Compare the2025 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Equinox are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Dodge Hornet doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Equinox and Hornet have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Equinox has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Equinox and the Hornet 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 Equinox’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Hornet’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 20 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Equinox has a standard 760-amp battery. The Hornet’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 141 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 34th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 9th.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Equinox uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Equinox’s standard fuel tank has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (14.8 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 13.5 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Equinox higher (6 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (5 to 6). This means the Equinox produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox FWD has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Hornet doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the Equinox has larger tires than the Hornet (235/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

The Equinox has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Hornet doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Hornet (107.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Equinox is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Hornet.

The Equinox RS AWD handles at .79 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Equinox’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (37.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Equinox’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (37.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Chevrolet Equinox may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

The front grille of the Equinox uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Hornet doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Equinox uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Hornet doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Equinox has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Hornet (104.3 vs. 98).

The Equinox has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Hornet with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 27 cubic feet). The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

The Equinox ACTIV/RS’ optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Hornet doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Hornet has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Equinox’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Hornet doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Equinox has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

When the Equinox ACTIV/RS with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Hornet’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Hornet. The Equinox ACTIV/RS also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Hornet.

The Equinox has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Hornet.

The Equinox is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Hornet doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost 11 to one during 2024.