Chevrolet Equinox vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

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, giving it a more robust presence akin to the Suburban and Silverado. Each trim offered unique exterior styling, with the base LT featuring chrome or an optional Midnight Edition high gloss black treatment. The RS trim sported black mirrors, badges, and red RS emblems, while the new Activ trim showcased dark chrome accents and all-terrain tires. The interior saw a departure from previous designs, with a more open centre console and a larger infotainment screen integrated with the driver-information display. The RS and Activ trims offered distinct interior themes, with the RS featuring red highlights and contrast stitching, and the Activ boasting a two-tone “Maple Sugar and Black” theme.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available exclusively in Sport design trims, including the SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor but featured buffer bumpers that extended its length. The GR Sport trim, inspired by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division, showcased racier elements like red brake calipers, a large rear wing, and a wide mesh grille. The interior offered mild differentiation, with red stitching on the GR Sport’s black upholstery and a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen system was available in 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch sizes, with a streamlined design and improved user interface. The centre console housed a mechanical gear shifter on lower grades and a shift-by-wire setup on higher trims, with stylish drive mode knobs for easy switching between modes.

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. The eight-speed was an improvement over the previous six-speed, offering quicker gear changes and reduced noise. The Equinox provided 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 available on RS and Activ trims. The Equinox could tow up to 680 kilograms with AWD, while FWD models were limited to 360 kilograms.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower. The PHEV benefited from a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack, increasing the estimated range to 80 kilometres. The combined power output reached 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The RAV4 PHEV offered seamless power transitions, with paddle shifters allowing drivers to override the electronically controlled CVT. The GR Sport trim featured enhanced handling attributes, with a lower ride height and beefier suspension components. Despite its weight, the RAV4 PHEV maintained a spirited ride without sacrificing comfort.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard in Canada, with additional amenities available in a package for RS and Activ trims. The flat roof provided consistent headroom, with 970 millimetres in the front and 960 millimetres in the rear with the moonroof. The cargo space measured 844 litres behind the rear seats and 1,798 litres with them folded down, though it was small for the class. A hidden storage compartment beneath the load floor added convenience.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, with ventilated seats standard on GR Sport and XSE trims. The interior dimensions remained mostly unchanged, with clever storage features like a dashboard shelf and deep door pockets. The RAV4 offered 960 millimetres of rear legroom, though it fell short of larger rivals. The cargo area measured 951 litres, with a total of 1,798 litres available with the rear seats folded down. A temporary spare tire was located under the cargo floor.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The 11.3-inch infotainment system 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. The voice control system had some issues, but the navigational functionality of Google Built-In was praised for its flexibility.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch option on top trims. The touchscreen had customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota’s new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times. The Voice Assistant responded to a range of prompts, and the system could locate chargers along the route.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package with rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, and more for $1,295. Most safety features were standard, including rear park assist, side blind-zone alert, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. Teen Driver Technology allowed parents to program speed and volume limitations and provided a report card of driving behaviour.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, featuring a wider view for cameras and broader radar detection. Standard systems included automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. The surround-view camera system was available on all but the base SE. The RAV4’s safety record was expected to remain strong, with improvements addressing previous shortcomings.