Compare the2026 Jeep CherokeeVS 2026 Chevrolet Equinox

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Cherokee are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Jeep Cherokee has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Cherokee. But it costs extra on the Equinox.

The Jeep Cherokee Overland’s optional360-degree camera is equipped with washers for its front and rear cameras, ensuring crystal-clear visibility in any weather condition. Conversely, the Chevrolet Equinox only offers a rear camera washer, which may not provide the same level of all-weather performance.

The Cherokee’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cherokee and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Jeep Cherokee weighs 666 to 867 pounds more than the Chevrolet Equinox. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Cherokee’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Equinox.

The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 35 more horsepower (210 vs. 175) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 184) than the Equinox FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 35 more horsepower (210 vs. 175) and 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 203) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

[On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better mileage than the Equinox:

Regenerative brakes improve the Cherokee’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Equinox doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

For better stopping power the Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Equinox:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the Equinox (113 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

The Cherokee has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Equinox (107.4 vs. 104.3).

The Cherokee has .2 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front hip room than the Equinox.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Equinox with its rear seat up (33.6 vs. 29.8 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Equinox with its rear seat folded (68.3 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Equinox’s (3500 vs. 800 pounds).

The Cherokee’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Cherokee’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Equinox’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Cherokee Limited/Overland’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Equinox doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

The Cherokee has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Equinox.

The Cherokee Overland has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Equinox doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cherokee Overland’s Automated Parking System can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Equinox doesn’t offer an automated parking system.