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2026 Chevy Equinox vs Toyota RAV4: Price, MPG, and Specs Compared

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2026 Toyota RAV4 are two of the most cross-shopped compact SUVs, and the choice comes down to a few clear trade-offs. One trade-off matters before anything else: every 2026 RAV4 grade, from the LE up to the Limited, is a hybrid, while the Equinox runs a conventional gas engine. Choose the Equinox if you want the lower entry price and the conventional gas engine. Choose the RAV4 if you want hybrid fuel economy and more cargo room.

2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs Toyota RAV4
  • At a Glance
  • Where the Equinox Wins
  • Where the Toyota RAV4 Wins
  • Price
  • Engines & Power
  • Fuel Economy
  • Size & Cargo
  • Towing
  • Standard Safety
  • Shop the Equinox
  • Frequently Asked Questions

At a Glance

Feature 2026 Equinox 2026 RAV4
Powertrain 1.5L turbo gas 4-cylinder 2.5L hybrid 4-cylinder
Horsepower 175 hp 226 hp FWD / 236 hp AWD (net combined)
EPA combined MPG 26–27 38–43
Max cargo room (rear seat folded) 63.5 cu ft 70.4 cu ft
Max towing (properly equipped) 1,500 lb 3,500 lb
Standard driver-assist suite Chevy Safety Assist Toyota Safety Sense 4.0
Seating 5 5
Starting MSRP $28,800 $31,900

Every price here is the starting MSRP published when the 2026 models went on sale, and it excludes destination. Current pricing varies by configuration and program.

Where the Equinox Wins

2026 Chevrolet Equinox advantages over the Toyota RAV4

The Equinox's case rests on price and powertrain.

  • Starting price: The Equinox launched at $28,800, below every RAV4 grade. The least expensive RAV4, a front-wheel-drive Hybrid LE, launched at $31,900, so the Equinox is the lower point of entry by $3,100. That gap is at the bottom of the range, where most first-time cross-shoppers start looking.
  • A conventional gas engine: Every 2026 RAV4 is a hybrid, pairing its gas engine with a battery, electric motors, and a continuously variable transmission. The Equinox runs a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder and leaves all of that out. For a buyer who does not want a hybrid, that is a real reason to choose it: a familiar gasoline drivetrain, no hybrid battery in the vehicle, and a simpler mechanical package to live with and service over the years.

Where the Toyota RAV4 Wins

2026 Toyota RAV4 advantages over the Chevrolet Equinox

The RAV4 leads on fuel economy, horsepower, towing, and cargo room.

  • Fuel economy: The RAV4 hybrid is rated 38 to 43 mpg combined against the Equinox's 26 to 27.
  • Horsepower: The RAV4 makes 226 hp net combined with front-wheel drive and 236 with all-wheel drive, against 175 for the Equinox. The electric motors are what put the RAV4 ahead. They are also why the RAV4 gains output when you add all-wheel drive, while the Equinox's output does not change.
  • Towing: The RAV4 tows more, up to 3,500 lb on the right all-wheel-drive grade above the LE, against the Equinox's 1,500 lb.
  • Cargo: The RAV4 holds 37.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat against the Equinox's 29.8, and 70.4 against 63.5 with the seat folded.

Price

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 pricing

The Equinox launched at $28,800, below every RAV4 grade.

Trim Starting MSRP at Launch
LT $28,800
ACTIV $33,600
RS $33,600

The RS and the ACTIV carry the same starting price, so the choice between them is a question of which one you want rather than what you pay.

The RAV4's ladder launched at $31,900 and ran up to $43,300.

Grade Drivetrain Starting MSRP at Launch
Hybrid LE FWD $31,900
Hybrid LE AWD $33,300
Hybrid SE FWD $34,700
Hybrid SE AWD $36,100
Hybrid XLE Premium FWD $36,100
Hybrid XLE Premium AWD $37,500
Hybrid Woodland AWD $39,900
Hybrid XSE AWD $41,300
Hybrid Limited AWD $43,300

Engines & Power

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 engines and power

Under the Equinox's hood sits a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, paired with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The RAV4 pairs a 2.5-liter gas four-cylinder with electric motors, so its output is quoted as a net combined figure that shifts slightly by drivetrain. The torque figures do not compare like for like: Toyota's is the RAV4's gas engine working alone, not a combined figure for the gas engine and electric motors together.

Spec 2026 Equinox 2026 RAV4
Engine 1.5L turbo 4-cylinder (gas) 2.5L Dynamic Force 4-cylinder hybrid (Atkinson cycle, ECVT)
Horsepower 175 hp @ 5,600 rpm 226 hp net combined (FWD), 236 hp net combined (AWD)
Torque 184 lb-ft @ 2,000–4,800 rpm 163 lb-ft engine-only @ 3,600–5,200 rpm

Chevrolet quotes the same 175 hp and 184 lb-ft for both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive Equinox models.

Fuel Economy

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 fuel economy

The hybrid RAV4 rates higher on combined MPG than the gas Equinox.

Configuration City Highway Combined
Equinox FWD 26 29 27
Equinox AWD 25 29 26
RAV4 Hybrid FWD (LE, SE, XLE Premium) 47 40 43
RAV4 Hybrid AWD (LE, SE) 46 39 42
RAV4 Hybrid AWD (XLE Premium) 45 38 41
RAV4 Hybrid AWD (Limited, XSE) 43 37 41
RAV4 Hybrid AWD (Woodland) 41 35 38

Size & Cargo

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 size and cargo room

The Equinox is slightly longer and wider, while the RAV4 is a bit taller and carries more cargo room.

Measurement 2026 Equinox 2026 RAV4
Length 183.2 in 181.0 in (182.0 in Woodland)
Width 74.9 in 73.0 in (74.0 in Woodland)
Height 65.6 in 66.7 in (67.1 in Woodland, measured to the roof antenna)
Wheelbase 107.5 in 105.9 in
Cargo room behind rear seat 29.8 cu ft 37.8 cu ft
Cargo room, rear seat folded 63.5 cu ft 70.4 cu ft

Towing

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 towing capacity

Tow ratings change with drivetrain on both SUVs, and on the RAV4 they change with grade as well.

Configuration Max Towing
Equinox FWD up to 800 lb
Equinox AWD up to 1,500 lb
RAV4 Hybrid (LE FWD/AWD, SE FWD, XLE Premium FWD) up to 1,750 lb
RAV4 Hybrid (Woodland, and SE/XLE Premium/XSE/Limited AWD) up to 3,500 lb

Standard Safety

2026 Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4 standard safety features

Both SUVs include a standard driver-assistance suite on every trim.

2026 Equinox: Chevy Safety Assist

  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • IntelliBeam auto high beams

2026 RAV4: Toyota Safety Sense 4.0

  • Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
  • Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Eco Mode
  • Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
  • Lane Tracing Assist
  • Automatic High Beams
  • Road Sign Assist
  • Proactive Driving Assist

Shop the Equinox

Shop the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox at Gordon Chevrolet

You can shop the 2026 Equinox at Gordon Chevrolet in Orange Park, serving Northeast Florida. Gordon Chevrolet is the Home of No Bull Pricing: competitive prices, no huge add-on stickers or equipment packages, no gimmicks or games, and trades wanted but not required. See what is on the lot, compare trims, and check current offers before you decide.

The best way to judge the Equinox is from the driver's seat, so come drive one at Gordon Chevrolet in Orange Park. The RAV4 is a Toyota, sold and test-driven at a Toyota store; the Equinox is here on our lot whenever you want to put it through its paces.

Browse the 2026 Equinox Inventory

Read the 2026 Equinox Overview

See Current Chevy Offers

Talk Numbers with Our Finance Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Equinox cheaper than the RAV4?

At the entry point, yes: $28,800 at launch for the least expensive Equinox, the LT, against $31,900 for the least expensive RAV4, the Hybrid LE with front-wheel drive. Both figures are launch starting MSRP and exclude destination.

Which is the better family SUV?

Both seat 5 and both come with a standard driver-assistance suite, so it usually comes down to cargo room and running costs. The RAV4 carries more gear and its hybrid system uses less fuel, which tells most on a long commute or a big weekly haul. The Equinox counters with a lower starting price and a conventional engine, which some families simply prefer to live with.

Is the Equinox or the RAV4 more reliable?

Nothing in the published specifications settles reliability for either SUV, so there is no honest ranking to give you here. What the specifications do show is a mechanical difference: one is a conventional gasoline engine, the other a hybrid system. That is a question of what you would rather own, not of which one is better built.

Is the 2026 RAV4 a hybrid?

Yes, at every grade from the LE to the Limited: each one pairs a 2.5-liter gas four-cylinder with electric motors and an ECVT, a continuously variable transmission. If you would rather skip the hybrid system entirely, the Equinox uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.

How many people can the Equinox and RAV4 seat?

Both seat 5: 2 up front and 3 in back. Neither the 2026 Equinox nor the 2026 RAV4 is offered with a third row, so a family that needs six or seven seats is shopping a size up.

Is the RAV4 bigger than the Equinox?

The answer flips depending on whether you mean outside or inside. Outside, the Equinox is the larger vehicle: longer, wider, and on a wheelbase about an inch and a half greater. The one exception is height, where the RAV4 is the taller of the two. Inside, the RAV4 is the one that holds more, in both cargo measurements. So a tight parking space favors the RAV4's shorter, narrower body, and a low garage is the one place the Equinox has the easier clearance.

What is the cheapest RAV4 with all-wheel drive?

The Hybrid LE with all-wheel drive, at $33,300 starting MSRP at launch, excluding destination. That is $1,400 above the front-wheel-drive LE. It is the entry point to all-wheel drive in the lineup, but it is not one of the grades rated to tow 3,500 pounds; those start higher up the ladder.

Does all-wheel drive change the Equinox's mpg or power?

Fuel economy, slightly; power, not at all. The Equinox is rated 27 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 26 with all-wheel drive, so the cost of the extra traction is 1 mpg combined and nothing on the highway, where both rate 29. Chevrolet quotes the same 175 hp and 184 lb-ft either way, so the engine is not asked to do anything different. That is the opposite of how the RAV4 behaves, where all-wheel drive raises net combined output from 226 hp to 236.

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