2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, extending 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. The wheelbase also stretched five inches, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. The additional length and mass blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep introduced the L first as a 2021 model, delaying the release of the two-row version until 2022. This design choice resulted in an elegant and recognizable Jeep, featuring a modernized seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and a blunt front end. The lighting was updated to be slimmer and brighter, and the paint finish and panel fit were significantly improved. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, with new exterior paint colors like Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

The interior of the Grand Cherokee L was luxurious, with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The layout felt like money well spent, reminiscent of a Mercedes in style and tactile quality. Even in all-black, the interior had enough detail and contrast to keep passengers comfortable and visually stimulated. The lighter tan leather option added a touch of luxury, making it a properly luxurious vehicle.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as space-age as a Kia Sportage or as rugged as a Toyota RAV4, was an attractive crossover with a restrained bodywork and a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller. The gold Bowtie emblem looked garish against some paint colors but lovely on others like Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic. Chevrolet introduced new paint options for 2023, including Sterling Gray Metallic. The Equinox was available in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options.

The Equinox's profile featured a thick C-pillar, big windows, and a relatively short height of 65.4 inches, giving an impression of spaciousness. The interior of the Premier trim was highlighted by handsome two-tone leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the interior looked dated compared to some competitors, with a small touchscreen, basic driver-information display, and many plastic buttons. Despite this, the Equinox was practical, approachable, and easy to use, with a simple PRNDL shift lever and large cupholders. The Confidence and Convenience II package added lumbar adjustments, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an HD surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control, making it a recommended option despite its cost.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The V6 produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it felt insufficient for the vehicle's weight, requiring high revs and producing noticeable engine noise. The transmission's early upshifts didn't help, and while Sport mode kept the revs high, it never let them settle. The V8, available only on higher trims, offered a healthier 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, providing a more satisfying driving experience. The V6 had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was notably worse at 14/22/17. The 4xe plug-in hybrid, with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, was a promising option, though not yet tested.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was stellar, with ride composure and steering feel that were incredibly taut and direct. The optional air suspension offered five ride height settings, varying from down-pillow soft to medium-firm memory foam, and practically banished body roll, pitch, and dive. The vehicle handled well on rough roads, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD. The Overland trim with the Off-Road Group option package earned the Jeep Trail-Rated badge, making it suitable for rougher trails.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. While it handled low-speed acceleration well, it struggled above 30 miles per hour, making highway merging and passing challenging. The six-speed automatic transmission held gears longer than modern eight- or nine-speed transmissions, contributing to the powertrain's noise. The AWD system required manual engagement but remembered the setting upon restart. The new electronically assisted brake-by-wire system provided smooth and predictable braking, and the suspension handled bumps and potholes well. The Equinox's chassis dynamics were well-engineered, offering tight and accurate steering, making it enjoyable to drive in most situations.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The interface was sleek and sharp, with physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions. The central rotary shifter was easy to learn, and there was ample storage space, including a wireless phone charging bin and a large central cubby. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L offered plenty of space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports added to the comfort, though the air vents were small and required the fan to be kept on high.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox had a cargo area measuring 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. While this was less than some competitors, it was still practical. Passenger space was ample, with good headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver and rear passengers. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, cup holders for every passenger, a decently sized center console bin, and good door pockets. The Premier trim's standard power liftgate operated nearly silently.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's upper trims offered premium features, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Uconnect supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims added automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. The Summit Reserve came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering included a small touchscreen interface, with a 7-inch screen in lower trims and an 8-inch screen in the Premier trim. The infotainment system was crisp, clear, and easy to use, with good voice recognition software and customizable icons. All trim levels featured wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Premier trim included a wireless charging pad. The upgraded driver-information display on higher trims offered useful features, though it looked simple.

The 2022 Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox included 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. While it lacked genuine level two autonomous driving technology, it received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, it scored poorly in the IIHS moderate overlap front crash test and marginally in the side-impact crash test.