Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 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 Mazda CX-50 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the Equinox.

The CX-50’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 CX-50 and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-50 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 an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Equinox has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The CX-50’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 Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 13 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 184) than the Equinox FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-50’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (256 vs. 175) and 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 203) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Equinox 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder 8-speed Auto AWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 24 city/29 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Equinox doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Equinox’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Equinox (245/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Equinox RS’ optional 50 series tires.

The CX-50 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the Equinox (110.8 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Equinox.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (36 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The CX-50 has .8 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Equinox.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the Equinox with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 29.8 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Equinox’s (2000 vs. 800 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Chevrolet Equinox AWD is only 1500 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The CX-50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Equinox’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-50’s optional 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 Equinox doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

The CX-50 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Equinox.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.