Starting at
Starting at
26.4 cu.ft. | Cargo Space | 22.8 cu.ft. |
319 miles | Electric Range | 304 miles |
17.7 in | Screen Size | 12.3 in |
Compact SUVs are terrific vehicles for a variety of reasons, including how well they beautifully deliver SUV functionality in a small size that fits a wide range of lifestyles. Midsize and large SUVs are great for big families, but when you want something that helps enhance your daily commute without taking over your garage, a compact SUV is perfect. For many people, one of the biggest advantages of a smaller model is the impressive fuel efficiency that can come with it; of course, you can take that efficiency even further by eliminating the need for gas completely. Compact all-electric SUVs are perfect for this, and you have a growing number of options available to you as you look for the right model with everything you need.
When you consider the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV vs 2024 Nissan ARIYA, you can quickly see that while the Nissan model has plenty to offer, it cannot compete with what Chevy delivers. Both of these vehicles have multiple options for the battery and motor system, but Nissan makes things overly complicated by offering four different configurations. Chevy keeps things simpler with two ways to go: a standard single-motor setup with 213 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque or a dual-motor option with electric all-wheel drive (AWD) that delivers 288 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque. Some of the high-end options for the ARIYA are impressive, but the standard single-motor model has lower horsepower and just 221 lb-ft of torque on offer.
While you can find similar performance here, the standard range differs greatly between these two models. Whereas the starting version of the Chevy Equinox EV can go up to 319 miles with a full charge, the standard Nissan ARIYA with its single motor is limited to just 216 miles of range from a full charge. Looking inside, we find that the Equinox EV also gives you a lot more to enjoy, such as a stunning 17.7-inch Infotainment display that is standard in every model, while the Nissan ARIYA only has a 12.3-inch screen. Add in the amazing tech and safety features offered on the Chevy Equinox EV, not to mention the available Super Cruise hands-free driving system, and you have a vehicle that surpasses just about everything else out there.
When you are shopping for a vehicle, you probably have a long list of features and specs that you are trying to keep in mind and consider. As far as we are concerned, the performance and drivability you get should be at the top of the list—with an electric vehicle, that means you want impressive power and excellent range. We know that range anxiety is still a very real thing for many drivers interested in their first EV model, which is understandable since there is so much that's new about these vehicles. Chevy understands this, too, and they have designed their EVs to alleviate this anxiety by providing you with an excellent driving experience.
The Chevy Equinox EV has two different options for performance, both using an 85 kWh battery for impressive power and range. If you go with the standard model, then you get a single motor on the front wheels, and it provides 213 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the starting option for the Nissan ARIYA is a similar front-wheel single-motor EV, but it gets 214 hp and only 221 lb-ft of torque, with a rather uninspired 63 kWh battery. For something with more get-up-and-go, there is a dual-motor option for the Equinox EV with AWD performance, which provides you with 288 hp and an impressive 346 lb-ft of torque. This setup is incredibly fun to drive and is certainly our favorite pick.
In terms of range, Chevy delivers in a major way: the standard single-motor option gets an estimated 319 miles of range from a full charge, which is fantastic. Looking at the dual-motor configuration, you lose a bit of distance, but it can still go an estimated 285 miles from a full charge. With the Nissan ARIYA, on the other hand, we see the standard single-motor model gets just 216 miles of estimated range from a full charge, which is shockingly low. Even worse, the 63 kWh battery, when paired with two motors, offers only an estimated 205 miles of range from a full charge. Nissan does offer a better battery for a range closer to what Chevy delivers, but it will cost their drivers a lot more for a range that still falls behind what you get standard from Chevy and the Equinox EV.
The interior of your next vehicle might not be the first thing you think about while shopping, but we think it should be. You will spend most of your time with your SUV while sitting in it, so the cabin and the features you find there are incredibly important. Chevy might not be the top name when it comes to luxury since Cadillac is undeniably the most luxurious option from GM, but you will still find terrific features inside their vehicles. Comfort and technology are at the forefront inside Chevy models these days, and the Equinox EV illustrates that beautifully.
Looking at the starting 2LT trim of the Equinox EV, you get a gorgeous 17.7-inch advanced color LCD display with Google built-in for the infotainment system. This is paired with a six-speaker sound system, along with a second 11-inch color Driver Information Center display with customizable themes. Other starting features include heated front seats with an eight-way power driver's seat, a heated steering wheel, and an auto-dimming inside rearview mirror. If you want to take things even further, then available options like a dual-pane power sunroof and customizable ambient lighting create an even more welcoming cabin.
While Nissan is well known for making vehicles with impressive interiors, we cannot help but feel like the ARIYA falls short of what it could be. For example, it has a 12.3-inch driver display, which we admit is slightly larger than the Equinox EV's Driver Information Center, but this is joined by a second screen of the same size for infotainment. That is much smaller than the stunning 17.7-inch screen you will find front-and-center in every Chevy Equinox EV, leaving the ARIYA feeling a bit older than it is. The standard leatherette-appointed seating is fine, but nothing special, and that sentiment seems to follow us throughout the ARIYA's interior.
Nothing is more important than how well your vehicle can help keep you safe, which is something that both Chevy and Nissan understand. As a Chevy dealership, we are fans of what Chevy does and their vehicles, but we also want to see everyone safe while driving. That is why we are so pleased to see that other manufacturers, not just Chevy, have committed themselves to making incredibly safe vehicles to protect everyone on the road. Of course, we still think Chevy does it better than anyone else out there.
To this end, the Nissan ARIYA comes with ProPILOT Assist 2.0, which includes a Forward Collision System with Intelligent Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking, and Brake Assist. This also includes Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention, Intelligent Lane Intervention to help keep drivers in their lanes, and automatic High Beam Assist. More options are available, like a 360-degree Surround View Camera, but only on high trim levels. Overall, this is a great package of driver assistance technologies, but nothing about it particularly stands out compared to what else is out there.
Chevy takes things further with the Equinox EV, which comes with Chevy Safety Assist standard, including Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with a Lane Departure Warning, and Front Pedestrian Braking. In addition to this package, every Equinox EV also comes with Reverse Automatic Braking, HD Surround Vision that gives you an enhanced look around your vehicle, and Blind Zone Steering Assist. What is truly remarkable is that you can even get GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system for the Equinox, providing you with an amazing experience on over 400,000 miles of roads across the US and Canada. All of this comes together to make the Equinox EV one of the safest compact SUVs out there.