2025 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox underwent a significant redesign, aligning its aesthetics with the larger Chevrolet Traverse. The modernized look featured a flat roof, upright grille, and distinctive “shark fin” C-pillar, making it more visually compatible with models like the Suburban and Silverado. Each trim level offered unique styling elements, with the base Equinox LT available in chrome or a high gloss black Midnight Edition. The RS trim sported black mirrors, badges, and red RS emblems, while the new Activ trim showcased dark chrome accents and all-terrain tires. Interior updates included a more open centre console, a larger infotainment screen, and distinct trim-specific themes, such as the sporty RS with red highlights and the Activ's two-tone “Maple Sugar and Black” theme.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler maintained its rugged, utilitarian design, reminiscent of its World War II military roots. The Sport S trim, with its black-on-black colour scheme, was not ideal for tropical climates, but the Wrangler's appeal lay in its capability and design. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Willys, Sahara, and Rubicon, with the Rubicon 392 discontinued in Canada. The interior was functional, with grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite its high price, the Wrangler's design prioritized function over form, making it a popular choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox retained its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. The base LT FWD model featured a CVT, while AWD versions came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which improved upon the previous six-speed. The Equinox offered a responsive accelerator at low speeds, though highway merging highlighted the engine's limitations. The ride was generally quiet and comfortable, with selectable drive modes for RS and Activ trims, including Normal, Snow, and Off-Road. The Equinox could tow up to 680 kilograms with AWD, making it suitable for light adventuring.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering better fuel efficiency and performance at higher elevations. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and narrow width made it capable of tackling various terrains. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with slow steering and sloppy handling, but the Wrangler's off-road capabilities remained unmatched.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard in Canada, with additional amenities available in higher trims. The flat roof provided consistent headroom, with 970 mm in the front and 960 mm in the rear with the moonroof. The cabin featured a well-placed “dead pedal” for driver comfort. Cargo space was slightly reduced, with 844 litres behind the rear seats and 1,798 litres with them folded down, but a hidden storage compartment added utility.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel available in the Convenience Group package. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded, though accessing the cargo area could be cumbersome.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox featured Google Built-In as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native Google Maps integration allowed for seamless navigation, though voice control issues were noted. The 11.3-inch touchscreen was 30% larger than the previous model, with Wi-Fi hotspot capability and a six-speaker audio system. Wireless charging was standard on RS and Activ trims, with no option for an upgraded sound system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport S trim came with an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine system optional. Jeep Connect offered adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group package added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine start, while the Safety Group package included rear parking sensors.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package with rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Most safety features were standard, including rear park assist, side blind-zone alert, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. Teen Driver Technology allowed parents to set speed and volume limits and receive a “report card” on driving behaviour.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard, with optional ADAS features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was available on the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.