Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Chevrolet Equinox

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 consistent with the brand's styling, making it difficult to distinguish from its siblings without the model name on the doors. Despite this, the Equinox's broad fenders, squat roofline, and tall grille gave it a distinct SUV character. The design was more successful than rivals that attempted to blend car and SUV aesthetics, avoiding clichés while maintaining a unique presence.

Chevrolet offered the Equinox in LT, Active, and RS trims, each with unique styling elements. The LT featured a chrome grille mesh and 17-inch wheels, while the RS boasted more black trim, a wider grille, and 19-inch wheels. The Activ trim emphasized ruggedness with a prominent lower front fascia and all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels. Inside, the Equinox's cabin was well-assembled, with neat details like large air vents and a spear-like trim piece. The Activ model featured unique microfiber and Evotex seats, while the RS had sporty touches like a flat-bottom steering wheel.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, four years into its lifecycle, received a refresh that retained its upright stance and large windows but introduced a modern illuminated grille inspired by the all-electric Wagoneer S. The new Upland trim added front recovery hooks without compromising the vehicle's elegant design. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer featured a clean, modern design with strong horizontal lines. While the 12-inch infotainment screen seemed small for such a large vehicle, it was complemented by redundant HVAC and audio controls. The seats were comfortable and highly adjustable, making long drives pleasant.

The Grand Wagoneer's interior materials were premium, with options for Nappa and Palermo leather and a suede headliner. The solid metal gearshift dial and well-finished cabin elements added to the luxurious feel. The Grand Wagoneer was praised for its fit and finish, with doors that closed with a solid thwap and a sturdy armrest closure. Overall, the Grand Wagoneer combined modern design with comfort and utility, making it a standout in its class.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four engine producing 175 horsepower. It came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for front-wheel drive models, limiting torque to 184 pound-feet. All-wheel drive models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with 203 lb-ft of torque. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, but drivers needed a heavy foot for overtaking. The eight-speed automatic transmission occasionally hesitated to downshift, but steering-wheel paddle shifters helped alleviate this issue.

The Equinox's suspension, with MacPherson struts in the front and a four-link rear setup, provided a comfortable ride but lacked body control, leading to bouncing in corners. It excelled as a highway cruiser, thanks to standard active noise cancellation, although the Activ trim's all-terrain tires added noise and reduced grip. The Equinox offered an Off-Road drive mode with AWD, along with Normal and Snow modes, but its off-road capabilities were limited by its eight inches of ground clearance.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and effortless power, even in a vehicle weighing around 6,000 pounds. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a range-extended electric powertrain with a 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine, delivering an estimated 647 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, with a total range of over 500 miles.

Despite its large proportions, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and easy to drive. Its large windows and squared-off corners provided excellent visibility, and its size helped absorb road imperfections. While there was some tire and wind noise, the Grand Wagoneer remained quiet overall. The seats were comfortable for long drives, accommodating a wide range of passenger sizes.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox offered nearly identical headroom and first-row legroom to its competitors, with slightly less rear-seat legroom. The seats were supportive but under-cushioned. The Equinox Activ test car featured a $950 Convenience Package III, adding a power-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a memory system, and heated outboard rear seats. The driver enjoyed an elevated perch, but forward visibility was somewhat limited by the flat hood and deep dashboard.

The Equinox provided ample storage space, with an angled wireless phone charger, cupholders, and a spacious center console storage bin. It offered 29.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear bench folded flat. The maximum towing capacity for AWD models was 1,500 pounds, closer to the class average.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer excelled as a people mover, with three rows offering ample leg and hip room. The optional bench seat in the second row allowed it to seat up to eight passengers comfortably. The third row was surprisingly spacious, accommodating three people of small to average stature. While using the third row reduced cargo space to 27.9 cubic feet, the long-wheelbase version nearly doubled this capacity to 42.6 cubic feet. The Grand Wagoneer could tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Grand Wagoneer featured three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and power-operated driver and front passenger seats. The Upland trim included Quadra-Lift air suspension, front recovery hooks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires for light off-roading.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox offered good value in terms of technology, with 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. Physical knobs and buttons controlled climate and seat functions, but the headlight switch was an icon on the touchscreen.

The Equinox's touchscreen was larger than some competitors, providing clearer icons and text. It didn't require additional options to access this setup, but it lacked a head-up display or a more elaborate audio system. The Equinox covered the basics for the average user.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a wireless phone charger, and a hands-free power liftgate. Higher trims offered a front console cooler, digital rearview mirror, a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system, and a front passenger interactive display. The tech worked well, except for the wireless phone charger, which overheated an iPhone 16 during testing.

The 12-inch infotainment screen seemed small for the Grand Wagoneer's size, and a larger screen would have been preferable. The 2026 model year removed adjustable pedals, a feature available in previous models. The Grand Wagoneer offered a comprehensive tech package, but some features could be improved.

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. 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, digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition.

The Equinox received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with Good ratings in some crash tests but lower scores in others. The NHTSA hadn't released safety ratings for the 2026 model at the time of writing.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with safety features like lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available features included automated parking assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The Grand Wagoneer received fair ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with a mix of Good and Marginal scores in crash tests.