2022 Chevy Equinox

There they both were, two SUVs side-by-side in my driveway, similar in price - the 2022 Hyundai Kona N and Chevy’s 2022 Equinox.

The difference is that one was fun, stylish, quick and innovative, and the other was drab, boring and unremarkable.

Looking out and seeing the Equinox was like seeing a guy in a grey three-piece suit in the driveway holding a briefcase who is about to knock on the door with a great new offer for life insurance.

The Equinox impressed no one during its test, turned no heads, and is basically indistinguishable from any other bland SUV out there. There was nothing screaming “Oooh! New car!” Was this a 2022 model? 2015? 2010? Impossible to tell. The inside is equally ehh, with the exception being a smart-looking, easy to use nav/climate/sound system, a cool shifter, and a pleasant if not exhilarating drive. That said, it’s not all drab news. Let’s take a look.

What’s new this year:

Buyers get a refreshed front end highlights, a new grille design, and updated front and rear bumpers. There’s also an RS model (our tester) delivering some “sporty” styling cues such as 19-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim. I did enjoy the fat shift knob and red stitch Go for the Premier and you’ll get “French stitching” and shiny black trim on the console.

You’ve got just one engine available, a 4-cylinder turbo 1.5-liter making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It’s decent but the car should come with a whip to urge it on while it complains about having to go up a hill. Trims include the base LS at $26,995, LT at $28,095, the RS at $31,295 and the Premier at $32,195.

Upon examination of the trims, LT delivers the most bang for the buck, delivering some decent-looking exterior trim, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, high-intensity discharge headlights, SiriusXM satellite radio, and other goodies.A Confidence and Convenience package delivers blind-spot monitoring, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power liftgate, rear cross-traffic alert, and remote start.

The DriveIt’s pleasant. A six-speed automatic changes gears nicely, but takes a bit to downshift even when you mash the pedal to the floor. The ride is passable, the road manners acceptable.

Especially in the rear, big and/or tall passengers will be able to stretch. It’s also got a wee more head and legroom up front. Mileage is somewhere around 28 MPG city/highway combined, depending on your right foot.Nav/climate/sound system

Chevy delivers a 7.0-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.0-inch unit. You’ll see their MyLink infotainment interface on top of your dashboard. Thankfully, the system is easy to understand and use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with, as do Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, Standard 4G LTE onboard Wi-Fi is a nice touch.

Safety equipment includes standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, standard lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, available adaptive cruise control and more.

Warranty/Maintenance

A Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, a powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles, and complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit.

Conclusion:

Despite my harsh criticism of the Equinox, and its plunge in sales since 2018 partly because of the pandemic, it’s by no means a dog. It’s just not very glamorous or exciting. For some people, there’s nothing wrong with that, and the 18,769 people who bought one in March 2022 will agree. 1 Chevrolet Infotainment System functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. 2 Go to my.chevrolet.com/learnAbout/bluetooth to find out which phones are compatible with

the vehicle. Full Bluetooth feature functionality varies by device, model and software version. 3 Vehicle user interface is a product of Apple and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible iPhone and data plan rates apply. 4 Vehicle user interface

is a product of Google and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play and a compatible Android smartphone. Data plan rates apply. You can check which smartphones are compatible at g.co/androidauto/requirements.

5 Functionality is subject to limitations and varies by vehicle, infotainment system and location. Select service plan required. Certain Alexa Skills require account linking to use. Visit onstar.com for additional details. 6 Third-party trademarks are the property

of their respective third-party owners and used under agreement. Requires active service plan and paid AT&T vehicle data plan. Visit onstar.com for details and limitations. 7 U.S. only. Requires select service plan. Functionality is subject to user terms and

limitations and varies by vehicle model. Visit onstar.com for details and limitations. 8 Map coverage available in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. 9 Connected Navigation and Real-time Points of Interest (POI) only available on properly equipped

vehicles. Requires paid plan or trial. Map coverage available in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Visit onstar.com for details and limitations. 10 Not compatible with all devices. 11 If you decide to continue service after your trial, your selected

subscription plan will automatically renew thereafter. You will be charged at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. To cancel you must call SiriusXM at 1-866-635-2349. See SiriusXM Customer Agreement for complete terms at siriusxm.com. All fees and

programming subject to change. 12 Service varies with conditions and location. Requires active service and paid AT&T data plan. Visit onstar.com for details and limitations. Availability subject to change. 13 Standard connectivity available only to original

purchaser for up to 10 years. Connected Access services are subject to change. Does not include emergency or security services. Diagnostic capabilities vary by model and service plan. Message and data rates may apply. Requires contact method on file and

enrollment to receive alerts. Not all issues will deliver alerts. Visit onstar.com for details and limitations. 14 The system wirelessly charges one compatible mobile device. Some phones have built-in wireless charging technology and others require a special

adaptor/back cover. To check for phone or other device compatibility, visit my.chevrolet.com/learn or consult your carrier