Porsche Cayenne vs Chevrolet Equinox

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox underwent a significant redesign, presenting a modern and robust appearance. The new model adopted design cues from the larger Chevrolet Traverse, featuring a flat roof, upright grille, and distinctive “shark fin” C-pillar, aligning it more closely with the Suburban and Silverado. Each trim level offered unique exterior styling elements, with the base Equinox LT available in chrome or a contemporary Midnight Edition High Gloss Black treatment. The RS trim, known for its sportier look, included black mirrors, badges, and red RS emblems, while the new ACTIV trim showcased dark chrome accents and all-terrain tires. The interior of the Equinox was also revamped, with a focus on texture and space, eliminating the old-school cowl and moving the shifter to the steering column. The RS and ACTIV trims featured distinct interior themes, with the RS offering a darker, sportier look and the ACTIV trim providing a lighter, two-tone design.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a choice between a standard SUV and a sporty Coupe, with trim levels ranging from the base Cayenne to the high-performance Cayenne Turbo GT. The GTS trim, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim, bronze exhaust tips, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. The interior of the Cayenne was highly customizable, with options for color, trim, and seat belts, although many features came at an additional cost. The GTS trim included a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather interiors. Despite the limited standard features, the Cayenne offered a vast array of customization options, allowing buyers to tailor the vehicle to their preferences. The Cayenne could accommodate five passengers comfortably, with ample headroom in the second row, even in the coupe body style.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox retained its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower. Torque varied between 184 lb-ft in front-wheel-drive (FWD) models and 203 lb-ft in all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions, due to differences in transmissions. FWD models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The eight-speed transmission was noted for its improved performance over the previous six-speed, offering quicker gear shifts and reduced noise. The Equinox provided a responsive accelerator at low speeds, though highway merging highlighted the engine's limitations. The AWD Equinox could tow up to 1,500 pounds, with selectable drive modes available for different driving conditions.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engine options, starting with a base 3.0-liter V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S featured a V8 engine with 468 hp, while the Turbo GT boasted 650 hp, available only as a coupe. Plug-in hybrid options offered up to 729 hp. The GTS trim, with its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, delivered 493 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The GTS could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of 171 mph. The Cayenne GTS offered a balance between sporty performance and comfort, with precise steering and an agile suspension system. The vehicle's performance was enhanced by features like Pirelli P Zero tires, stiffer roll bars, and an active suspension system.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard on the RS and ACTIV trims, with optional front seat ventilation and heated rear seats. The Evotex seats provided a premium feel, and the flat roof design ensured consistent headroom throughout the cabin. The front seats offered 38.2 inches of headroom with the moonroof, while the rear seats provided 37.8 inches. The Equinox's cargo space was slightly reduced, with 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with them folded down. A hidden storage compartment was available beneath the cargo area's load floor.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered limited standard features, with eight-way power-adjustable seats and two-zone climate control. The GTS trim included a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather interiors. The Cayenne could accommodate five passengers, with ample headroom in the second row. The vehicle's cargo space was slightly smaller than competitors, with 27.3 cubic feet behind the second row and over 60 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Cayenne's towing capacity was impressive, with the ability to tow over 7,700 pounds.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox featured Google Built-In as standard, along with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native Google Maps integration allowed for seamless navigation, projecting onto the driver information display. The Equinox's infotainment system included an 11.3-inch touchscreen, wi-fi hotspot capability, and a six-speaker audio system. Wireless charging was standard on RS and ACTIV trims, with no option for an upgraded sound system.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with the Porsche Communication Management system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Spotify, Apple Music, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The Cayenne also featured a head-up display, night-vision assist, and four high-speed USB-C charging ports, along with a cooled wireless charging area.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package that included rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, traffic-sign recognition, and a camera rearview mirror. The Chevy Safety Assist suite provided standard features like rear park assist, lane-change alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Teen Driver Technology allowed parents to program speed and volume limitations and provided a report card of driving behavior.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne included standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. However, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. The Cayenne's advanced adaptive cruise control system, InnoDrive, was not tested due to the vehicle's German specifications. The Cayenne had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS for safety.