The 2021 Chevy Equinox Just Outranked the Toyota RAV4
Say what?! The 2021 Chevy Equinox just outranked the 2021 Toyota RAV4? How can that be? Isn’t the Toyota RAV4 the king of compact SUVs? Well, apparently, it’s not anymore. Check out how the Chevy Equinox is outperforming the RAV4.
The 2021 Chevy Equinox vs. the Toyota RAV4
According to U.S.News, the 2021 Chevy Equinox comes ahead of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 on their list of the best compact SUVs for 2020. The RAV4 comes right behind the Equinox, which is in 6th place.
The Honda CR-V is the first place winner on this list, while the Mitsubishi Outlander is down in 16th place, or last place. But we will get to those SUVs later. Today we’re focusing on a Chevy vs. Toyota battle.
What does the Chevy Equinox rank well for?
The 2021 Chevy Equinox starts around $23,800, providing an economical choice. U.S. News ranks it well for having good quality in each area instead of excelling in one.
One of the biggest pros is the comfortable and roomy seating. A family of five can definitely fit in this ride without much fuss. There is up to 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and up to 63.9 cubic feet total.
You’ll notice that the Equinox has a pretty smooth ride over most road surfaces with precise handling. It’s easy to maneuver in tight spots. You can also upgrade to the turbo engine for a sportier ride.
The base engine is a little weak. It’s a 1.5-liter four-cylinder option with 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. While it doesn’t have the fastest acceleration, it does get up to 26 mpg in the city and up to 31 mpg on the highway.
Also, the infotainment system ranks well for being modern and user friendly. You can get either a 7.0” or 8.0” infotainment center that connects to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, it comes with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and more.
What does the Toyota RAV4 rank well?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 begins around $26,050, but it does come with a more potent engine. The 2,50liter four-cylinder engine provides 203 hp and 104 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 3,500 lb, while the base engine on the Equinox can only tow up to 1,500 lb.
It ranks well for having a roomy cabin and large cargo hold. It has up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 69.8 cubic feet total. So there is room for the kids and everyone’s gear.
The Toyota RAV4 also gets up to 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, offering an excellent fuel economy. The cabin feels modern and nice, but it can be a little noisy. It also comes with a 7-inch infotainment screen that can be upgraded to 8-inches.
It can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with a long list of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, land keep assistance, forward collision warning, and more.
While the Chevy Equinox ranks poorly for having subpar cabin materials and a weak base engine. The Toyota RAV4 ranks poorly for having an above-average base price and noisy engine.
