2024 Chevy Equinox vs 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

• 2024 Chevy Equinox

  

  Starting at

  $26,600^[a]

  2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

  

  Starting at

  $26,345

  175	Horsepower (hp)	152
  203	Torque (lb-ft)	184
  26/31	Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG)	25/28

  Compact crossover SUVs have surged in popularity in recent years due to how well-designed they are and how beautifully they deliver what many drivers are looking for. With the right compact crossover, you get a sporty little vehicle that is small enough to fit easily into a modest lifestyle but with plenty of room inside for passengers and everything you need to bring along with you. That being said, not all compact crossovers are built the same, which means the model you choose will have a big impact on the kind of experience you get. As an example, let’s take a look at the 2024 Chevy Equinox vs 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross to see how they stack up against each other.

  From the outset, both of these models seem to have a lot in common: they start at nearly the same price, both have a single engine on offer (with either front- or all-wheel drive), and they both have a standard 7.0-inch infotainment display with a nicer 8.0-inch screen available. Once we move beyond these initial similarities, however, we quickly begin to find important differences between them. While they both have a single engine available, for example, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is powered by a 1.5L I-4 engine that offers just 152 hp. By comparison, the Chevy Equinox features a turbocharged engine that delivers an impressive 175 hp, ensuring you get a superior driving experience.

  This is only part of the equation, however, because the performance you'll enjoy goes beyond horsepower. For example, the 2024 Chevy Equinox gets an estimated 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway in a standard FWD model. By comparison, the Eclipse Cross not only has less power in its engine, but gets an estimated 25 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway—and that is a difference that will add up in the long run. On top of that, the Chevy Equinox has a lot more options for you to enjoy including four trim levels and three special editions to choose from, while Mitsubishi does not offer any such special editions for their compact crossover.

• Performance

  

  When looking for a great compact crossover SUV, power and performance might not be the first thing you look for like it would be with a full-size truck or sports car. That being said, you still want to choose a vehicle that is fun to drive and can reliably get you where you need to go—and the engine is at the heart of both of those considerations. This is why you should still take a good look at the engine for any vehicle you are interested in, both in terms of its performance and the kind of fuel efficiency it helps to deliver. In this regard, the 2024 Chevy Equinox comes out on top, providing you with a superior driving experience and fewer stops for gas.

  Let's start with the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which has a decent engine but underwhelms when all is said and done. This is surprising since Mitsubishi has shown that they know how to make fantastic engines that are incredibly fun to manipulate—they have simply dropped the ball with this one. The Eclipse Cross is powered by a 1.5L I-4 engine that delivers 152 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Some people like the feel of a CVT, but we tend to prefer discrete gears that feel better while driving.

  By comparison, the 2024 Chevy Equinox features a similar 1.5L I-4 engine, but it is turbocharged, which allows it to deliver 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. You can see what an improvement this is over Mitsubishi’s engine; plus, it is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that allows for smooth shifting and a great overall feel on the road. Beyond this improved power, the Equinox comes through with its fuel efficiency, getting an estimated 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. The Eclipse Cross, on the other hand, gets just 25 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. This means you get more power and a better-feeling drive with the Equinox, plus you can go longer between stops for gas.

• Interior

  

  One of the things that is surprisingly easy to overlook when considering your next vehicle is the layout and overall feel of the interior. Since most of your time with your vehicle will be spent driving it, it's vital that you consider how it will feel when you get inside and hit the road. This comes down to key features like the seats and options for them, including different types of upholstery and other items, as well as how that space within the vehicle is utilized and arranged. While the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a fine option, Chevy has gone further with the Equinox to deliver a vehicle that is incredibly fun to drive and remarkably spacious despite its compact design.

  Inside the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, we find some pretty basic starting features that include a four-speaker sound system, a 7.0-inch infotainment display, and a simple AM/FM radio. Things like support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not standard on the starting trim, though Mitsubishi does provide fabric seating for up to five passengers, plus power windows.

  With the 2024 Chevy Equinox, you get a number of similar standard features, but there are also some key upgrades over what Mitsubishi delivers; for example, the Equinox comes with premium cloth seating for up to five passengers, along with a 7.0-inch infotainment display for the starting model. Extra features such as a six-speaker sound system and support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard for the Equinox, giving you greater function behind the wheel.

  Even with a compact crossover model, you want a vehicle with enough room inside for everything you need to take with you. This is another area where Chevy comes out on top thanks to nearly 30 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume and almost 64 cu.ft. of total cargo space available inside the Equinox. With the Eclipse Cross, however, Mitsubishi provides only about 23 cu.ft. of rear cargo space and just over 50 cu.ft. of total cargo volume inside. You can see this is a huge difference, and you get far more room with the Chevy Equinox for everything you need to take with you.

• Trims

  

  When shopping for a new vehicle, we're all about having lots of options so we can find precisely what we're looking for. With the 2024 Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi offers a good number of different trims to choose from, but we would love to see more. There are four trim levels available, which does help with getting certain features while skipping ones that might not matter to a particular driver. With a few more trims available, Mitsubishi would be in great shape, but only having these few (and rather indistinct) ones to choose from comes up a bit shallow.

  For the 2024 Equinox, however, Chevy gives you just as many trims to consider and then a few special editions on top of that. You can start with the standard LS trim or move up to the LT for some added features and options. The RS and Premier trims both have a lot of features in common, with distinct styling between the two of them, which makes it easy to get what you are looking for and pick an aesthetic that you prefer—either athletic or posh. Beyond this, however, there are also Midnight, Sport, and Redline Editions available to take your driving experience to the next level, giving you tremendous freedom to put together the perfect Equinox with everything you want.

The 2024 Chevy Equinox at Blossom Chevrolet