Compare the2025 Dodge HornetVS 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Dodge Hornet 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 Dodge Hornet has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps 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.

The Hornet has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Equinox doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The Hornet’s optional 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 Hornet and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Hornet’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Hornet has a standard 160-amp alternator. The Equinox’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (268 vs. 175) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 184) than the Equinox FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet GT’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (268 vs. 175) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 203) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 113 more horsepower (288 vs. 175) and 180 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 203) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running on electricity gets better mileage than the Equinox:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Equinox:

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Equinox can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Hornet R/T’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Equinox doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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

The Hornet GT’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 Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Equinox RS’ optional 50 series tires.

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

The Hornet offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet is 5.2 inches shorter than the Equinox, making the Hornet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Hornet has .8 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Equinox.

The Hornet’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Equinox’s (2000 vs. 800 pounds).

The Hornet’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.

If the windows are left open on the Hornet the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Equinox can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Hornet’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 avoid possible obstacles, the Hornet offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Hornet’s optional 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.

Both the Dodge Hornet and Chevrolet Equinox offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Hornet features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Equinox’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Hornet 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.

The Hornet’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Equinox doesn’t offer an automated parking system.