Segment-leading seat quality is offered by the Chevy Equinox, which came first in the category of “Mass Market Small / Compact SUV” for satisfactory seats, per data supplied by major analysis firm J.D. Power as part of recent research.
The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study identifies the 2023 Chevy Equinox as having the least problems with seats in its market category at 5.2 per 100 vehicles, coming in ahead of the Kia Niro and the Ford Bronco, as the following chart shows:
Via J.D. Power
The study canvassed owners of a wide range of vehicles, including the Chevy Equinox, within 90 days of their purchase of a new 2023 model-year vehicle of the given type. It measured both satisfaction with the vehicle’s seats and the number of problems the new owner encountered with those seats (problems per hundred vehicles, PP100).
One of the takeaways from the study is that power-adjustable seats appear to be rated as more satisfactory than manually adjusted seats, all while experiencing less problems. While the 2023 Chevy Equinox comes standard with four-way manually adjustable seats, eight-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats are available.
Memory seats also increased satisfaction, though they remain rare on mass-market models versus premium vehicles. J.D. Power noted “mass-market vehicles typically follow the trends of premium vehicles” and that studies of seat satisfaction give automakers a window onto what features provide the best seating quality and satisfaction.
The J.D. Power seat study ran during four months, starting in February 2023. Aiming to make its study results “a powerful benchmarking tool that allows suppliers and manufacturers to easily identify strengths and weaknesses,” the analysis firm used a large pool of respondents, gathering information from 93,380 vehicle owners, including both purchasers and those with leases.
The Chevy Equinox, meanwhile, is one of the Bow Tie’s best-selling nameplates, taking second place only to the Chevy Silverado. Its 2023 model year received a “recommended” rating from Consumer Reports. A 77/100 road test rating, transmission and braking, and driving experience contributed, while reliability rated relatively low.
The biggest change from the refreshed 2022 model year is the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine developing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, which replaced the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX gasoline engine. The only transmission option is a GM six-speed automatic.
Under the body panels of the 2023 Chevy Equinox, the GM D2 platform provides the structure, while production takes place at the GM San Luis Potosí plant and GM Ramos Arizpe plant.
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Comments
Looks like GM holds it’s own in seat quality, but needs to improve overall seat comfort on some models IMO. At least that has been my experience with the full-size trucks starting from 2014-15 to current. It’s not that the seats are bad, they just need deeper and more compliant foam, particularly the bottoms.
I did not know that Kia uses seats made by Daewoo, which is now a GM company.
Only been building vehicles for 100+ years better make something right.
So the 2014 Volt had horrendous cloth seats. They felt like someone stuffed newpaper in them. So the leather was much better. I hope the Equinox and Blazer EVs have very comfortable cloth seats. I wonder if the seats in the ICE cars are the same used in the EVs for similar models. Anyone know? Anyone sit on the clothe seats in any of the EVs of Bolt, Blazer, Hummer, Lyrique, etc.. that are out already?
My wife’s 19 Nox Premier has heated and cooled electric leather seats and they are fine and no problems. She likes leather seats but I prefer cloth which are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than leather. The most comfortable GM seats I’ve had were in a 91 Astro Van. Those factory cloth captains chairs with arm rests were the the best! Some may remember back in the day before NASCAR was messed up, Dale Earnhardt Sr. raced with a van seat in his car. Unfortunately, that seat with minimal seat belts, no head restraints, and open-faced helmet greatly contributed to his death at Daytona. After he died everything changed about the cars and equipment and NASCAR has never been the same since.
My husband and I purchased a 2023 Chevy Equinox in march , and I can personally tell you that the seats are the most uncomfortable seats of any car I have ever owned. We also own a 2015 GMC Turain and those seats are wider and more comfortable. Now I see why GMC is a much better quality than a Chevy, although our 2017 Chevy Traverse seats were comfortable . The Equinox was to replace my Traverse. I guess it’s true “you get what you pay for” the Equinox is a much cheaper made model, as far as comfort goes.🙁 I end up with a terrible back ache every time I’m in it
I recently (regretfully) bought a ’24 Equinox and couldn’t be more disappointed with the vehicle in general, with the seats being one of the more aggravating shortcomings. They are flat, stiff and generally uncomfortable for anything more than a short jaunt- not even having the excuse of trading comfort for looks, as they’re not even attractive.