Compare the2024 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2024 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Equinox and the Kona 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, 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.

Warranty

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Equinox first among compact suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Kona isn’t in the top three 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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

Engine

The Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (175 vs. 147) and 71 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder 8-speed Auto AWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 24 city/29 hwy).

The Equinox FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona’s standard fuel tank (14.9 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Equinox has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Kona doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Equinox’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

	Equinox	Kona
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	11.2 inches

The Equinox stops much shorter than the Kona:

	Equinox	Kona
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Equinox has larger standard tires than the Kona (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

The Equinox has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Kona doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Chevrolet Equinox has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Kona (107.3 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

The Equinox Premier handles at .83 G’s, while the Kona N Line AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Equinox uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kona doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Equinox has .1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona with its rear seat up (29.9 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The Equinox has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

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 Kona can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Equinox uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Equinox Premier, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Equinox Premier’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Kona does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Equinox’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Kona’s optional windows’ rear windows don’t open automatically.

On a hot day the Equinox’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Kona doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Equinox’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited.

When the Equinox Premier is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox Premier’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Kona offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Equinox and the Kona offer available heated front seats. The Equinox Premier also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona.

Both the Equinox and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Equinox has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Kona doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Equinox, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Hyundai Kona by almost three to one during 2023.

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