Compare the2022 Lexus RXVS 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Lexus RX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Equinox doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RX offers optional Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The RX has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Equinox’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RX has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Equinox.

The RX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RX and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Lexus RX weighs 710 to 1466 pounds more than the Chevrolet Equinox. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus RX is safer than the Chevrolet Equinox:

	RX	Equinox
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	53	109
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	110 G’s	195 G’s
Hip Force	214 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	288
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	594 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	275	377
Hip Force	685 lbs.	730 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The RX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Equinox’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Equinox. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Equinox ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RX’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Equinox runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RX’s reliability 17 points higher than the Equinox.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Equinox isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

The RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 125 more horsepower (295 vs. 170) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (268 vs. 203) than the Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 138 more horsepower (308 vs. 170) than the Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the RX 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Chevrolet Equinox:

	RX	Equinox
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	9.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.7 MPH	81.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RX 450h 3.5 V6 Hybrid CVT AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Equinox AWD (31 city/28 hwy vs. 25 city/30 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the RX Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Equinox doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The RX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Equinox FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RX’s standard fuel tank has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 15.6 gallons).

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Equinox.

The RX 450h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Equinox doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Equinox:

	RX	Equinox
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	11.3 inches

The RX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Equinox are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RX has larger tires than the Equinox (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Equinox LS/LT. The RX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Equinox.

Suspension and Handling

The RX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the RX flat and controlled during cornering. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The RX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The RX has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RX’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Equinox (109.8 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RX is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Equinox.

The RX 350 handles at .79 G’s, while the Equinox LT AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RX 350 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Equinox LT AWD (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the RX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Equinox (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The RX has 3.2 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Equinox.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RX. The Equinox doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Chevrolet Equinox is limited to 1500 pounds. The RX offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The RX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Equinox uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 44% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 19th.

Ergonomics

The RX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Equinox can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Equinox doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The RX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Equinox’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights. The RX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the RX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Equinox doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The RX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Equinox and isn’t available on the Equinox LS.

The RX’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Equinox LS doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RX owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the RX with a number “5” insurance rate while the Equinox is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RX is less expensive to operate than the Equinox because it costs $382 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RX than the Equinox, including $343 less for a muffler, $93 less for front brake pads, $157 less for fuel injection, $277 less for a fuel pump and $29 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus RX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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