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| 26 / 32 | MPG | 23 / 30 |
| 203 lb-ft | Torque | 172 lb-ft |
| 1,500 lbs | Tow Capacity | 1,500 lbs |
The 2018 Chevy Equinox vs. 2018 Toyota RAV4 are two great vehicles in their own right. They are fun to drive and do their best to be everything the customer is looking for in a stylish SUV. Is one more classically refined in its stylish interior and exterior? Is one more fuel-efficient? Is one more spacious, with more cargo room and comfortable touches?
At first glance, these two vehicles look very different, even though they attempt to appeal to the customer’s taste in the same ways. Numbers-wise they are pretty comparable. At close inspection, however, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is more spacious and fuel-efficient and comes away looking like a winner with its more reasonable price tag.
In the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard, as most buyer have come to expect, but an 8.0-inch unit is available. Chevrolet’s MyLink is now even more visible and user-friendly as it is placed strategically atop the dashboard and angled upward.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, Bluetooth phone and audio compatible. With LT or Premier trim levels, you’ll get six USB ports something that is rarely available in other models.
Safety features are standard and automated. They include emergency braking, high-beams, and lane assist. Rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring are available with the LT model.
Advanced active safety features are also standard across the RAV4 lineup. It also includes lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, emergency braking, cruise control, and automatic high-beams. Not everything is available standard, however, and strangely blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors are low-tech but require a pricey upgrade.
Buyers who are looking for gadgets and top-of-the-line tech will think that RAV is lacking in features, especially compared to the Equinox. The 2018 Equinox beats the RAV4 when it comes to responsiveness and feature content. As is expected, if buyers want a vehicle that is comparable to the Chevrolet Equinox, that would require an extensive number of pricey upgrades. Especially when it comes to Infotainment Features.
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 most likely falls behind its competitors when it comes to in-car technology because it has been quite a while since the RAV4 saw a tech refresh. This is especially true of the infotainment department which hasn’t changed much since 2016.
This is obvious, as the touchscreen that comes standard is only 6.1-inches. It is not strategically placed and is only flush with the dashboard. It is updated for smartphones, however, including a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. Buyer and critics are still unenthusiastic about Toyota’s Entune infotainment system that goes without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces.
And navigation is only optional, even on the most expensive trims: XLE, Adventure, and SE. It is only standard on the Limited and Platinum models.
However, if you do invest in the navigation systems, you will have up-to-the-minute traffic and weather, and you will have the luxury of a standard-sized display. But buyers would be disappointed again, as the RAV4 lacks WiFi capability. This is ultimately what makes the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox stand out among its competitors as the better buy and a much better vehicle overall than the RAV4.
As SUVs go, the Chevrolet Equinox is a sight for sore eyes. It has a luxurious, modern look which is the new era for SUVs. SUVs are no longer meant just to hold a lot of stuff, they are your every day get around, and you want a car you can be proud of. The Equinox’s interior and exterior are something customers, and critics love. It seems to have more visual appeal than the RAV4, which seems less about style and more about function.
Luxury is standard in the 2018 Equinox, which is exciting for buyer and critics alike, who want the best of the best but hate the price tag that usually comes with it. The base 2018 Equinox L is probably the best bang for your buck, while the Premier will dazzle you, with it’s top-specs and amazing appearance. Critics felt spoiled by power-adjustable front seats and automatic climate control. The interior design is what makes the Equinox a top-seller, and anyone who has driven it cannot deny its appeal.
While critics of the RAV4’s took notice of its interior quality materials that are leather-grained and stitched-vinyl, but critics believe that the overall design suffers from busyness, that is more about function than style. They suggest that the dashboard lacks the seamless flow to the door panels that the Equinox has. And its overall appearance leaves something to be desired. Critics see the RAV4 and think truck, not SUV. It has a sportier look rather than what customers want: a typical curvy, stylish exterior.
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is 183″ L x 73″ W x 65″ H., And while the spaciousness is unprecedented, it falls slightly behind the RAV4. The Toyota RAV4’s dimensions are 184″ L x 73″ W x 66-68″ H, giving a bit more depth and height than its competitor.
Because the updates to the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox required compressing its exterior dimensions, interior space was lessened slightly, although the much-needed roominess of the cabin space was left untouched. The changes made to the Equinox’s space more so affected its cargo capacity – but only very slightly, losing no more than .2 cubic feet. It’s hardly noticeable, but on paper, it’s a little less spacious than the RAV4.
The Toyota RAV4 can boast not having made adjustments to its spacious interior, like the Equinox. It’s clear that customers would be impressed by the extra legroom and cargo room, but this roominess gives the RAV4 an odd, yet distinctive taste. The Equinox is still generous with its front and rear seat legroom.
*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.