Toyota RAV4 vs. Chevrolet Equinox
Two strong vehicles on offer for those of you looking for a compact crossover are the Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet Equinox. These two-row SUVs have many things in common, including seating for five passengers and a fuel-efficient engine. Our Toyota experts here at Classic Toyota in Tyler have put together a comparison of both crossovers to help you decide which one is best equipped to meet your needs.
Toyota RAV4 vs. Chevrolet Equinox — Engine and Fuel Efficiency
Person Driving Car by Sindre Strøm is licensed with Pexels
The 2022 RAV4 has an advantage over the Equinox in terms of the power you’ll find under the hood. The RAV4’s engine is a four-cylinder unit that puts out 203 horsepower. Toyota completes the power train with an eight-speed automatic transmission. By contrast, the Equinox’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine only generates 170 horsepower. The Chevy’s engine is accompanied by a six-speed automatic transmission.
In addition to its more powerful engine, the RAV4 also comes out on top when it comes to fuel economy. Toyota’s compact crossover achieves 35 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg on city roads. That compares favorably to the 31 mpg and 26 mpg, respectively, provided by the Chevy Equinox.
RAV4 vs. Equinox — Off-Road Performance
Many compact SUVs aren’t known for being good off-roaders, but the RAV4 is one exception. It has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, which provides plenty of height to cope with a trail, a stream, or a few rocks. You can also add some optional off-roading features, like hill descent control, a skid plate, and an upgraded suspension. Different driving modes, such as snow mode, are also available. The best off-roading version of the RAV4 is the TRD Off-Road trim, which includes all-wheel drive.
The Equinox is available with all-wheel drive and offers 8 inches of ground clearance. However, it lacks any of the additional off-roading features you’ll find in the RAV4.
RAV4 vs. Equinox — Safety Features
The RAV4 and Equinox come with many of the same safety features, either standard or as optional upgrades. Both vehicles boast forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking and feature lane keep assist and lane departure warning.
The RAV4 has a pedestrian detection feature as part of its forward collision warning system and traffic sign recognition that alerts you to speed limits. The Equinox offers Teen Driver, a feature that lets you restrict how your younger drivers use the crossover, such as by imposing a speed limit.
Many of the optional safety features offered are similar in both vehicles. They include options such as blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view parking camera. One standout safety feature only offered by the RAV4 is rain-sensing windshield wipers.
RAV4 vs. Equinox — Passenger and Cargo Space
Both crossovers have space for five passengers in the cabin. Each has ample legroom and headroom for your adult passengers to relax in both rows. Similarly, their cabins are equipped with cloth upholstery in their standard setups, with leather seats and power adjustments available as optional upgrades. Heated and ventilated front seats are also on offer in the higher trims.
Behind the rear row, the RAV4 offers considerably more storage space than the Equinox. You get over 37 cubic feet at the rear of the RAV4 with the rear seats upright compared to just 29.9 cubic feet with the Equinox. Both crossovers can easily handle a load of luggage for a weekend trip, but the RAV4’s extra room will come in handy if you need to transport more oversized items. With the rear row folded flat, the RAV4 offers over 69 cubic feet of space, while the Equinox has around 63 cubic feet.
RAV4 vs. Equinox — Trims, and Pricing
There are a couple more trim options available with the RAV4 compared to the Equinox. The RAV4 is sold in six trims, while Chevy’s crossover has four. The RAV4 is also available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, which has an all-electric driving range. When it comes to pricing, the base Equinox LS trim has an MSRP of $25,800, whereas the base RAV4 LE trim comes in at $26,525.
The first step up in the RAV4 is the XLE trim, which gets you a power-adjustable driver’s seat, alloy wheels, and fog lights. The next upgrade is the XLE Premium, which adds synthetic leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a moonroof. The fourth trim, called the Adventure, includes a few off-roading features, such as hill descent control. You also get a household power outlet and a larger infotainment screen. Serious off-roaders will prefer the TRD Off-Road trim, which we reviewed earlier.
The range-topping trim is the Limited. It features an 11-speaker premium stereo, heated front seats, and power adjustments for the passenger seat. You can add heated rear seats and a hands-free liftgate as optional extras.
The first upgrade on the trim ladder for the Equinox is the LT trim. The only additional standard feature offered with this trim is a power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, you get the option to add an 8-inch infotainment screen, automatic climate control, and heated front seats, among other things. The RS trim has dark exterior accents and 19-inch wheels. You can have heated front seats, automatic climate control, and a power liftgate standard inside the cabin.
The top trim for the Equinox is called the Premier. It features leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging. You also get a safety alert seat, which vibrates the driver’s seat to warn you about potential hazards.
We hope our comparison of the Toyota RAV4 and Chevy Equinox has helped you decide which compact SUV fits your budget and lifestyle. As you can see, the RAV4 offers advantages in many areas, including a more powerful engine, larger cargo area, and more trims. The Equinox has a slightly lower base price, but only by a few hundred dollars. If you’d like to learn more about the RAV4 or arrange a test drive in Tyler, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Classic Toyota of Tyler dealership today.
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