Two of the most popular affordable compact SUVs on the market are the 2020 Chevy Equinox and the 2020 Nissan Rogue. The key selling point of SUVs, such as these, is versatility. No other vehicle type is equally at home on long highway drives or short off-road jaunts, taking the family on vacation or picking up lumber at the hardware store. While the compact SUV may not be the best on the road at any one task, it is the one vehicle that will never limit you in your daily life. So how does the versatility of the 2020 Chevy Equinox vs 2020 Nissan Rogue compare? Although both are similar vehicles and share a number of the same features, the 2020 Chevy Equinox stands out for significantly more capable engine choices and a wider variety of optional equipment. Although both of these compact SUVs make for excellent all-around vehicles and have been chosen by hundreds of thousands of drivers, all things considered, the 2020 Chevy Equinox is currently the more versatile choice.
Capacity
Although the two vehicles are close in size, the 2020 Nissan Rogue is slightly larger, and it shows when comparing interior space and cargo capacity. With the rear seats in place, the 2020 Nissan Rogue offers a remarkable 39.3 cubic feet of space in the back while the 2020 Chevy Equinox has a more common 29.9 cubic feet for cargo. However, this difference does shrink when the rear seats are folded, with the cargo area in the 2020 Chevy Equinox more than doubling to 63.9 cubic feet while that of the 2020 Nissan Rogue tops out at 70 cubic feet. So while the 2020 Nissan Rogue does offer a bit more space for transporting large items, the overall difference between the two is small, and either will more than suffice for moving anything from suitcases to furniture.
When it comes to comparing the passenger space of the 2020 Chevy Equinox vs 2020 Nissan Rogue, things become even closer. Although their amounts of interior space are similar, the two vehicles use it differently. The 2020 Nissan Rogue offers an impressive 41.6” of front headroom and 43” of front legroom against the 40” and 40.9” found in the 2020 Chevy Equinox, but this comes at the expense of backseat space. Climbing into the back rows of the two SUVs, you will discover that both offer the same 38.5” of rear headroom. Further, despite being the smaller overall vehicle, the 2020 Chevy Equinox actually offers more second-row legroom – 39.9” against 37.9” for the 2020 Nissan Rogue. So while both SUVs have seating for five, passengers in the back of a 2020 Chevy Equinox will be far more comfortable. And while the generous front row dimensions of the 2020 Nissan Rogue look good on paper, unless you are significantly above average height, you probably will not be able to feel any difference.
Power and Efficiency
Few crossover SUVs are what anyone would consider powerful vehicles, and frankly, they do not really need to be. Despite generally good handling, they are not going to be mistaken for sports cars, and they are never going to be called upon to do the work of an actual truck. However, a good engine is still important for highway driving or those occasions when you want to pull a small trailer. And when it comes to comparing the engine options of the 2020 Chevy Equinox and 2020 Nissan Rogue, you will find that the American vehicle is the hands-down winner in both power and fuel economy.
The only engine option available on the 2020 Nissan Rogue is a 2.5L four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Although this is certainly an acceptable choice for this class of vehicle, it is far from exceptional. However, with one of Nissan’s typical Continuously Variable Transmissions, the 2020 Nissan Rogue does achieve a solid average fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon. In contrast, the 2020 Chevy Equinox offers two different engines. The first of these is a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and a notable 203 lb-ft of torque. But not only is this engine more powerful than what is available on the 2020 Nissan Rogue, it is also paired with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. And despite offering both more power and a more responsive transmission, the 2020 Chevy Equinox still achieves an average of 28 miles per gallon.
For those drivers who are not content with this level of power, the 2020 Chevy Equinox also offers a 2.0L turbocharged engine. This produces 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It is also paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While this still might not satisfy drivers coming from a sports car or large pickup, it is one of the better engine and transmission combinations currently available in this segment. The market-leading Toyota RAV4, for instance, tops out at 203 horsepower with a CVT. So while the engine in the 2020 Nissan Rogue is certainly adequate and will save a bit of gasoline, drivers who desire power should be looking at the 2020 Chevy Equinox.
Comfort and Technology
But while cargo space, a roomy interior, and a solid engine are all vital components of a versatile vehicle, good interior quality and plenty of available features are also important. While truck owners may pine for a simple work truck and sports cars enthusiasts may laud the pure driving experience, a compact SUV must offer you and your passengers the creature comforts you need to get through both your daily life and your occasional adventure no matter the season or location. And although both the 2020 Chevy Equinox and 2020 Nissan Rogue offer a wide variety of features to make your driving experience safer and more comfortable, across the board, the 2020 Chevy Equinox has the edge.
To begin with, all trims of the 2020 Chevy Equinox come standard with keyless entry and push-button start. And while both vehicles offer an eight-way power driver’s seat and heated front seats, only the 2020 Chevy Equinox offers an eight-way power passenger’s seat, vented front seats, and heated outboard rear seats. The 2020 Chevy Equinox also comes standard with active noise cancellation, four express-down power windows, and has an available heated steering wheel. This lead continues into the comparison of the infotainment systems of the 2020 Chevy Equinox vs 2020 Nissan Rogue. Both of these two SUVs come standard with a 7” touchscreen and are compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, only the 2020 Chevy Equinox offers the upgrade to an 8” touchscreen with built-in navigation. It also offers twice as many USB ports and the option of a wireless phone charger. In short, the more comfortable interior goes to the 2020 Chevy Equinox by a wide margin.
When it comes to comparing safety, both the 2020 Chevy Equinox and 2020 Nissan Rogue are very safe vehicles and have both been chosen as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. They also both come standard with important advanced safety technologies such as forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Additional available equipment that they offer includes blindspot and rear cross traffic alert, 360º vision cameras, rear park assist, and automatic high beams. However, the 2020 Chevy Equinox has a couple more unique technologies, such as a standard following distance indicator and rear seat reminder, as well as Chevy’s safety alert seat. And although these additions are fairly minor in the grand scheme of things, it does give the small edge in safety to the 2020 Chevy Equinox.
