Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Honda HR-V are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Equinox’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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 Honda HR-V is safer than the Chevrolet Equinox:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 1.1% to 5% less likely to roll over than the Equinox.

The HR-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Equinox has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the HR-V’s reliability 33 points higher than the Equinox.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 12 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Equinox doesn’t offer a CVT.

The HR-V stops much shorter than the Equinox:

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Equinox LS/LT’s standard 65 series tires.

The HR-V AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the HR-V AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The HR-V has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Equinox LT AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the HR-V’s turning circle is tighter than the Equinox’s:

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 pounds less than the Chevrolet Equinox.

The HR-V is 1 foot shorter than the Equinox, making the HR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The HR-V has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Equinox doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $110 less than the Equinox over a five-year period.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 52.22% to 53.55% of its original price after five years, while the Equinox only retains 35.23% to 40.67%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the HR-V is less expensive to operate than the Equinox because it costs $537 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the Equinox, including $149 less for a water pump, $657 less for a muffler, $169 less for front brake pads, $326 less for fuel injection, $282 less for a fuel pump, $379 less for a timing belt/chain and $23 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $6779 to $10870 less than for the Chevrolet Equinox.