What Makes the Chevy Equinox Such a Great Commuter SUV?

One of the great things about shopping for a vehicle from the Chevy lineup is that you have an incredible range of options in a variety of sizes and styles. Whether you want a hard-working truck, a sporty convertible, or an SUV for daily driving that is still a lot of fun, Chevy has you covered. As you look for a vehicle to get you through your daily commute, one of the most important things to consider is that you deserve to still have a great driving experience. Just because you want something for practical reasons doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy yourself while on the road.

This is something we love about the Chevy Equinox because it is incredibly practical and functional for daily use but also brings you great features that not only reinforce that but also work wonderfully on your days off. One of the best ways to see this and fully appreciate what the Equinox has to offer is to compare it to a similar model from another brand. Let’s consider the 2024 Chevy Equinox vs 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross today to see how they each stack up against each other. You’ll quickly see that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with the Eclipse Cross, it showcases a lot of the strengths of the Equinox due to what it lacks.

Engine Performance and Efficiency

It’s easy to think that engine performance is something that people only worry about with sports cars or full-size trucks, but the reality is that the engine in every vehicle is important. If you’re going to spend a decent amount of your day on the road—getting to and from work, running errands, picking up kids from school, etc—then you deserve to enjoy that time. Even a compact SUV like the Equinox can still have a good engine in it that makes it fun to drive, which is something Chevy clearly understands.

Looking at the Chevy Equinox and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, they both have 1.5L Turbo engines, and if that’s all you see, then you might assume they’re basically the same to drive. The engine in the Equinox delivers 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, while the Eclipse Cross gets just 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Does that really make a difference? Yes, those numbers are substantial enough that you can feel the difference between driving them. You’re going to have a better time on the road with Chevy’s SUV because it packs more power under the hood—so even if you’re just making a run to the store for ice or driving home after work in the evening, you’ll enjoy it more with the Equinox.

Just as important (some might argue more important) is the kind of fuel efficiency you get from your vehicle. Not only does improved efficiency mean you’ll save money on gas, but it also means fewer stops for gas so you can focus on doing things you need (and want) to do. You might think the greater power of the Equinox’s engine means it’s less efficient, but the opposite is actually the case. Where the Eclipse Cross gets an estimated 25 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG of combined fuel efficiency; the Chevy Equinox gets an estimated 26 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG of combined gas mileage. That means you can go further, particularly if your daily commute includes highway driving, and that difference can really add up over time.

Interior Space and Design

A great commuter vehicle is all about that perfect combination of functionality and style—few places are this more apparent than when you look inside the Chevy Equinox. The moment you get inside the Equinox, it is clear that Chevy approaches the interior design of their vehicles with tremendous attention to detail and care. Here, we have a comfortable space for you to exist in and relax while going through your daily commute—we know that can be wishful thinking some days, but it is at least worth striving for.

Although this is a compact SUV, Chevy didn’t skimp on size when they put it together, ensuring you have plenty of room for everything you need. Again, comparing it to the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross reveals how well Chevy understands the needs of drivers. The Eclipse Cross has just over 23 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the rear seats and about 50 cu.ft. of total cargo volume inside behind the front seats. Looking at the Equinox, Chevy has designed it with almost 30 cu.ft. of rear cargo space, giving you much more room for loading up with things you need before you hit the road. The Equinox also has nearly 64 cu.ft. of total cargo volume for you to take advantage of behind the front seats—this gives you a lot of room for camping supplies, shopping bags, luggage, or anything else you want to take with you on your days off.

We’ve all been stuck in traffic plenty of times in our lives, and we know how important it is to be comfortable and find ways to maintain our calm in those moments. Looking at the 2024 Chevy Equinox, even the standard features include premium cloth seating with four-way adjustable front seats and a deluxe steering wheel featuring mounted controls. As you might expect, available options provide a number of enhancements, such as perforated, leather-appointed seating with ventilated, eight-way power-adjustable front seats on offer. We’re not going to pretend the Equinox will suddenly have you looking forward to being stuck in traffic, but it can make your daily drive a lot more relaxing.

Tech Features for Weekdays and Weekends

These days, the auto industry is all about innovative technology, and Chevy is ahead of the curve with some of the most remarkable features available anywhere. The 2024 Equinox is a great example of that and hits the road with an impressive selection of standard and available tech for you to enjoy. For starters, standard tech features in the Equinox include a 7-inch infotainment display with a six-speaker sound system, which is paired with a 3.5-inch Driver Information Center to provide you with extra information while you’re driving. Keyless Open and Start are both standard, which makes it easier to get going and hit the road on frantic weekdays, while standard Cruise Control is perfect for making your daily drive hassle-free.

Things get even better when you look at available features, such as what you get on the remarkable Premier trim for the Chevy Equinox. The Premier includes a larger 8-inch infotainment display along with a 4.2-inch multi-color Driver Information Center screen to provide you with additional information. Remote Start functionality makes it easy to get your vehicle going and cooling off before you leave your house; plus, an available wireless charging pad comes in handy when you’re on your way to work and realize you forgot to charge your phone last night. Available Adaptive Cruise Control goes beyond simply maintaining your speed and will adjust your speed to maintain a safe distance between you and other vehicles, taking even more commuting stress off your shoulders.

The Chevy Equinox Is the Total Package

Looking at the Chevy Equinox beside the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, it is easy to see that Chevy’s engineers and designers have gone the extra mile with their compact SUV. The Equinox gives you tremendous performance so that it’s fun to drive, great fuel economy so you can go longer between stops for gas, and an interior that helps ensure you look forward to hitting the road each day. We can’t promise that driving the Equinox will make your daily commute a dream come true every time you get behind the wheel, but it can certainly make things more enjoyable. And if the Equinox isn’t quite right for what you need, then we can help you explore the rest of the Chevy lineup to find the perfect vehicle designed to elevate even the most routine tasks.