Compare the2025 Honda HR-VVS 2025 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 seat belts.

The Honda HR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer knee airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the HR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Equinox doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The HR-V’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The Honda HR-V has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Equinox has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 15 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Equinox LT/ACTIV’s standard 65 series tires.

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

For better maneuverability, the HR-V’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (35.1 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The HR-V Sport’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (37 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Chevrolet Equinox.

The HR-V is 3.4 inches shorter than the Equinox, making the HR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The HR-V Sport/EX-L’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Equinox’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The HR-V EX-L’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Equinox doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The HR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Equinox doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.