There is an SUV victory to celebrate for the Chevy Equinox today. It outranks rivals like the Kia Seltos as the compact SUV with the best initial quality. But let’s see what makes the 2022 Chevy Equinox better than the competition. 

2022 Chevy Equinox vs. 2022 Kia Seltos 

According to the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, the 2022 Chevy Equinox is the best. The 2022 Kia Seltos landed in second place, while the GMC Terrain came in third. Each of these vehicles should be proud to even make the list. 

Plenty of rivals like the Hyundai Tucson didn’t earn a spot. Also, the study is determined by drivers. Over 86,165 people who bought or leased a new vehicle for 2022 were sent a 226-question survey. 

They answer questions about the exterior look, build quality, interior comfort, tech, driving quality, power, fuel economy, standard features, climate controls, and value. Each vehicle is assigned a score from 0 to 100 based on the responses. 

Is the Equinox or Seltos better to drive? 

The 2022 Chevy Equinox comes with a standard 1.5-liter inline-four engine with 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. 

With the standard engine, the Equinox can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds. It reached 60 mpg in about 6.5 seconds with the beefier engine. Also, it can tow up to 3,500 lbs. 

The 2022 Kia Seltos comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. 

The Seltos can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 to 9.1 seconds, depending on the engine. Also, the Seltos doesn’t have its towing capacity listed. So, we do not recommend using it to pull trailers. 

Both SUVs can be equipped with all-wheel drive, but the Seltos also comes with a Lock Mode. The Lock Mode enhances traction in certain situations. 

The Equinox has more responsive handling for a sportier drive, while the Seltos can feel heavy in the front. Plus, the Equinox has more comfortable seats, a smoother ride, and a quieter interior. 

Does the Seltos or Equinox have better features? 

You can get started with the 2022 Chevy Equinox for bout $26,050. The 2022 Kia Seltos has an MSRP of $22,590. So, you can save about $3,460 with the Seltos, but it comes with less standard power. 

Both the Seltos and Equinox feature upscale cabins with durable materials that don’t feel cheap. Also, the Equinox provides a little more cargo space than the Seltos. 

The Kia Seltos comes with a 10.3-inch infotainment system, while the Chevy Equinox has an 8.0-inch unit. The Seltos is available with a head-up display and a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster too. 

Both SUVs have standard automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. 

So, the Equinox may outrank the Seltos because it has more power, is rated for towing, and has a more comfortable ride. But the Seltos provides more savings and offers more tech.