Top 8 Chevrolet Equinox Competitors

Love the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox? Check out popular competitors such as the Mazda CX-5 before committing.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2022 Chevy Equinox has starting prices ranging from $27,695 to $32,895 and is among the most popular compact crossovers on the market. It offers a roomy cabin with tons of passenger space, exciting on-road agility, and modern high-tech features, but so do many of the other options in its segment.
  • The Mazda CX-5 is equal parts beautiful, safe, and fun-to-drive, making it a top competitor for the Chevrolet Equinox.
  • The Chevrolet Equinox competes directly against the Honda CR-V, one of the best-rated and most competitive compact SUVs on the market.
  • The Ford Escape offers a great alternative to the Chevy Equinox for buyers who are looking for a lot of customization options.

1. Mazda CX-5

Starting price: $27,475 to $40,225
Selling points: Sharp handling, upscale cabin, lots of standard safety features
Weak spot: Small cargo space, low towing capacity
The
Mazda CX-5
combines sculpted and athletic exterior styling with a considerably expensive looking interior for a relatively affordable SUV. Match this beauty with the optional 256-horsepower turbo engine for undoubtedly fun driving.
Best of all: The Mazda CX-5 earned a perfect 5/5 rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) thanks to standard safety features including:
  • Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
  • Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
  • Adaptive cruise control 

2. Toyota RAV4

Starting price: $28,310 to $38,250
Selling points: Powerful engine, great fuel economy, sporty styling
Weak spot: Noisy engine, lack of luxury features on entry-level model
The 2022
Toyota RAV4
lives up to its rugged SUV looks thanks to its standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. The inside is relatively simplistic, especially on the base model.
It offers impressive fuel economy (up to 35 MPG on the highway), although you’ll have to sacrifice a quiet cabin.

3. Kia Sportage

Starting price: $25,305 to $34,965
Selling points: Affordable, beautiful cabin, exciting turbo engine
Weak spot: Unimpressive fuel economy, compact cargo area
The
Kia Sportage
offers great value considering its luxurious and roomy interior and plucky 237-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with all-wheel drive and an ultra-responsive six-speed automatic transmission.
The interior is nothing short of luxurious, combining quality materials with functional features. There’s plenty of space for passengers in the front and back, but—unfortunately—the cargo space is quite tight.

4. Honda CR-V

Starting price: $28,045 to $39,045
Selling points: Quick acceleration, large cargo space, good fuel economy
Weak spot: Unimpressive base model
The
Honda CR-V
is one of the best-rated vehicles in its class, thanks to a long list of standard features like automatic climate control and adaptive cruise control, as well as remarkable fuel economy (especially if you select the hybrid trim).
Keep in mind: You’ll have to upgrade to higher-level trims for more desirable and refined features, such as:
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Heated front seats
  • A power-adjustable driver's seat
  • 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration

5. Nissan Rogue 

Starting price: $28,445 to $38,225
Selling points: Smooth ride, refined cabin, modern technology, generous cargo space
Weak spot: Unexciting driving experience 
Despite its name and looks, the
Nissan Rogue
is a smooth and refined family-friendly vehicle with a plush interior, thoughtful storage cubbies, and a spacious cargo area.
Adding to the refinement is a host of modern technology. An 8-inch infotainment screen is standard, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. More high-end technology, such as in-dash navigation and a Bose stereo system, is available as an option.

6. Kia Soul

Starting price: $20,585 to $29,185
Selling points: Unforgettable aesthetics, affordable price tag
Weak spot: Smaller in size, rear seats don’t fold flat, lack of safety features
The
Kia Soul
is in a smaller class than the Equinox—defined as a subcompact SUV rather than a compact one—but it’s still a worthy competitor. 
The Soul stands out with its quirky cube shape, which provides plenty of room for adult passengers and an impressive amount of cargo space. While you’ll sacrifice a few features for its smaller size, you’ll enjoy a much lower price tag than the Equinox offers.
You might also sacrifice quite a few standard safety features, as well as the Equinox’s much higher reliability rating. Kia does offer an impressive warranty, however—with a limited warranty lasting for 5 years/60,000 miles and a powertrain warranty lasting 10 years/100,000 miles.

7. Subaru Forester 

Starting price: $27,070 to $36,420
Selling points: Lots of passenger and cargo space, standard all-wheel drive, surprisingly comfortable interior.
Weak spot: Unimpressive towing capabilities 
The
Subaru Forester
is one of the most outdoorsy SUVs on the market with ample cargo space and a long list of standard safety features earning it a 5/5 safety rating from the NHTSA. 
Standard interior technology in the Subaru Forester includes:
  • Subaru's latest Starlink interface
  • Standard 6.5-inch touchscreen OR 8.0-inch touchscreen on higher trims
  • Four USB ports
  • Optional navigation
  • Onboard 4G LTE WI-FI
  • Automated emergency braking
  • Lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning
  • Adaptive Cruise Control

8. Ford Escape

Starting price: $28,660 to $42,120
Selling points: Diverse powertrain options, adorable styling
Weak spot: Basic entry-level models, practical but not exciting 
The 2022 Ford Escape offers a competitive diversity of trims and the following powertrain options:
  • 181-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine
  • 250-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
  • Traditional hybrid
  • Plug-in hybrid 
  • Front- or all-wheel drive
Interior features vary just as much with a long list of optional luxuries, including:
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Memory settings for the driver's seat and mirrors
  • Vegan leather upholstery
  • Remote start
  • Heated leather steering wheel
  • Hands-free power liftgate
  • Fog lamps
  • Roof-rack side rails.

Chevrolet Equinox vs. the competition

Compare the Chevy Equinox’s specs side by side with its fiercest competitors using the table below:
Model
Starting Price Range
Engine options
Maximum Seating Capacity
2022 Chevrolet Equinox
$27,695 to $32,895
1.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Mazda CX-5
$27,475 to $40,225
2.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Toyota RAV4
$28,310 to $38,250
2.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Kia Sportage
$25,305 to $34,965
2.0-liter 4-cylinder; 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Honda CR-V
$28,045 to $39,045
1.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Nissan Rogue
$28,445 to $38,225
1.5-liter 3-cylinder
5
2022 Kia Soul
$20,585 to $29,185
1.6-liter 4-cylinder; 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Subaru Forester
$27,070 to $36,420
2.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
2022 Ford Escape
$28,660 to $42,120
1.5-liter 3-cylinder; 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
5
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