Chevrolet Equinox vs. Subaru Outback

When we compare the Chevrolet Equinox to the Subaru Outback, the Chevrolet Equinox has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing and typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars. The Subaru Outback has the advantage in the areas of interior volume, overall quality score and base engine power. The Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback have the same fuel efficiency. Based on this comparison of the Chevrolet Equinox versus the Subaru Outback, the Subaru Outback is a better car than the Chevrolet Equinox.

Chevrolet Equinox versus Subaru Outback Pricing

A one- to five-year-old used Chevrolet Equinox ranges from $18,999 to $28,994 while a used Subaru Outback from the same model year range is priced between $23,499 to $34,488. For a new model, the Chevrolet Equinox's price is between $26,820 and $37,289, with the Subaru Outback priced between $32,795 and $44,141.

Chevrolet Equinox versus Subaru Outback Quality Rating

The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Chevrolet Equinox is 7.8 out of 10 while the Subaru Outback's quality rating is 8.8 out of 10. This results in the Chevrolet Equinox being ranked 13 out of 14 Best Small SUVs for the Money and the Subaru Outback being ranked 2 out of 14. Out of 24 Best Small SUVs, the Chevrolet Equinox is ranked 24 and the Subaru Outback is ranked 2. The Chevrolet Equinox is also ranked 23 out of 28 Best Crossover SUVs for the Money while the Subaru Outback is ranked 2 out of 28. The Chevrolet Equinox is also ranked 28 out of 61 Best Crossover SUVs while the Subaru Outback is ranked 2 out of 61.

Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison

For engine performance, the Chevrolet Equinox’s base engine makes 175 horsepower, and the Subaru Outback base engine makes 182 horsepower. Both the Equinox and the Outback are rated to deliver an average of 28 miles per gallon, with highway ranges of 462 and 592 miles respectively. Both models use regular unleaded.

Passenger Space Comparison

While both models are crossover/compact SUVs, the Subaru Outback has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, and trunk space. The Chevrolet Equinox has the advantage in the area of rear leg room.

Hauling, Towing, and Off-Road Capabilities Comparison

The Chevrolet Equinox has the advantage of offering higher payload capacity, while the Subaru Outback has the advantage of offering higher ground clearance.

Safety Ratings Comparison

When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Subaru Outback has higher safety ratings than the Chevrolet Equinox, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.79 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, the Subaru Outback has the better rating with a Top Safety Pick+ award compared to the Chevrolet Equinox’s Top Safety Pick award.