When you’re in the market for a compact crossover, it may feel like there are loads of vehicles to choose from. After all, this segment is one of the fastest growing classes in the automotive industry. It’s only natural to ask yourself, “What’s the difference?”
Two of the most popular compact crossovers on the road today are the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport. We’re going to dive a little deeper into these two vehicles and learn what separates the two from each other.
Exterior
Let’s start with the exterior. Both the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport are composed of sculpted lines and sleek curves that draw the eye over its contemporary facade. The new Equinox turns heads with its dual-port grille adorned with the iconic Chevy bowtie, while the Rogue Sport features Nissan’s V-motion grille. Chevy offers the new Equinox in eight colors, while the Nissan Rogue Sport is available in nine shades.
While both the new Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue Sport fall into the compact crossover category, a quick glance at the specs sheets shows that the Chevy offering comes out ahead in most categories:
- Wheelbase
- Chevrolet Equinox: 107.3 inches
- Nissan Rogue Sport: 104.2 inches
- Length
- Chevrolet Equinox: 183.1 inches
- Nissan Rogue Sport: 172 inches
- Width
- Chevrolet Equinox: 72.6 inches
- Nissan Rogue Sport: 72.3 inches
- Height
- Chevrolet Equinox: 65.4 inches
- Nissan Rogue Sport: 62.5 inches
The new Equinox beats out the Nissan Rogue Sport in other ways as well. Chevy’s crossover offers LED headlights as a standard feature on all trim levels, while the Rogue Sport only offers them on their highest trim level. The Equinox is also available with a hands-free gesture liftgate; the Rogue Sport doesn’t have a hands-free option. Finally, the new Equinox is offered with six wheel options, while the Rogue Sport trails behind with only two roller styles to choose from.
Advantage of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
- LED headlights standard on all trims
- Available with a hands-free gesture liftgate
- Larger dimensions than the Rogue Sport
Interior
Both the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport offer seating for up to five people. However, the new Equinox offers more rear legroom at 39.9 inches versus the Rogue Sport’s 33.4 inches of rear legroom. The new Equinox offers almost two more inches of front headroom as well.
When it comes to cargo, the new Chevy Equinox comes out ahead again at 63.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats lowered. The Rogue Sport offers a maximum of 61.1 cubic feet of cargo space but it does feature Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide cargo configuration system.
These compact crossovers are each clad in a leather-appointed interior that add a touch of class to the cabin. Both feature dual-zone automatic climate control that allows you and your front passenger to choose individual temperature settings. They also both offer heated front seats, though only the Equinox is available with ventilated front seats.
Advantage of 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
- More cargo space than Nissan Rogue Sport
- Available with ventilated front seats
Technology
Moving on to the technology department, we find the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport offer many of the same technology features but also differ in a few key areas.
The new Equinox is paired with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system that’s available with either a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen. This system supports smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, so you can sync your device to stream music, answer calls, and look up directions. The Equinox also offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot (data plan required) that ensures you stay connected.
On the Rogue Sport side of things, you’ll find the Nissan Connect® infotainment system that also supports Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ but only features a 7-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Equinox, the Rogue Sport doesn’t have a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
The compact crossovers are each available with navigation and also have optional Bose® premium audio systems to surround you in concert-quality sound.
Advantage of 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot (data plan required)
- Available 8-inch touchscreen
Safety
Both the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport earned NHTSA five-star overall safety ratings and it’s easy to see why. These compact crossovers are available with the advanced safety features you want, including:
- Forward-collision alert
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Rear park assist
- HD surround vision camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane change alert
- Side blind-zone alert
While they may seem just about neck-in-neck in the safety department, only the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was named an IIHS top safety pick.
Advantage of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
- Named a 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick
Performance
It’s below the hood that you’ll find the biggest differences between the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport.
Let’s start with the Chevy. The new Equinox is paired with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that kicks out a zippy 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine also helps the new Equinox achieve up to 31 mpg highway, so you can spend less time at the pump. The Equinox is also equipped with the StabiliTrak® electronic-stability control system and MacPherson front strut suspension for a smoother, more comfortable driving experience.
On the Nissan side of things, we’ll find a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 141 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. With this engine, the new Rogue Sport just manages to squeak out 32 mpg highway. This compact crossover is paired with an independent front strut and a continuously variable transmission.
Both the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport are available with intelligent all-wheel drive that switches between all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive as needed.
Advantage of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
- Paired with a turbocharged engine that offers more horsepower and torque
- Features a StabiliTrak® electronic-stability control system
- Available with switchable all-wheel drive
Which Should You Buy?
You can’t go wrong with the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. This compact crossover is larger than its Nissan counterpart, offering more cargo space than the Rogue Sport. It’s also available with a larger touchscreen, a turbocharged engine, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot (data plan required). The new Equinox also comes with a whole host of advanced safety features that helped it be named an IIHS top safety pick.
Wait no longer to test drive the new 2022 Chevrolet Equinox at Garber Chevrolet Midland. Schedule your test drive today by calling (989) 839-9944 or stopping in to see us at 1700 N Saginaw Rd, Midland, MI 48640.
