2017 Chevy Equinox vs 2017 Nissan Rogue – Cincinnati, OH

Safety

Nowadays, SUVs are often used by families to help transport children to their extracurricular activities. While safety has always been a concern, it should be especially prioritized if you're going to be bussing around your children. Fortunately, both the Equinox and the Rogue are more than capable of keeping occupants safe and protected.

Chevy Equinox

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the 2017 Chevy Equinox is its array of safety technologies. These inclusions play a significant role in not only keeping passengers safe during an accident, but avoiding that accident in the first place.

The protective features are especially useful (and potentially life-saving) if you find yourself in an accident. Six standard air bags and the high-strength steel safety cage will go a long way in protecting any occupants. Plus, if you do find yourself in a crash, the OnStar Automatic Crash Response System will automatically connect you with emergency personnel.

Meanwhile, a number of technologies will help reduce the chance that you ever end up in that collision. The brand offers systems like Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Lane Departure Warning, and these enhancements will provide warnings or even manipulate the vehicle’s operations to keep the occupants safe.

Nissan Rogue

Similar to the Chevy alternative, the Rogue also provides features that help protect and avoid. The SUV has been designed to absorb energy during a collision while also keeping everyone safe. The Zone Body Construction, six standard air bags, tire pressure monitoring system, and the all-important LATCH child restraints are essential equipment.

Of course, Nissan doesn’t even want their drivers to find themselves in a crash in the first place. There are a number of systems that should help make this a reality, including Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Moving Object Detection, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Performance

Some car companies are so focused on producing a well-versed engine, they often end up making a product that provides underwhelming power and efficiency. Meanwhile, Chevy's engineers specifically focused on one of these two attributes, producing a pair of engines that provide a number of top-of-the-class specs.

Chevy Equinox

Why waste your time on a vehicle that provides subpar efficiency and power specs. Sure, it’s nice that engineers focused in on both attributes, but that predictably led to underwhelming results. Instead, you can opt for one of the two engines included with the Equinox, as these units focus solely on power or efficiency.

The 3.6-liter V6 engine is for those who are looking for a hulking, muscular vehicle. The engine is capable of pumping out an impressive 301 horsepower, which leads to an equally-impressive 0-to-60 time of 6.7 seconds. Of course, this power also has an influence over the towing capacity, as drivers should expect to haul up to 3,500 pounds. Meanwhile, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is the perfect choice for those seeking efficiency, as the unit can deliver a 31 mile per gallon highway fuel efficiency. The size of the engine surely influences these impressive specs, but the creative Eco Mode and the smooth six-speed automatic transmission also play a significant role.

Nissan Rogue

Similar to the Chevy Equinox, Nissan also provides a pair of engine options to potential customers. While one of these units delivers excellent fuel efficiency, the positive attributes of the alternative option is not as clear.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine is the most impressive offering. While the power (176 horsepower, 141 pounds-feet of torque) leaves plenty to be desired, the incredible fuel efficiency makes it a definite target. Besides the hybrid technology, this engine also includes features like engine idle start/stop and an energy flow gauge, which play a significant role in the vehicle delivering a 35 highway/33 city mile per gallon fuel economy.

Alternatively, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine can crank out 170 horsepower and 175 pounds-feet of torque, which are modest improvements on the smaller alternative. However, the fuel efficiency suffers a bit, as drivers should only expect a 33 highway/26 city mile per gallon efficiency.

Interior

If you're going to be dishing out money on a new SUV, you'll surely want that vehicle to be chock full of stylish upholsteries and innovative technologies. Both the Equinox and Rogue deliver in this regard, although one of the vehicle's opulent features clearly puts it on a tier by itself.

Chevy Equinox

Compact sports utility vehicle? More like luxury SUV! Sure, the 2017 Chevy Equinox may not technically be categorized within this segment, but casual customers certainly wouldn’t know that when they’re exploring the vehicle. The outside is pleasing on the eyes, with the dual exhaust and chrome-accented dual-port grille providing an athletic, muscular persona. Meanwhile, the chrome-accented dual-port grille, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and LED daytime running lights will command other drivers’ attention.

The inside is just as stylish, with the comfortable leather-appointed seats welcoming you into the SUV. Front passengers will appreciate the Chevrolet MyLink system, which allows them to access a host of applications or connect their smartphone. Meanwhile, the Multi-Flex sliding seats will be appreciated by the driver, as they can manipulate these rear seats to accommodate equipment and passengers. Ultimately, when the rear seats have been folded, drivers will have access to 63.7-cubic-feet of cargo space.

Nissan Rogue

The exterior has a number of features that not only boost the overall elegance of the vehicle, but also impact the vehicle’s drivability. For starters, the LED Daytime Running Light, headlights, and taillights will surely catch any driver’s attention, while the 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels will leave those gawkers impressed. Meanwhile, the durable roof rails makes the Rogue an ideal choice for those who are looking to go on weekend adventures. Perhaps the most appreciated inclusion is the heated outside mirrors, as drivers won’t have to wait to get going on those cold mornings as the ice slowly melts away.

The inside of the Rogue is known more for its convenience than its style or comfort offerings. When drivers aren’t transporting (up to) seven passengers, they can take advantage of the brand’s Divide-N-Hide Cargo System and EZ Flex Seating System. Drivers can easily manipulate their vehicle to fit whatever cargo they need, and the vehicle can ultimately provide up to 70 cubic-feet of cargo room. If you’re having issues loading your cargo, the Motion Activated Liftgate means you can access that rear space without having to fumble for your keys.