2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
Your compact SUV selection this year is rather vast, but finding the right ride for your family in particular is going to take a bit of effort. We're here to make things easier on you. Find all of the specs, features, and other details you want to know about the new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2026 Toyota RAV4 as your top two options in the area for reliable family-friendly SUVs. Find a car that keeps everyone happy when you shop for new 2026 Chevrolet vehicles near you at Chevrolet GMC of Mount Vernon.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
By the end of this comparison, you'll see exactly why the Equinox is a top choice among families in Columbus. The latest 2026 Chevy Equinox is useful where it counts, catering to every family in all of the best ways. The Toyota RAV4 is tailored to off-roading, but families that enjoy off-roading together make for a very niche demographic, thus benefiting fewer parents in the area.Vehicle Comparison
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | Starts at $28,700 MSRP | Starts at $31,900 MSRP |
| Engine Power | 175 hp @ 5,600 rpm | 203 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Engine Torque | 184 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
| Engine Configuration | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Transmission | Continuously variable-speed automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Cargo Space | 63.5 cu. ft. | 69.8 cu. ft. |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Performance
Parents want a sensible engine that takes the family places reliably without the burden of an overly complicated powertrain. The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox in Mount Vernon hits that sweet spot between performance and efficiency, supplying you with 175 horsepower on a standard 1.5L turbo. Think you might be towing? With the available AWD system, the new Equinox can tow up to 1,500 pounds. And while boastful, rugged SUVs might not be every family's cup of tea, there's still a viable option for the ones who do like to go bold. The 2026 Equinox ACTIV trim comes with a specially tuned suspension system and all-terrain tires to give you that extra boost.
Don't want to go rugged? You don't get a choice in the latest RAV4. Toyota equipped every model with a standard 2.5L 4-cylinder and AWD, even if you don't plan on using the full extent of that capacity. When you're just using your compact SUV to make your way around town, you can't help but feel like you're driving inefficiently, and that defeats the whole purpose. Customization is the key to happiness in the landscape of family-friendly cars.
Safety Features
Speaking of sensible, the Chevrolet Equinox continues to prove to us that it's the best choice for Mount Vernon's many families, with over 15 standard safety and driver-assist features to share. Get a load of this extensive list, paying mind that it's not even the complete array at your disposal:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Forward Collision Alert
- Following Distance Indicator
- IntelliBeam
- Side Bicyclist Alert
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Rear Park Assist
- HD Rear Vision Camera
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Cross Traffic Braking
The Toyota RAV4 is the first Toyota vehicle to launch Toyota Safety Sense 4.0. What makes this package different? It's powered by Arene. How does that benefit your drive? As far as we can tell so far, it's still a work in progress. But you need something to hold you over in the meantime, and the RAV4 is missing that little something. There are optional systems available like parking assist, traffic jam assist, and 3D monitoring, but the Equinox also offers similar advanced systems, with some of them even coming as part of the standard package.
Interior
Chevrolet has more tricks up its sleeve, and the rest of them reveal themselves in the Equinox's spacious and utility-focused cabin layout. For being a compact SUV on the affordable side of the pricing scale, there's much more to this ride than you would assume as an onlooker from the outside. There's up to 63.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space to work with, and a 60/40 split-bench seat to manipulate your capacity at will. As if that weren't enough, the 2026 Equinox also hides additional storage underneath the rear cargo floor for safekeeping. But enough about storage, and more about your comfort. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel come standard, with Evotex chairs being an available upgrade that every family loves to enjoy. Now you see why the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is a great choice for every family in Mount Vernon, no question about it.
You could spend all day trying to fill in every gap of the Equinox's smart storage solutions. Meanwhile, you'll have the opposite problem with its competitor. The Toyota RAV4 isn't as forgiving when it comes to cargo space, to the point where you'll find yourself begrudgingly leaving stuff behind on your next trip. The center screen tech situation is also powered by Arene, just like in Toyota Safety Sense. And just like we said earlier, this is still an experiment at best. For a surefire experience and a quality drive, the RAV4 poses too high a risk for too big an investment.
Bottom Line
Get the car that your family really wants. The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox has something for everyone in Mount Vernon, from incredible value in standard features to ample cargo space and more. The Toyota RAV4 may have a good amount of power, but that's not always what everyone wants in a reliable compact SUV. Aside from that, it falls short in other areas.
Take the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox for a Test Drive!
If the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox sounds like the right car for your family, that's because it is. Try it out for a test drive at Chevrolet GMC of Mount Vernon, or call us today at (740) 462-6247 to ask about our selection of new Chevrolet SUVs available in Mount Vernon.
Disclaimer:
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price.
1Dealer Discount applied to everyone
1Dealer Discount applied to everyone
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Chevrolet GMC of Mount Vernon
510 Harcourt Road
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
- Sales: (740) 462-6247
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