
Starting at

Starting at
| 175 | Horsepower (hp) | 152 |
| 203 | Torque (lb-ft) | 184 |
| 26/31 | Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG) | 25/28 |
Shopping for the perfect compact SUV is exciting because of the incredible number of options provided by the world’s leading automakers. While the choices are plentiful, a few models stand out because of their value, engaging handling, and overall packaging. We see these characteristics when comparing the 2024 Chevy Equinox vs 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, but even then, one automaker does more to heighten your experience and investment than the other. So, which is it?
Mitsubishi is steadily gaining popularity in the American auto industry thanks to models like the 2024 Eclipse Cross, which combines value with versatility, efficiency, and practicality. This compact SUV has a stylish and modern design, plenty of standard features, and a competent engine. At first glance, it’s a well-rounded SUV—at least, until you look at rivals like the 2024 Equinox. Chevrolet’s best-selling model (second only to the Silverado) leaves its competition in the dust.
The 2024 Equinox immediately gains an advantage because it’s available with a gas or all-electric powertrain. Likewise, the gas-powered version is an even better value than the 2024 Eclipse Cross, even with a slightly higher starting price. How so? This Chevy is more efficient, saving you far more money in the driver’s seat wherever the road takes you. Moreover, the Equinox offers more standard features and technologies that add to your investment and provide tangible value.
Beyond the Equinox’s value-oriented packaging, it’s impossible to deny Chevrolet’s exceptional legacy. Chevrolet is an automotive pioneer revered for shaping the American automotive landscape over the last century. Owning an Equinox makes you part of that legacy, which you won’t find in the Eclipse Cross. But what other features differentiate the 2024 Equinox from the 2024 Eclipse Cross? See for yourself...

It’s easy to see the appeal of a compact SUV like the 2024 Eclipse Cross because Mitsubishi is well-known for building vehicles that are engaging and fun to drive. The 2024 Eclipse Cross is no exception, rolling off the production line with a turbocharged 1.5L engine under its hood and a continuously variable transmission. This combination prioritizes efficiency, as the engine produces 152 hp at 5,500 RPM and 184 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 3,500 RPM.
The Eclipse Cross’s 1.5L Turbo heartbeat delivers enough power to make this SUV competent and engaging, but this obviously comes at a cost that impacts your wallet. How so? While the 2024 Eclipse Cross is fun to drive and plenty powerful, its powertrain isn’t as efficient as rivals like the 2024 Equinox. Mitsubishi’s compact SUV averages 25 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 26 MPG. But how does this compare to the Equinox? The difference is significant...
The 2024 Equinox also relies on a 1.5L Turbo engine, but Chevrolet pairs the engine with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. Automatic transmissions are far more reliable than continuously variable transmissions, giving the Equinox another advantage. Of course, the real proof lies in the numbers, with the Equinox’s heartbeat producing 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, this output doesn’t compromise the SUV’s fuel consumption, with the Equinox averaging 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway for a combined average of 28 MPG.
Chevrolet offers a higher output and better efficiency in the 2024 Equinox, giving drivers the best of both worlds. However, this automaker doesn’t stop there. The 2024 Equinox EV takes an electrified approach as an all-electric compact SUV with a single- or dual-motor setup that produces anywhere from 210 to 288 hp and 346 lb-ft of instant torque. Depending on the configuration, you can expect a driving range between 250 and 319 miles and seamless Level 1, Level 2, or DC Fast charging.

The 2024 Equinox and 2024 Eclipse Cross are two of the most stylish compact SUVs in this class. Chevrolet and Mitsubishi do an outstanding job of keeping their models updated and fresh, with each automaker proving style and functionality go hand in hand. Of course, one automaker does a better job of finding this balance, as we see from looking closer at the lineups and design specs.
As compact SUVs, the Equinox and Eclipse Cross have smaller footprints, but how the automakers use this size is critical. For example, the 2024 Eclipse Cross sits on a 105.1-inch wheelbase and measures 179 inches long, 71.1 inches wide, and 66.5 inches tall. The 2024 Equinox is significantly longer, with its 107.3-inch wheelbase accommodating its 183.1-inch length and 72.6-inch width. But how does this impact the SUV’s cabin? It makes the Equinox far more accommodating.
Chevrolet strikes the perfect balance with the 2024 Equinox, with its longer and wider footprint translating to more room for passengers and cargo. The specs prove as much, with the Eclipse Cross offering 96.7 cu.ft. of passenger volume compared to the Equinox’s 103.5 cu.ft.
Chevrolet prioritizes head and legroom, with the Equinox’s headroom measuring 40 and 38.5 inches in the first and second rows and legroom measuring 40.9 and 38.5 inches, respectively. The cabin is far more cramped in the Eclipse Cross, with headroom measuring 39.5 and 37.3 inches and legroom measuring 40.9 and 37.1 inches. Likewise, cargo capacity suffers, with the Eclipse Cross offering a maximum capacity of 50.1 cu.ft. In contrast, the Equinox can carry far more with its 63.9 cu.ft. of space behind the front row.
The Equinox’s more functional design complements its streamlined lineup, where Chevrolet offers four trims with distinct personalities and three special edition models. In contrast, Mitsubishi muddies the waters with an expansive trim lineup with minor distinctions and paradoxically significant price increases. For example, the top-tier Equinox Premier offers every feature imaginable for under $32k, but Mitsubishi forces you to spend more on the SEL Touring, and even then, you won’t enjoy the same efficiency or functional cabin that Chevrolet provides with the Equinox.

Technology in the auto industry is constantly advancing, so it’s essential to look at how automakers include and prioritize these features to enhance your experience in the driver’s seat. For example, what size are the digital displays, and is smartphone integration seamless? Are there driver assistance technologies that heighten your situational awareness and actively minimize the potential for collision? Do you have the opportunity to expand those features with additional tools?
Fortunately, the 2024 Eclipse Cross and 2024 Equinox are tech-savvy. Depending on the trim, the SUVs have either a 7.0- or 8.0-inch color touchscreen display that features their respective infotainment systems. The Chevrolet system is more intuitive, with this automaker offering connected navigational tools, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. These features are also part of the Eclipse Cross’s infotainment system, but the Equinox is more user-friendly and refined.
Beyond connectivity tools, the 2024 Equinox gains another advantage over the 2024 Eclipse Cross for its safety and driver assistance features. These SUVs each come with a standard safety suite, with the Eclipse Cross featuring Forward Collision Mitigation with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Departure Warning. In contrast, the Equinox’s standard Chevy Safety Assist is more extensive; it includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, Forward Collision Alert, and a Following Distance Indicator. Likewise, Chevrolet is renowned for its Teen Driver Technology—yet another standard on every trim.
Beyond these standard features, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet offer advanced driver assistance features that enhance your safety and experience behind the wheel. As expected, Chevrolet’s optional tech is plentiful, with Mitsubishi offering a Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. With the Equinox, you can enjoy the perks of an HD Surround Vision Camera, Front and Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert to instill even more confidence anytime you’re in the driver’s seat.