Compare the2025 Chevrolet Equinox EVVS 2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid

The Chevrolet Equinox EV has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV offers an optional HD Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Equinox EV has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE, and isn't offered on other Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid models.

The Equinox EV’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Equinox EV and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 Chevrolet Equinox EV weighs 623 to 806 pounds more than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Equinox EV’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox EV’s warranty.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox EV gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox EV gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine:

The Equinox EV can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 307 to 319 miles. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 42 miles.

The Equinox EV stops much shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the Equinox EV has larger standard tires than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (245/55R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Equinox EV’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (275/40R21 vs. 235/55R19).

The Equinox EV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s standard 60 series tires. The Equinox EV’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox EV has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE. The Equinox EV’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Equinox EV 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox EV’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (116.3 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Equinox EV’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Equinox EV more stable handling and braking.

The Equinox EV LT eAWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Equinox EV has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Equinox EV uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Equinox EV’s 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox EV’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the Equinox EV 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox EV’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Equinox EV is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.