Chevy Equinox vs Chevy Traverse

If you’re looking for a Chevy SUV, there are quite a few options for you to pick from, but two of the best are the Chevy Equinox and the Chevy Traverse. But while they’re both great vehicles, they serve completely different markets, and what might be best for you might not be best for someone else.

To help you figure out which vehicle is right for you we’ve highlighted each vehicle and what it offers here.

The Chevy Equinox

If you want an SUV but don’t want a third row, the Chevy Equinox is an outstanding choice. It seats five people, sits high off the ground, and there are a ton of engine options for you to pick from. We’ve highlighted some key features of the Equinox for you here.

Engine Options & Performance

The first Chevy Equinox rolled off the production line and onto the street in the United States in 2004, and since then it’s been among Chevy’s most popular two-row SUVs. Over that time they’ve put seven different engine options under the hood, including a diesel engine option from 2017 to 2020.

Base-level Equinox engines push between 170 and 185 horsepower, but if you upgrade to a more powerful engine it can push up to 306 horsepower! To help you know what you can expect from different engine options we’ve highlighted each one and some basic performance specifications for you here.

Cargo Space and Seating Capacity

While the Chevy Equinox won’t match the cargo space of a full three-row SUV, for a two-row SUV you get tons of storage space. Depending on the model year you go with you can expect between 29.9 and 31.4 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row.

Meanwhile, if you fold down the second-row seats you open up between 63.7 and 63.9 cubic feet of storage space, giving you plenty of space for sports equipment, groceries, or just about anything else you can think of!

But no matter what Chevy Equinox you go with you can expect enough seats for five people, which is why it fits firmly into the compact SUV category.

Ground Clearance and Towing Capacity

While the Chevy Equinox might only have enough seats for five, it sits high enough off the ground to give you a great view of the road. Older Equinox models sit 7.8” off the ground, while newer models sit just a smidge lower at 7.6”.

Moreover, almost every Equinox can only tow about 1,500 pounds, and doesn’t come with the necessary equipment to do so. However, some newer models come with a towing package that ups this amount to 3,500 pounds, which is quite impressive for a compact SUV!

The Chevy Traverse

The Chevy Traverse is a bit larger than the Equinox, slotting into the full-size crossover SUV class. It has enough seats for either seven or eight people depending on the configuration you go with and is an excellent choice for families.

If you’re thinking about getting a Traverse we’ve highlighted some key features you’ll want to be aware of for you here.

Engine Options & Performance

While the Chevy Traverse has been on the road for over 15 years, over that time Chevy has only put three different engines under the hood, and two of them are a 3.6L gasoline engine! Chevy found a winner with the Traverse and has stuck with it year after year.

With that in mind, we’ve highlighted each engine option and what you can expect from it for you here.

Cargo Space and Seating Capacity

As a three-row SUV it’s no surprise that the Chevy Traverse has more storage space than the Chevy Equinox. But what is surprising is just how much more cargo space it has. The exact amount of storage space the Traverse has depends on the model year you go with though.

Older Traverse models have 24.4 cubic feet of storage space behind the third-row seats and a total of 116.4 cubic feet of storage space if you fold the seats down. Newer Traverses don’t have quite as much space, but with 23 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row and 98.2 cubic feet of storage space once you fold down the seats it’s not exactly lacking for cargo space.

Meanwhile, both older and newer Traverse models can seat either seven or eight depending on whether or not the Traverse you’re looking at has second-row captain seats or bench seats.

Ground Clearance and Towing Capacity

While the Traverse is longer and larger than the Equinox, one area where it’s almost identical is with ride height. Older Traverse models sit 7.2” off the ground, while newer models sit 7.5” off the ground.

Meanwhile, most Traverse models can tow up to 1,500 pounds, but if you get one with an optional tow package they can tow up to 5,000 pounds! They’re not going to keep up with the towing specs of a full-sized truck, but it’s still quite impressive for a three-row SUV!

Final Thoughts

Are you interested in either the Chevy Equinox or the Traverse? Or do you still have questions about either vehicle? If so, the team at Tim’s Truck would love to help you out and walk you through everything you need to know about either vehicle.

Not only that but they’ll help you track down the exact vehicle you’re looking for, ensure you get a great deal on it, and even help you out with financing if you need it! When it comes to buying a new vehicle nobody makes it easier than Tim’s Truck.

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