Starting at
Starting at
| 39 | Highway MPG | 31 |
| 252 | Horsepower | 187 |
| 3,500 lbs | Towing Capacity | 2,000 lbs |
When it comes to SUVs, you want something that’s safe and secure for your family, spacious with plenty of leg and cargo room, and the fuel economy that will fit into your budget. We’ll compare two vehicles that fit all of this criteria – the 2018 Chevy Equinox vs the 2018 Mazda CX-5 – to determine which is the best new SUV for you and your family.
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is an impressive new vehicle from Chevrolet that has won the ‘Most Dependable Compact SUV’ award from J.D. Power and has been given a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). With its dependability and safety awards, you can feel confident that you and your passengers will be well protected in the event of a collision. In addition, the classy exterior and interior give this vehicle a modern effect that you’ll want to show off around town, and we’re hard-pressed to find any major flaws with this new SUV.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 comes with an abundance of safety features that have earned it good marks in our book. The vehicle has a classy and sophisticated interior that you’ll enjoy being in, but with a slightly less stylish exterior than the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and with less performance capability, we think that the Equinox might have the Mazda beat out in this competition.
The interior of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is dominated by smart features and an overall sophisticated and classic aesthetic. If luxury is important to you, then you’re looking at the right vehicle. The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes available with pristine black or camel leather seating, a hidden cargo department in the trunk, and foldable seats so you’ll have plenty of cargo room for long road trips or journeys.
The interior oozes sophistication with its jet black interior and high-tech command center and dashboard. The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes equipped with an 8-inch MyLink color touch screen that includes a rear and front camera, ability to connect the screen to your smart device for Apple CarPlay, navigation, or your favorite apps, as well as a built-in WiFi hotspot. This vehicle makes sure all of your connectivity needs are met, and if you want to stay the most connected and up to date with your vehicle, Chevrolet offers the myChevrolet Mobile App, which allows you to start and stop your engine and unlock and lock your doors remotely from your phone. You can also send destinations to the MyLink screen within your vehicle from the Mobile App and set parking reminders all from your phone. This is a great way to stay connected and provides an extra set of conveniences for you and your family.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 also has a number of high-tech features that you and your family can enjoy. A prominent useful feature is the Predictive-Active All Wheel Drive, which senses outside conditions, and initiates all-wheel drive and optimizes torque if it senses rain or freezing conditions. In addition, the vehicle also has a futuristic feature where it will project your speed and vehicle status on the lower portion of the windshield. As far as connectivity, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 lags a little behind the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, lacking a built-in hotspot for your connection needs or a mobile app. The vehicle does include a small Mazda Connect screen for answering calls and for your navigation needs, but with such a small display, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox still has the Mazda beat out.
As far as the interior of the vehicle, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 has a black interior with cream leather seats and a small and minimal command center. With the available technologies in 2018, we were a little disappointed with the command center, which does not have all the technical capabilities as the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. We think when it comes to your money’s worth – from interior and exterior to safety and technology features, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox wins each criteria hands down.
The Mazda CX-5 comes equipped with four premier safety features – the rear cross traffic alert, advanced blind spot monitoring, Mazda cruise control, and smart brake support. Put up against the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, this car just doesn’t cut it in regards to safety. With the abundance of safety features on the Equinox, provided to give you the ultimate in protection, the Mazda just doesn’t possess the same amount of safety features in order to provide the best for you and your family. With that in mind, the Equinox has the Mazda beat hands down when it comes to safety technology.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 has an interesting new design with a prominent front hood and Onyx Black accents. There are a number of trims to choose from if you like having options, from the Mazda Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring that come with a variety of extra benefits. Based on the overall design, with the elongated front hood that gives it a less sleek effect than the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and the smaller dimensions, that the interior award goes once again to the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes stacked with a spread of the latest and best safety technology features. The engineers at Chevrolet know that for SUVs, safety is of extremely high importance, especially for those with families. This vehicle doesn’t disappoint with its array of safety features designed to provide all of the preventative alerts to avoid damage or collisions.
Some safety features available on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox are low speed forward automatic braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and forward collision alert. Also included on the Equinox are a rear vision camera, rear cross traffic alert, rear park assist, side blind zone alert, and lane change alert. All of these features work together in order to keep your family safe, and to keep you as vigilant as possible, and to take brief control if an accident seems imminent.
The Mazda CX-5 comes equipped with four premier safety features – the rear cross traffic alert, advanced blind spot monitoring, Mazda cruise control, and smart brake support. Put up against the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, this car just doesn’t cut it in regards to safety. With the abundance of safety features on the Equinox, provided to give you the ultimate in protection, the Mazda just doesn’t possess the same amount of safety features in order to provide the best for you and your family. With that in mind, the Equinox has the Mazda beat hands down when it comes to safety technology.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
