Imagine, your family of five is taking a four-hour road trip to see the grandparents for the holidays. It’s Winter so it’s cold outside, maybe even a little ice on the roads. You need a reliable crossover SUV that will provide much needed comfort, but also features that will not only entertain your passengers but also help you arrive safely at your destination. Between the 2019 Chevy Equinox vs 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, both are excellent candidates in your search for the perfect compact crossover SUV. Both SUVs provide a range of entertainment options and safety add-ons, ensuring that you can design an SUV that meets not just the style you love, but also the needs of you and your family.
Exterior
The differences in these two compact SUVs begin at the exterior appearance. The Chevy Equinox and the Hyundai Santa Fe are both equipped with privacy rear windows, meaning they are deeply tinted, as well as solar control front glass to not only help maintain internal temperatures but also reduce glare. This will also protect your car’s interior materials like the leather seats, dash, and steering wheel leather.
With eight trim packages and thirteen color options including bold color choices like Ivy or Orange Metallic, the Chevy Equinox comes in at approximately 183 inches long. While both the Equinox and the Santa Fe seat up to five passengers, the Equinox is the significantly smaller option of the two SUVs compared to the 187-inch Hyundai Santa Fe. Although it is larger, the Santa Fe does come with less external options. It has only seven trim packages available and nine color options to choose from, making it less customizable.
Interior
Five inches may not seem like a huge difference but depending on your lifestyle those five inches can make a world of difference. If you are a traveler or parent, the extra space in the back seat for car seats or friends and the additional cargo space for backpacks, sports equipment, or suitcases means an easier commute. Space isn’t the only notable interior feature in these crossover SUVs. Both offer some incredible features, like wireless charging options, advanced audio systems, and in-dash navigation.
The Chevy Equinox offers a touch screen with available Chevy Infotainment system, keyless open, fold flat seats, and much more. For drivers in colder climates, the available heated seats and steering wheel, as well as dual-zone climate control, are a major plus. While many of these options are only available on certain trim packages, Chevy’s lower price tag allows buyers to add on features and still stay under budget.
The Santa Fe, while a little more expensive, also offers some very useful internal features. Comfort over long distances is a major bonus and the Santa Fe takes care of its drivers by offering two-way power lumbar support standard on their models, as well as available heated front and rear seats. The Clean Air Ionizer ensures that the whole family is breathing clean air. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as push-button start, make the Santa Fe a tech-savvy option that will keep the whole family entertained.
Performance
Another lifestyle factor is the performance of your SUV. With the different available trim packages, performance can vary on both the Chevy Equinox and the Hyundai Santa Fe. Due in large part to its smaller size and typically smaller engine, the Chevy Equinox does average better gas mileage at 26 MPG (miles per gallon) city and 32 MPG highway driving whereas the Hyundai Santa Fe averages about 22 MPG city driving and 29 MPG on the highway.
While the Chevy Equinox is more fuel efficient, the standard packaging of the Hyundai Santa Fe has more power, especially when it comes to towing capacity. The lowest costing Chevy Equinox trim package has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds which is enough for small trailering. The Hyundai Santa Fe has a towing capacity of approximately 2,000 pounds allowing for a little more flexibility in pulling and trailering. Both SUVs do offer a turbo engine on certain trim packages which up their performance as far as “get up and go” and towing capacity.
Warranty
Warranty is a very important factor when choosing a vehicle. Maintenance can greatly impact the life of your SUV making it last for many years to come. Ensuring you take advantage of your vehicle’s warranty and scheduled maintenance is a huge part of that. The amount of information available on warranties is extensive. The warranties that are worth comparing for the Chevy Equinox and Hyundai Santa Fe include their Powertrain Warranties and Roadside Assistance.
Chevy offers a five-year, 60,000-mile Powertrain warranty, whereas Hyundai offers 10 years and 100,000 miles. The Roadside Assistance for the Hyundai Santa Fe is five years and unlimited miles. Chevy’s roadside assistance is five years and 60,000 miles. If you do not do much driving, and in comparison to the Hyundai model’s higher price tag, a lower mileage warranty may not be a problem.
Ratings
The Chevy Equinox has a consumer rating of 4.7 out of 5, compared to the Hyundai Santa Fe which was rated a 4.9 out of 5. However, their safety ratings were the same. Both models were rated a 5 out of 5 on overall crash, front crash, and side crash ratings. They rated the same in rollover ratings as well, both scoring a 4 out of 5. This is common with SUVs.
Features You May Like
If you are a loyal Chevy enthusiast and are looking for a compact SUV, then the Equinox is definitely the vehicle for you. With two optional engines and the towing capabilities of the 252 hp (horsepower) turbo engine, which is about 3,500 pounds, all your needs will be met. However, if you are concerned with safety you will be dropping some extra cash as none of the active safety features require the most expensive trim packages and additional costly upgrades.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a quiet, refined crossover with modern safety technology. The HTRAC all-wheel-drive system is a great feature of the Santa Fe and automatically varies torque between the front and rear axles. This makes the Santa Fe more stable in all driving conditions. If you are not into all the bells and whistles of the modern safety technology, then you may not enjoy the Santa Fe. Even if certain safety tech alerts are turned off, they cycle back on the next time the car is started.
Conclusion
While both the Equinox and Santa Fe are both crossover SUVs, they could not be more different in appearance, available additions, and performance, as well as price. Starting MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) for the Chevy Equinox ranges from approximately $23,800 to $36,895. Alternatively, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a starting MSRP ranging from $25,500 to around $39,895. These prices are before additional options are added to your desired trim package. Truly the choice between these two excellent crossover SUV options comes down to a very personal decision. Taking into account budgetary restrictions, as well as features that meet your specific needs will ultimately be the best way to help you decide between the Chevy Equinox or the Hyundai Santa Fe. Doing your research is always a great foundation.
