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It's no secret that the American automotive industry is awash with compact and midsize SUVs. They are all the rage. Two companies, in particular, have been at the forefront of the American SUV game for decades. We're talking, of course, about Ford and Chevrolet. The rivalry goes back a long way, particularly where pickup trucks are concerned. But we're not looking at trucks today. Today, we're comparing two of the bestselling American compact SUVs: the 2022 Chevy Equinox vs 2022 Ford Escape.
In sales figures, the Equinox has outdone the Escape by a margin of about 20,000 units. In 2021, Chevrolet sold 165,000 Equinox’s to 145,000 Escape’s. But do sales figures translate into quality vehicles? There must be something about the Equinox that makes it more appealing to American consumers than the Escape. So, as the ongoing struggle between the Blue Oval and Gold Bowtie continues, we're going to take a look at what makes the Equinox the more compelling choice. We'll be going over exterior styling, interior comfort and cargo capacity, engine options, fuel economy ratings, and safety features. We'll leave it to you to decide which is the better vehicle, but we're betting you'll agree with us that the Equinox is the more compelling, attractive, and capable SUV.
SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. The Sport of SUV can be found in the styling, mainly on the exterior. Now, sport has meant different things across the decades of automotive manufacturing. When SUVs entered the market as family vehicles, the idea of sport was a box on wheels. While this has remained true for some modern SUVs, the compact market has seen more of a shift towards angular, streamlined crossover styling.
The Equinox is a perfect example of this type of styling. 2022 has seen a new front and rear fascia added to this much-loved SUV. New angled LED headlights blend seamlessly into the new grille design with a crossbar emblazoned with the classic bowtie. On the Equinox RS––the sportiest trim––the bowtie is blacked out against a honeycomb mesh grille to provide a very aggressive look. The top Premier trim gets you chrome accents all around.
For wheels, you have your choice of 17" or 18" aluminum wheels, with an upgrade to 19" aluminum alloy wheels, painted black for the RS. The ride height is standard for the segment, about 8", but it gives the Equinox a stance, a way of planting itself firmly to the tarmac and standing out as a very sporty looking SUV. Equinox comes in four trims in total: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, each scaling up upon the other. Roof rails are optional accessories on the LS and LT and standard on the RS and Premier.
Ford has gone for the exact opposite approach, opting instead to create a very rounded SUV. The generation before the current one saw Ford create a blend of rounded and angular while maintaining the integrity of the overall design. The 2022 Escape has gone fully round. The swoop of the design is round, with a round mesh maw for a grille, and the headlights seem very reminiscent of eyes, as do the rear taillights. In a way, the design is very urban-inspired. You feel, with the Equinox, that you could go out on a race track with it. The Escape, in stark contrast, seems very tame and safe. That may appeal to some. Not everyone seeks to make a statement with the car they drive.
The Escape, much like the Equinox, comes in four trim levels: S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. The base S comes standard with a body-color rear spoiler, black molded side cladding, front and rear skid plates, and configurable daytime running lights. By contrast, the Titanium comes with 19" machined aluminum wheels, chrome molding around the grille, mirrors, and sides, LED fog lights, and standard raised roof rails. The SE comes with an available Sport Appearance package, which adds black upper window molding, 19" machined aluminum wheels, and a chrome surround for the black mesh grille.
Overall, the sportier-looking of the two, by modern standards, is certainly the Equinox. It has the aggressiveness that the Escape lacks. Not to mention, Equinox has the newly tuned RS trim going for it. Still, the Escape has underbody protection cladding, and its less aggressive styling may appeal to some buyers.
The interior of the Equinox is as sporty as its exterior. A three-spoke steering wheel, mounted with audio, cruise, and phone controls, anchors the dashboard. In the center is the 7" (8" on the Premier) full-color touch screen integrated with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system. Seating for five can be had in either Medium Ash Gray or Jet Black cloth on the LS and LT, Jet Black Leather with red accented stitching on the RS, or a Jet Black/Maple Sugar leather color combo on the Premier.
Cargo space in the trunk, without the second row folded down, is a rather standard 29.9 cu.ft. This expands to 63.9 cu.ft. of storage space with the second row folded down in a 60/40 split. Rear legroom for passengers is a comfortable 39.9", while up front, the driver and co-pilot have a respectable increase to 40.9". Seating for the driver is power-adjustable, with power lumbar support and a tilting, telescoping steering wheel both playing together to make the driver's experience comfortable and easy.
Ford is playing for openness and space with the interior of the Escape. Immediately noticeable is the missing gear shifter, which has been replaced with a rotary dial. This allows for more space in the center console, making access to storage easier for all involved, but can be less intuitive than a traditional shift lever. The dashboard is streamlined and seems to sit very high, but that could be the illusion of the missing gear shift. A 4.2" SYNC display sits center on the dash above a series of rotary climate control dials, but it is not a touchscreen. Further, unlike the Equinox, the Escape does not offer the option of a power-adjustable driver's seat on the base trim.
Cargo capacity in the trunk of the Escape is a roomy 37.5 cu.ft. of storage space without the 60/40-split second row folded down. With the second row lying flat, cargo space increases to an excellent 65.4 cu.ft. of storage. Rear legroom is excellent, at 40.7", while the driver and co-pilot will be more than comfortable with 42.4". Ambient lighting on the Titanium provides an extra little luxury for the passengers, creating an evening glow that is sure to put everyone inside at ease.
With relatively similar storage capacities and drastically different interior options, it's difficult to say who wins out in this contest. The Escape has a lot going for it, specifically the little touches like the ambient lighting and superior legroom that serve to make the passengers more comfortable. By contrast, the Equinox has more standard technology and more options in the base trim. And, for those who prefer a classic gear shift over a rotary dial, the Equinox will likely be more appealing. Overall, we favor the Equinox.
It's no secret that in the modern era, safety has become the number one most important factor in car purchasing. People want to make sure that their car has their back. Airbags and good brakes just don't cut it anymore, though they are important. Now, we want a suite of safety tech, and these two SUVs have exactly that.
The Equinox comes with the entire fleet of Chevrolet's safety features. These include:
Also available is what Chevrolet calls Teen Driver technology. This allows parents to deactivate distracting elements of the car, such as the infotainment system, while their teenager is driving to discourage distracted driving and encourage attentiveness. A 3-month trial subscription to OnStar services is available as well.
The Escape, similarly, comes to the party armed with Ford's suite of safety technology. Called Co-Pilot360, the features in this tech suite include:
Honestly, both of these vehicles are equipped with such a comprehensive set of safety features that it’s difficult to declare a clear winner here. Both the Equinox and Escape come standard with all the most important safety features and offer some really advanced options to take things to the next level. However, the Equinox has a few small advantages, such as its available HD Surround Vision system, which give you an added layer of security in a wider range of situations.
The 2022 Equinox and 2022 Escape are more alike than different. It's hard in a market so saturated to create two SUVs with contrasting styles, each catering to the needs of a variety of buyers. The healthy competition between these two brands has led to years of creative ad campaigns and loyal customer bases. However, for us here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Buford, we're on the side of the Equinox. It's sportly, thoughtfully designed, easy and comfortable to drive, has several appearance packages, a capable engine, and Chevrolet's safety tech to back it up.
We've been in the car business for many years, helping our fellow Georgians buy, finance, and sell cars with efficient, friendly, and award-winning customer service. If you're eying an Equinox or any other Chevrolet SUV as your next car, come visit our dealership in Buford and take a look at our inventory. We look forward to seeing you and helping you find your next SUV!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.