2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Honda CR-V

Does anyone remember the first-generation Chevrolet Equinox Sport? It represented the one time Chevy tried to make its compact crossover SUV something more than a bread-and-butter commuter vessel, and it lasted all of 2 years.

A decade later, the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox remains a basic tool of its trade, serving drivers who want more foul-weather capability, more cargo space, and a higher driving position than a Malibu midsize sedan can provide, but not much in the way of excitement. That the Malibu is currently cruising toward its sunset while the Equinox is one of the best-selling vehicles in America underscores the dramatic change in automotive consumer preferences that has taken place during the past 10 years.

Built in Mexico, the Chevy Equinox comes in L, LS, LT, and Premier trim levels. For 2020, a new Midnight Edition appearance package debuts for LT trim, and three new colors are available. A light refresh is planned for the 2022 model year when Chevy will tighten up the styling, expand safety equipment availability, and once again try to make the Equinox sporty, this time with a new RS trim level.

Even in a grim year, Honda is selling a staggering number of CR-Vs. The CR-V is the best-selling Honda by far. It’s also the second best-selling compact SUV, just behind the Toyota RAV4. And it's the fifth best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and if you take out all the commercial sales of full-size pickups it’s one of the two best-selling vehicles year in and year out.

So it’s hard to argue against the CR-V formula. Honda’s been at this almost as long as crossovers have been a thing, launching the CR-V in 1997—a year after the RAV4 debuted.

The funny thing is, aside from sales volume, there’s only one thing the CR-V particularly excels at. Aesthetics are subjective, but it would be hard to argue the CR-V is the best looking vehicle in its class. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the best equipped, especially at the middle to lower trim levels. It’s not the fastest, nor is it the quietest, or the most fuel efficient. It’s not even the most reliable, showing up nowhere in J.D. Power's Most Reliable list.

So what makes it so appealing to American consumers? Let’s see if we can figure that out.