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| 26/31 | Max Fuel Economy (city/highway) | 22/31 |
| 203 | Max Torque (lb-ft) | 175 |
| 63.9 | Max Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 59.8 |
It can be difficult to narrow down the list when choosing between five-seat SUVs. You want the ease and handling of a car with the safety and cargo space of something bigger, but how do you choose between all the options? When it comes to narrowing down your choices, you should look at names at the top of the U.S. car market: the 2021 Chevy Equinox vs 2021 Jeep Compass. Both the 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Jeep Compass have similar starting prices and fairly comparable gas mileage, but only one is the better SUV.
When you look more closely, however, you'll find the Chevy Equinox has many additional perks, from Amazon Alexa compatibility and extra legroom and storage to safety features that far outperform the competition. At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we're here to help you find your perfect new Chevy. But don't take our word for it. We'll let the stats speak for themselves.
The standard engine in a 2021 Chevy Equinox is a 1.5-liter Turbo 4-cylinder. This engine has a dual overhead cam design with direct-injection and variable valve timing paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, providing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine also comes with automatic start/stop technology, a system that cuts off when at a full stop leading to better fuel efficiency and fewer emissions. The 2021 Chevy Equinox has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 MPG city and 31 MPG highway.
The Equinox comes with windshield glass that is acoustically laminated to help reduce road sounds. It also boasts active noise cancellation, which uses in-cabin microphones and speakers to counteract unwanted engine noise. These combine to add to a quieter cabin and more pleasant driving experience, making your music sound better and helping you keep your attention on what's ahead of you. With the Premier line, you can add a Bose Premium 7-speaker audio system so that you can take full advantage of the quiet cabin.
The fuel-efficiency and Turbo engine make the 2021 Chevy Equinox convenient for driving around town, but with 63.9 cubic feet of storage space, it's also ready for all your big errands and hauling needs. Even with passengers in the second row, where there are a comfortable 39.9 inches of legroom, there's still 29.9 cubic feet of storage space. There is also storage space under the rear cargo area, so you can head out on vacation with plenty of room for all your stuff.
The standard engine on the 2021 Jeep Compass is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that has 180 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. While this engine also has automatic start/stop technology, its extra size means that its EPA-estimated fuel economy is lower at 22 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. The legroom in the second row of the Compass is 38.3 inches, and the interior cargo volume is 27.2 cubic feet. With the second row of seats folded down, the maximum cargo space is 59.8 cubic feet - smaller than in the Equinox.
The smaller turbocharged engine of the 2021 Chevy Equinox provides better fuel economy than that of the 2021 Jeep Compass while also providing more power. The turbo's extra torque means better pickup at green lights or when changing lanes at highway speeds. The Equinox measures ten inches longer than the Compass, and while those inches show up most in cargo space, having over an inch and a half more legroom for your second-row passengers is quite a luxury. When it comes to enjoying your drive, Chevrolet's noise-canceling tech also adds a great deal of value.
The 2021 Chevy Equinox has four trim packages, the L, LS, LT, and Premier, with the L starting at $23,800. You can make your new Equinox your own with a variety of exterior options. A black grille with your choice of black or chrome surround is available on all but the base model. There are also a few packages available for grilles, mirror caps, and emblems. 17" alloy wheels are standard, with a variety of 18" and 19" upgrade options on the upper trim lines.
Upgrading to the LT trim line brings a host of additional options like a panoramic power sunroof, power programmable liftgate, roof rack cross rails, and molded assist steps. A package including remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated driver and front passenger seats, front fog lamps, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel is also available on the LT models. With the Premier line, you have those, along with the option to get that steering wheel heated, an 8-way power front passenger seat with power lumbar support, ventilated driver and front passenger seats, and heated rear outboard seats. A hands-free gesture liftgate comes standard on the Premier trim for the ultimate ease in loading groceries.
A 3.5" monochrome driver information center is standard on the lower trims but is replaced with a 4.2" full-color screen on the higher-level models. The driver information center is located on the main dash display, along with the speedometer and tachometer, and it can be customized to show additional information. The other important screen in the 2021 Chevy Equinox is a touchscreen with Chevrolet's Infotainment system. The standard screen measures 7", but you can upgrade to an 8" screen on the LT, and the Premier trim makes the 8" screen standard.
With the Chevy Infotainment system, you can connect your smartphone via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or Bluetooth, accessing your favorite streaming radio and mapping system. You can also use Chevrolet Marketplace to pay and order at a variety of restaurants and gas stations. The 2021 Chevy Equinox even has Alexa built-in, so you can access your Amazon Music, place or track orders, or even access connected smart home devices. Every trim of the Equinox also comes standard with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot.
Upgrading to a built-in navigation system is available from the LT, along with the option to add a rear-seat infotainment system with or without a DVD player. Besides the standard front and cargo-area 12-volt power outlets, with the LT and Premier, you can also add additional connection and power options like USB ports, an SD card slot, an auxiliary input jack, and a 120-volt power outlet to charge larger electronics and tools.
There are four trims of the 2021 Jeep Compass: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with the Sport starting at $23,915. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof is available on all but the Sport trim, while a heated steering wheel is available on all but the Sport and Limited. You can add a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet on the Latitude and Altitudes, along with front seats that are heated, ventilated, and have eight-way power adjustments for the perfect fit. The Limited and Trailhawk trims also have an available power liftgate.
The entertainment and utility tech in the 2021 Jeep Compass is the FCA Uconnect. With Uconnect, you can connect your smartphone via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto. You can also use Uconnect Marketplace to find and pay for parking and gas, order food, or make a dine-in reservation. The standard Uconnect touchscreen in the Compass is 7", and there is an 8.4" screen on the Limited and Trailhawk models. A 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM traffic and navigation tools are also available on the Limited and Trailhawks.
If you're looking to fully customize your small SUV, the 2021 Chevy Equinox provides more options than the 2021 Jeep Compass across trims. In addition, the Equinox has connectivity with Alexa and options like assist steps and a rear-seat entertainment system, perks not offered by Jeep. The Chevy Equinox is a clear winner when it comes to distinctive features that meet both your aesthetic preferences and transportation needs.
Chevy Safety Assist is standard on each 2021 Chevy Equinox. This package includes automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, following distance indicator, lane keep assist with lane departure, and Intellibeam automatic high-beam headlamps. All Equinoxes also come with Chevy's patented Stabilitrak, a more capable version of traction control, and a Teen Driver system to help you keep your new drivers focused and to provide you with a report card of their progress. A rear-vision camera is also standard on all models.
You can upgrade to an HD rearview camera on the LT, and that is standard on the Premier. You can also choose to add lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, and rear park assist to the LT. These safety features are standard on the Premier trim, and additional safety upgrades include a safety alert seat, HD surround vision, and adaptive cruise control. With all of this, the 2021 Chevy Equinox has earned a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Limited and Trailhawk models come standard with safety features including blind spot monitoring, the ParkSense rear park assist system, and full-speed forward collision warning with active braking. These are options to add to the Latitude trim, but the base Sport trim has no available driver-assist system. While the 2021 Jeep Compass has a high-strength steel body and eight standard airbags, it has a less-than-perfect four-star rating from the NHTSA and was not named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.
When it comes to safety, the 2021 Chevy Equinox trumps the 2021 Jeep Compass, hands down. There are so many features included in standard driver-assist technology thanks to Chevy Safety Assist, even on the most basic trim. Those features, along with its solid construction, have given the Equinox quantifiably higher safety ratings from multiple accredited third-party testers.
When you shop for your 2021 Chevy Equinox at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, you'll get the Hendrick Advantage. At our dealership, we believe not in sales transactions but in sales partnerships. We have special offers on our wide range of new and used Chevy vehicles, as well as an experienced finance team to help get you into your perfect ride with payments that fit your budget.
Once you buy from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, you have full access to our service department for all scheduled maintenance to keep your new car, truck, or SUV running as good as new for years to come. Our dealership is an easy drive from anywhere in the Atlanta area, and we are ready to show you everything that Chevy has to offer. Visit us today to find your perfect vehicle.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.