2025 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 or Silverado. Each trim level offered unique styling elements, with the base Equinox LT available in chrome or a contemporary 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 transformation with a new sub-texture effect around the vents, a relocated shifter, and a larger infotainment screen integrated with the driver-information display. The RS and ACTIV trims featured distinct interior themes, with the ACTIV offering a “Maple Sugar and Black” theme and the RS boasting red highlights and contrast stitching.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, in its fifth generation, maintained its chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights fit well with Hyundai’s design aesthetic, though the rear taillights’ placement was criticized for visual imbalance. Each trim had specific wheel sizes, with the Calligraphy trim featuring 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Santa Fe offered seating for seven, except for the Calligraphy trim, which had captain’s chairs. The interior ranged from basic cloth to luxurious Nappa leather, with some squeaks and rattles noted during testing. The Santa Fe’s interior featured physical dials for HVAC temperature, though the fan speed buttons were less intuitive.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox retained its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower. Torque varied with powertrain, offering 184 lb-ft in FWD models and 203 lb-ft in AWD versions. The FWD models came with a CVT, while AWD models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, which was an improvement over the previous six-speed. The Equinox offered a responsive accelerator at low speeds, though highway merging highlighted the engine’s limitations. The AWD Equinox could tow up to 1,500 pounds, with selectable drive modes available for different driving conditions.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Available in FWD or AWD, the Santa Fe featured an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a combined 231 horsepower. The Santa Fe provided stable handling, though turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The gear selector on the steering column required some adjustment. The XRT trim, with its 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, offered improved off-road capabilities, though it wasn’t suited for rugged terrain.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard on the RS and ACTIV trims. A $950 package added front seat ventilation, heated rear seats, and driver’s seat memory. The Equinox’s flat roof provided consistent headroom, with the moonroof extending light to the rear seats. Cargo space was slightly reduced, offering 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with them folded. A hidden storage compartment was available, though overall cargo volume was small for the class.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe’s base SE trim included a hands-free liftgate and dual-zone climate control. The XRT trim added heated front seats and a sunroof, while the Calligraphy trim offered heated second-row seats and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe boasted the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with 40.5 cubic feet available with the third row folded and 79.6 cubic feet with the second row down. The rear opening was widened to 50.2 inches, facilitating easier loading of large items. Most trims could tow 3,500 pounds, with the XRT capable of 4,500 pounds.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox featured Google Built-In as standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native Google Maps integration allowed for seamless navigation, though voice control volume issues were noted. The Equinox’s tech features included an 11.3-inch touchscreen, wi-fi hotspot capability, and a six-speaker audio system. Wireless charging was standard on RS and ACTIV trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with the top trims also featuring a digital gauge cluster. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with additional features like Amazon Music and a Wi-Fi hotspot available on upper trims. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging. The Santa Fe offered a digital key and fingerprint scanner for added security. Bluelink app connectivity was standard, providing remote access and monitoring features.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package for $1,085, adding features like rear pedestrian alert and HD surround vision. The Chevy Safety Assist suite included standard features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert, and automatic emergency braking. Teen Driver Technology allowed parents to set speed and volume limits and receive a driving report card.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe included standard safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist. The top trims included a Blind-View Monitor and expanded driver monitor system. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it as Good in most categories.