Americans buy more SUVs than cars and trucks combined. For many, a compact SUV is the ideal vehicle – small enough to be affordable to buy and fuel, but big enough to haul all the people and cargo most of us ever need to haul. Many are available with all-wheel drive (AWD), making them sure-footed in foul weather.
The 2024 Kia Sportage is among the best. Redesigned just last year, it’s sharp-looking, versatile, and covered by the longest warranty available, making it a solid investment.
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox is one of the best-selling vehicles in this popular segment – a well-rounded design with reasonable pricing and a few surprisingly high-end technologies.
Let’s see how a shopper might compare these two.
2024 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is one of our highest-rated compact SUVs. Its cabin isn’t just among the most spacious in its class, it’s also more stylish than most. Kia offers is as a conventionally-powered model, a turbocharged Sportage Hybrid, and a Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) with up to 34 miles of all-electric range. Pricing starts at $27,090.
Kia Sportage Highlights
Gas, hybrid, and PHEV options: Kia offers the Sportage as a gas-powered model, a hybrid (HEV), and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). That versatility means you can buy one that fits your needs and the infrastructure where you live, even going electric for your everyday driving while retaining gas-powered range with the PHEV model if that fits your lifestyle best. Chevy plans an electric Equinox next year. But, for now, all you can buy is a conventional, gas-powered version.
Ultra-modern interior: An auto industry insider tip – Kia stole a talented interior designer from BMW not long ago. The move paid off in gorgeous, luxury-like interiors like the one in the Sportage. A pair of screens mounted together to look like one wide, curved surface make it feel more upscale than what Chevy has to offer.
Outstanding warranty: Chevrolet protects Equinox buyers with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s typical of 2024 cars. Kia nearly doubles it with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. You’ll want the extra protection if you expect to keep your car long enough to own a 9-year-old engine and transmission.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sportage models for sale near you.
2024 Chevrolet Equinox
On the Chevy sales lot, only full-size trucks outsell the 2024 Equinox. It’s been the right solution for millions of buyers for nearly 20 years. The current model is likely on its way out, as an all-electric version is coming for 2025. But the Equinox is still a well-rounded family car with a few high-tech trips up its sleeve. Prices start at $27,995.
Chevrolet Equinox Highlights
Express yourself with special looks: The blackout package looks cool, darkening most trim and badges. The chrome package does the opposite, dressing the Equinox up with extra brightwork. The RS trim looks sporty with red contrast stitching on the upholstery. They give buyers the chance to customize their Equinox’s look.
Available automatic parking assist: The Equinox’s (optional) ability to steer itself into a parking spot is a feature we expect to see in the luxury classes, but not at this price range. It can even handle parallel parking.
Lower price when fully loaded: The top-of-the-line Equinox Premier starts at just $33,195 and offers niceties like perforated leather seating and an upgraded stereo. The top of the Sportage lineup, the X-Pro Prestige has an even longer equipment list but starts at $37,890.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Equinox models for sale near you.
Similarities
These two have similar starting prices, both come in front- or all-wheel drive and offer 28 mpg in combined driving.
Conclusion
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox is a bit dated, but that hasn’t stopped Americans from making it one of the best-selling compact SUVs. It offers a well-balanced feature list and a price that stays fairly low even as you move up to more well-equipped trim levels.
But the 2024 Kia Sportage is more up-to-date inside and out and offers a longer warranty, more space, and a choice of powertrains that might make it a better fit for many. With a lower starting price, it’s hard to argue against giving it a test drive.
Specifications
| 2024 Kia Sportage | 2024 Chevrolet Equinox | |
| Starting Price | $27,090 | $27,995 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 175 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 203 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,000 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 25 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg | 26 city/31 highway/28 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches | 107.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 183.5 inches | 183.1 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches | 72.6 inches |
| Height | 65.4 inches | 65.4 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.6 feet | 37.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.4 inches | 38.5 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 41.3 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.5 inches | 57.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.6 inches | 55.5 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 39.6/74.1 cubic feet | 29.9/63.9 cubic feet |
