2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox was a mid-sized crossover that found its place between the smaller Trax and Trailblazer and the larger Blazer and Traverse in Chevrolet's lineup. Its design was a harmonious blend of SUV character and car-like unibody construction, featuring broad fenders, a squat roofline, and a tall grille with high-mounted daytime running lights. The Equinox was available in LT, Active, and RS trims, each offering distinct styling elements. The LT featured chrome grille mesh and 17-inch wheels, while the RS boasted black trim, a wider grille, and 19-inch wheels. The Activ trim added rugged visual cues with a prominent lower front fascia and all-terrain tires. Inside, the Equinox's cabin was well-assembled, with unique details like large air vents and a spear-like trim piece. The Activ model offered microfiber and Evotex seats, while the LT and RS trims had cloth and Evotex options, with the RS featuring sporty stitching and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, embraced a conservative design reminiscent of the popular RAV4, scaled up to accommodate up to eight passengers and ample cargo space. The Grand Highlander's interior prioritized function over form, with a touch of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, the controls were logically laid out, and the material quality was decent. The climate system was user-friendly, with large knobs for temperature adjustment, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum, with its Storm Cloud paint, exuded a sense of sophistication, and its spacious interior offered comfort and practicality for families.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four engine producing 175 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for front-wheel drive models, delivering 184 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing 203 lb-ft of torque. While the engine's output was adequate for highway speeds, the eight-speed automatic transmission occasionally hesitated to downshift, affecting power delivery. The Equinox's suspension, with MacPherson struts in the front and a four-link rear setup, provided a comfortable ride but lacked precise body control, resulting in some bouncing. Despite these limitations, the Equinox excelled as a highway cruiser, thanks to active noise cancellation, although the all-terrain tires on the Activ trim added some noise and reduced grip.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max prioritized performance with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time all-wheel drive, producing 362 net horsepower. This powertrain delivered impressive acceleration, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission that avoided the droning typical of CVTs. While the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 27 mpg compared to the standard hybrid's 36 mpg, it offered a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. During testing, it achieved 26 mpg on a balanced city-highway route and 23.3 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. The Hybrid Max's acceleration was smooth and confident, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulating road surfaces could cause some vertical bounding and lateral rocking. Handling was secure at moderate speeds, but the tires tended to scrub and squeal early in corners.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox provided nearly identical headroom and first-row legroom compared to its competitors, with ample rear-seat legroom. The seats, while supportive, felt under-cushioned. The Equinox Activ test car featured the $950 Convenience Package III, adding a power-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a memory system, and heated rear seats. The driver's elevated seating position offered an SUV-like feel, though forward visibility was somewhat limited by the flat hood and deep dashboard. The Equinox excelled in storage space, with an angled wireless phone charger, cupholders, and a spacious center console. Cargo capacity was 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear bench folded, though it lagged behind segment leaders. The Equinox's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds for AWD models.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. However, unlined storage locations contributed to noise and vibration levels. The Platinum-trim test vehicle featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, exuding an upscale feel. The front and second-row seats were heated and ventilated, providing comfort for passengers. The Grand Highlander's rear doors were long, making child seat installation challenging, and the sharp corners of the doors posed a risk of dents. The test vehicle had second-row captain's chairs with a removable center console, allowing easy access to the third row. The rearmost seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample crush space for safety. Cargo space behind the third row was 20.6 cubic feet, expanding to 57.9 cubic feet with the third-row bench folded, and a maximum of 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox offered excellent value in terms of technology, featuring an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen in a stylish curved housing. The Android-based infotainment system included Google built-in apps, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with easy-to-identify icons and a shallow menu structure. While the lack of a physical headlight switch was a minor inconvenience, the climate control and seat heating/ventilation had physical knobs and buttons. The Equinox's touchscreen was larger than some competitors, providing clear icons and text, but it lacked options for a head-up display or a more elaborate audio system.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, automatic collision notification, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, and the JBL premium audio system delivered impressive sound quality. The Platinum test car included a color head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox came equipped with standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park-assist. GM-specific features included a vibrating driver's seat for warnings and the Teen Driver system. The Safety and Technology Package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. The Equinox received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with top Good ratings in some tests but lower Acceptable ratings in others. The NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the 2026 Equinox at the time of writing.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. Proactive Driving Assist, which automatically brakes and steers to maintain safe distances, was standard but could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander's safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane-keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to Acceptable ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.