The Equinox’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Acadia and is not available with SL.
Both the Equinox and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the GMC Acadia:
|
Equinox |
Acadia |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
159 |
285 |
Neck Injury Risk |
17% |
21% |
Neck Stress |
190 lbs. |
191 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
10 lbs. |
29 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.6 inches |
.6 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
26% |
43% |
Neck Stress |
153 lbs. |
203 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
51 lbs. |
99 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the GMC Acadia:
|
Equinox |
Acadia |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
109 |
125 |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
630 lbs. |
799 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
13 inches |
14 inches |
HIC |
377 |
381 |
Hip Force |
730 lbs. |
760 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Equinox the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 119 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia has not been fully tested, yet.