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Starting at
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| 252 | Max Horsepower (hp) | 170 |
| 260 | Max Torque (lb-ft) | 175 |
| 6- or 9-Speed Automatic | Transmission | Xtronic CVT |
When looking for a compact crossover SUV these days, you should have certain expectations. Not everyone wants a standard crossover with the same capabilities as a sedan anymore. You should want more from your vehicle. Compact SUVs are becoming more and more capable, with the ability to handle what most people would expect from a midsize SUV. Within the compact SUV market, there are tons of options, but the two best come from Chevy and Nissan. And the only way to determine the best of the best is to complete this comparison: 2020 Chevy Equinox vs 2020 Nissan Rogue.
The 2020 Chevy Equinox is loaded with modern tech and convenience features and offers the choice of two engines, while the 2020 Nissan Rogue offers only one engine option and is built on an aging platform. The Nissan Rogue has not seen a refresh in quite some time while the Chevy Equinox is still relatively new and is equipped with the latest active safety equipment across all trim levels, making it a great family SUV. But this is just what can be seen from the outside; to find the true winner, a full comparison is necessary.
With two engine options for the Equinox, customers can choose between an efficient and capable base engine and a more powerful optional engine. Both engines offer a good combination of power and efficiency, and both engines are paired with good transmissions. For a compact SUV with the power of a midsize SUV, the more powerful engine is a great option as it can tow up to 3,500 pounds. However, the base engine offers a good deal of power as well and can tow up to 1,500 pounds.
The first engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. This engine returns 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. As made evident, this powertrain, in general, provides adequate passing and merging power and excellent fuel efficiency. If you are looking for a solid base engine, the 2020 Chevy Equinox is a great option for you and your family. And if you need a little more power, the Equinox can provide it.
The next engine offered by Chevy is a rare engine for the class. You will not find many engines this powerful in the compact segment. The optional engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 with 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. While more powerful than most of its rivals, this 2.0-liter engine also features excellent fuel efficiency of 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. With this much power, you will have the added utility of towing like a midsize SUV and lots of acceleration. This engine is paired with a sophisticated 9-speed automatic transmission, making for a smooth and engaging powertrain.
Both the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines feature an idle start/stop system that shuts the engine down at idle, when the Equinox is stopped, to save fuel. All-wheel drive is also optional on every model except the base model, in case you live in an area where there is inclement weather. No matter what you are looking for in terms of performance, you can find it with the Equinox. But, how does the Nissan Rogue compare?
Unfortunately, the 2020 Nissan Rogue only has one engine option, and it’s not even as powerful as the base engine for the 2020 Chevy Equinox. The engine that comes in the Nissan Rogue is a 2.5-liter inline-4 with 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. This engine is efficient at 26 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway; however, the lack of available power hurts the Rogue in this comparison as there are no other options if you need more muscle. If you need to tow occasionally, this is not a good option, as the Nissan Rogue can only tow up to 1,102 pounds.
The powertrain for the Rogue does not get any more exciting when looking at the transmission, which is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). CVTs do not have set gears and tend to drone, further bringing down the performance of this SUV.
The clear winner in this area is the Chevy Equinox. The Equinox offers two engine options and the more powerful engine is one of the best engines in the class. With its combination of power and efficiency, the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 is a rare find in the compact crossover segment. With the capability of a midsize SUV, the Equinox brings a lot more utility and value.
Every 2020 Chevy Equinox comes with the Driver Confidence Package. This is an impressive package that includes many advanced safety features. This safety package includes forward-collision alerts with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. Combined, these features scan the road ahead and warn the driver if there’s a chance of a collision or if someone is in the vehicle’s path, and stop the vehicle if need-be to prevent a crash. Also included are lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, which both use a camera to watch the lane to make sure you do not drift; if you do, an alert sounds. The system can also steer you back into the lane.
Teen Driver is also standard on the Equinox. If you are a parent of a young driver, you will appreciate this feature. With Teen Driver, you can set a maximum top speed, prevent the disabling of active-safety features, and even set limits to the stereo volume. Other safety features for the 2020 Chevy Equinox include lane change alert with side blind-zone alert, following distance indicator (standard on all models), and HD surround vision. With all of these features and more, the Equinox is certainly one of the safest vehicles on the road.
The 2020 Nissan Rogue also offers an abundance of safety equipment, as you would expect from a family-oriented crossover. Standard on all models is blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning/lane-keeping assist. Automatic emergency braking gives the Rogue the ability to apply the brakes if there is an impending collision, and the driver does not stop the car. The SV and SL models also have this capability when backing up.
Really, both of these vehicles are extremely safe. They both offer an abundance of features to assist in every day driving and preventing collisions. However, the Chevy Equinox is the overall better choice in terms of safety as it comes with features the Rogue does not offer, such as the Teen Driver feature.
The Chevy Equinox comes in four trim levels, with the L trim being the base level. The L model features an impressive amount of standard equipment. Included are keyless entry and push-button start, a 7-inch infotainment system with four USB ports, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 17-inch wheels. This is a lot of standard equipment, but there’s more: it also comes with General Motors’ OnStar telematics system and a subscription-based 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi.
Moving up in trim levels brings an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, high-intensity headlights, satellite radio, dark-tinted rear glass, and a driver information screen in the instrument cluster. Other features include a hands-free power liftgate, leather seats, an 8-inch touch screen, heated front seats, remote start, and wireless device charging. Not bad. You’ll also find that rear-seat legroom is better than in the Nissan Rogue, which will certainly come in handy for road trips.
The Nissan Rogue keeps things simple with only three trim levels. The base Rogue comes with a 6-way manual-adjust driver’s seat, cruise control, and keyless entry. Also standard is a 7-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 4-speaker audio system. Moving up in trim levels brings an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, power tailgate, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, rear privacy glass, roof rails, and an upgraded 6-speaker audio system.
The top trim level adds navigation, leather seating, heated steering wheel, Bose audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror with universal garage remote, and Nissan’s Around View 360-degree rearview camera.
It’s hard to argue with all of the value in the 2020 Chevy Equinox base model. With a starting price that undercuts most of its rivals, including the Nissan Rogue, the Equinox offers tremendous interior value in the compact crossover segment. While both the Chevy Equinox and Nissan Rogue are well-equipped and feature the latest in convenience and tech, the Equinox's interior provides much more for drivers' money, making it the better choice.
At Raceway Chevy, we are confident you will find the vehicle you are looking for at a price you can afford. We have an extensive selection of Chevy vehicles and have made customer service our top priority. Whether you are looking for a capable and well-equipped family hauler like the 2020 Chevy Equinox or a pickup truck like the Chevy Silverado or Chevy Colorado for weekend projects, we are confident we can find the perfect model that is perfect for both your lifestyle and budget. Stop in and see us today, or contact our staff with any questions. We look forward to meeting you and finding you the perfect vehicle!
*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.
