2021 has been proving to be a very exciting and prospective year for the automotive industry. Automotive manufacturers are throwing all their innovations and upgrades into the ring, and the market is ready for the unveiling of exciting features and designs. Two companies, Chevy and Toyota, are looking forward to a very large show-off especially, with the release of two monsters in the SUV business; the 2021 Chevy Equinox vs 2021 Toyota RAV4.
That said, what is so special about these SUVs, and why should we care? There is a lot that these designs are bringing to the table, and we’re excited to see exactly what to expect from these two small SUV powerhouses. So, let’s dive right in.
Chevy vs Toyota: Are They a Rivalry?
Although not exactly considered rivals in the industry typically, Chevy and Toyota, in reality, have been some of each other’s biggest competitors in recent years. This is especially true in the case of SUVs, in which both have had a very long run in their respective countries, a legacy that is going against each other in the global market today. Chevy has long been known as a company in the United States that has provided a wide selection of vehicles that have defined the standard with performance and comfort to provide a smooth drive. On the other hand, Toyota is a historical player in Japan’s automotive industry, which has built up its name on its amazing balance of affordability and performance, making a reliable vehicle that everybody can afford.
Nonetheless, where each company has built up its benefits, there are also plenty of downsides associated with each company’s style of design. However, each company has evolved over the years in ways that may be unexpected, given their histories. The 2021 Chevy Equinox and 2021 Toyota RAV4 are a testament to each company’s strength.
2021 Chevy Equinox?
In general, the Chevy Equinox has been an SUV that has really made up the family driving experience in America over the last few years. With its larger size, unique comfort experience, and high safety standards, the Chevy Equinox has been a model for the SUV industry for a long time. That said, how does the 2021 Chevy Equinox size up to the legacy of its model?
First of all, the 2021 Chevy Equinox offers a satisfying performance. With 26 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway, the Equinox offers a relatively high fuel economy. This is often coupled with the SUV’s outstanding comfort experience, offering a large amount of space. This includes, of course, 63.9 cubic feet of cargo space, but the 2021 Chevy Equinox experience goes even farther than that. The new addition offers folding seats to increase truck storage and a hands-free liftgate, making the long family trip as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.
While this is all great, perhaps the biggest improvement of all comes in the form of safety technology. We want our families and ourselves to be as safe as possible, so it’s always important for our SUVs to have the most up-to-date safety features possible. The 2021 Chevy Equinox does this by introducing already standard advancements like automatic braking and lane keep assist, but Chevy goes a step further by introducing even newer technology.
A milestone in automotive safety technology, the 2021 Chevy Equinox will offer a following distance indicator to ensure that you are always a safe distance from the car in front of you and a rear vision camera to keep track of what’s behind you. The automatic high beam assistance ensures that your high beams are always being used in the best way possible to ensure good night-time visibility and the safety of yourself and other cars on the road. And the best part? All of these safety features are standard.
That’s not all when it comes to safety. There is a whole host of optional available safety features, including adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, lane change with side blind zone alert, a safety alert seat, and high definition surround vision. We also can’t forget to mention the standard rear seat reminder and Teen Driver technology – perfect for families with new drivers. In the end, the 2021 Chevy Equinox is looking to be an SUV that blends space management and performance into an easily affordable vehicle.
What About the 2021 Toyota RAV4?
At first, the 2021 Toyota RAV4’s price tag may be rather off-putting. That’s understandable; after all, nobody wants to put a lot of money out for a possibly standard vehicle. So, it begs the question, is the extra thousands of dollars worth it for what buyers are getting out of the RAV4? Let’s find out.
One of Toyotas’ strengths has always been in its fuel efficiency. This is the company that gave us the renowned Prius, after all. As far as the RAV4 is concerned, fuel efficiency is rather impressive for an SUV. Drivers of the RAV4 will get 28 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway, which is impressive. However, this is only slightly better than the Chevy Equinox and again comes at a higher starting MSRP.
The RAV4 also has a pretty good amount of available cargo space, with 69.8 cubic feet, so storage shouldn’t be an issue in this SUV. Where there is a lack in the RAV4, though, is in safety features. The RAV4 offers optional front and rear parking assist, which can be useful in parking situations, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. However, these features are going to cost more and are not as impressive as all of the standard safety features on the Equinox.
Which Is Better?
In this case, choosing a distinct winner between these two expertly designed SUVs will be a very difficult task. Nonetheless, it is easy to see that each vehicle offers a slightly different experience than the other. The Chevy Equinox excels in safety excellence, performance, and comfort. Likewise, the Toyota RAV4 is at the top with fuel efficiency and performance. In the grand scheme of things, the Chevy Equinox is going to be the better option for families or those who want advanced safety technology, especially if you have or will soon have a new driver behind the wheel. Meanwhile, if fuel efficiency is your main concern, the RAV4 gets better gas mileage.
Which Will You Choose?
2021 is looking to be one of the most exciting in the automotive business yet, with a wide plethora of new, anticipated releases. Companies like Chevy and Toyota are still bringing you some of the best SUVs in the industry. Between the 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Toyota RAV4, there has been a lot of competition, but if we had to choose one, we’d pick the 2021 Equinox. The Equinox is the perfect family SUV, with industry-leading standard safety features that are perfect for drivers new and old and incredible performance, all packaged in an affordable SUV. So, get excited because 2021 is going to be an excellent year for SUVs.
