Compare the2024 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2024 Cadillac XT4

Both the Equinox and the XT4 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, 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 Cadillac XT4:

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, results indicate that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

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

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Equinox the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

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 Equinox’s reliability 14 points higher than the XT4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Equinox first among compact suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The XT4 was rated third in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox gets better mileage than the XT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Equinox uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Equinox stops much shorter than the XT4:

The Equinox’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the XT4’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the Equinox more stable handling and braking.

The Equinox Premier handles at .83 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Equinox’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the XT4’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Equinox has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (7.9 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Equinox to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Equinox w/18” Wheels’ minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the XT4 (8 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Chevrolet Equinox may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Equinox has .6 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Equinox’s rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (29.9 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (63.9 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Equinox easier. The Equinox’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.6 inches, while the XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Equinox’s cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Equinox LT/RS/Premier’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XT4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Equinox can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Equinox can be unhitched and driven around locally. The XT4 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Equinox’s available exterior PIN entry system. The XT4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Equinox (except LS) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Equinox is less expensive to operate than the XT4 because typical repairs cost much less on the Equinox than the XT4, including $59 less for a water pump, $7 less for front struts, $239 less for a timing belt/chain and $168 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Equinox will be $8546 to $8994 less than for the Cadillac XT4.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Equinox, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT4 isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Cadillac XT4 by over 9 to one during 2023.