The Chevrolet Equinox vs Kia Sportage
As Americans embrace crossover SUVs more and more, cutting into the sedan and full-size SUV sales, all major car manufacturers try to win over as much of this new type of customer-segment as possible. One thing's for sure, you won't find a more competitive car class out there today.
Crossover SUV prospective buyers are spoiled for choice, and as far as prices go, you can't hope for better deals. Loads of tech, good, reliable vehicles and some pretty decent engine choices, all in one package, at sedan-comparable prices. No wonder buyers migrated.
Today we'll compare the Chevrolet Equinox with Kia's Sportage, two popular crossover choices. We'll look at the design, interior comfort, engine power and list of features to see which one of these two machines come out on top.
First off, the Chevrolet. The Equinox has one of the most impressive line-ups in the business with a vast array of trim levels and engine choices available to choose from. Clients are also able to opt for front- or full-wheel drive, which doubles the number of possibilities.
Chevrolet opted for a curvy exterior when designing this model, one that gives it a chic modern look. Dominated by a wide front two-tiered grille, the Equinox enjoys some of the Chevrolet-aggressiveness the company is famous for. Between the soothing curves and the daring front grille, the car will win the favors of very different kinds of shoppers.
Inside the crossover keeps a curvy and welcoming look, with a beautiful dash and lots of room for comfort. As far as cargo space goes, the Equinox is at the top of the industry, with 30 cubic feet behind the second row of seats and a whopping 63,5 behind the first row.
Under the hood, clients can choose between three engine choices. The standard powertrain is a reliable 1.5-liter inline-4 capable of putting out 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a 6-speed automatic, you'll find it accommodating for city drives and un-soliciting commutes. A step up though we find a powerful 2.0-liter turbo-4 that will produce 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The car might not reach sport-like ability, but you'll definitely get a kick while driving with this engine under the hood.
A diesel is also available in the shape of a 1.6-liter turbodiesel that doesn’t excel at horsepower, as it is capable of creating only 137, but has an impressive pound-feet of torque figure, sitting in at 240 at 3000 rpm.
Worth mentioning is that with the 2.0-liter petrol version the Equinox is capable of towing upwards of 3500 pounds, something many other competitor models can’t touch.
Plenty of tech, as it’s to be expected for the class, with a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay plus Android Auto available across the line. Loads of upgrades take the Equinox closer to the luxury segment, with premium features available like a state-of-the-art Bose sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, or the myChevrolet mobile app which allows users to start/stop the engine, lock/unlock the doors, honk the horn and flash the lights from a distance.
The Kia mostly keeps up with the Chevrolet but comes short on some occasions. Straight from the bat we’re talking about a “love it or hate it” exterior design. A small front grille that can be seen as frail and unconventionally placed headlights make this model stand out, but we’re not sure if for the right reasons.
Two engine choices are available in the form of a naturally aspired 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that will produce a fair 181 horsepower, but only 175 pound-feet of torque, making the standard Kia powertrain noticeably more sluggish than the Chevrolet's. The 2.0-liter turbo-4 upgrade, however, does keep up with the competitor as it puts out 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
Impressive figures for cargo space, just like the Equinox’s. There are 30.7 cubic feet available behind the second row of seats and 60.1 if you fold those down.
When it comes to tech, unfortunately, Kia dropped the ball. The standard model comes equipped with one of the smallest touchscreen’s in its class, at 5.0-inches, and you can only upgrade that to a 7.0-inch one, something Chevrolet offers as standard.
In many ways the two cars are comparable, yet in many others, they couldn't be further apart. Chevrolet's a crossover champion, and Kia looks like the pretender that gave it its best shot, yet still came up noticeably short in some regards. The race is won by the Equinox. Not only that but it also leaves the impression it won without trying very hard.