surfaces. For 2022, the Blazer saw few changes, with Premier versions getting revised bumper and bodyside trim and redesigned standard wheels. A new Enhanced Convenience Package and a Trailering Package were available for models with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Two-tone paint was also an option for the LT and RS trims. The Blazer's Camaro-inspired design was appealing, especially with 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished appearance. Inside, the Blazer featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, large round center air vents with temperature adjustment rings, and a strip of climate buttons. The interior had plenty of hard plastic, but the red interior accents in the RS model added a layer of sophistication.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission with standard FWD or optional AWD. The Equinox had more torque than most rivals but less horsepower. In city driving, the Equinox's torque was beneficial, allowing it to scoot away from stops easily. However, at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent, and the engine felt coarse and unresponsive. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the solidity and refinement of competitors like the Honda CR-V, but it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer had a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer RS included a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, with a more sophisticated dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine offered satisfying acceleration but was often loud and unrefined. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and suburban driving, with decent grip and capable brakes. However, on back roads, the Blazer's suspension was too bouncy, and the nine-speed automatic was slow to downshift. The steering in Sport mode felt artificially heavy, and the SUV struggled in higher-speed curves. The Blazer's fuel economy was slightly below expectations, averaging 20.5 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had seating for five across two rows, with a decent amount of headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good, but some competitors offered more legroom for front seat occupants. The tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, although the rear pillars created a bit of a blind spot. The relatively small rear window hampered rear visibility somewhat. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed below the touchscreen, making them easy to access. The Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in competitors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's interior featured black leather upholstery with red perforations in the RS model, giving it a sporty appearance. The steering wheel had power tilt and telescopic adjustment and heating for chilly weather. Both front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, but the bottom cushions lacked thigh support. Dual-zone automatic climate control was available, and rear air vents helped passengers stay cool. The back seat was wide and flat, with plenty of room for legs, knees, and feet, and it could slide forward and back on tracks. Storage space was impressive, with a large glove compartment, a bin under the center armrest, and various shelves and bins in the door panels. The Blazer offered 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was small for a midsize crossover SUV.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels got an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The 8-inch touchscreen in the test car was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a major advantage, as most competitors still required users to plug in. The Equinox also offered plenty of USB ports and power outlets, although the center-console slot for a phone was too small. Overall, the infotainment system covered the bases without too much fuss.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with high-resolution graphics and a modern appearance. It included a power/volume knob, tuning buttons, and easy-to-use onscreen menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an upgraded version adding satellite radio and a connected navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. Connected services, including an OnStar Safety and Security plan and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, were available. The infotainment system was easy to use, with separate stereo volume and tuning functions and climate controls that were independent of the system. The enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation systems were fast and accurate. The test vehicle also had wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system, although the sound quality was not impressive. Additional tech features included rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but received a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and the second-tier "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox also received an "Acceptable" score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a Safety Alert Seat, and Chevy's Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also featured a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights. The Blazer's advanced driving assistance systems worked exceptionally well, with smooth and effective adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. However, the IIHS did not give the Blazer a "Top Safety Pick" rating due to the headlights' performance.