Compare the2027 Chevrolet Equinox VS 2026 Jeep Compass

With its standard Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, the Chevrolet Equinox is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Compass, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Equinox	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-22 MPH	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-6 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-19 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.8 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-21 MPH

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Equinox achieved an “Acceptable” rating for its forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Jeep Compass, which scored only a “Marginal” in these critical safety features.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Equinox has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Jeep Compass doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Equinox and Compass have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Equinox has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Compass’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Equinox and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Equinox is much safer than the Compass:

	Equinox	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	215	368
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	292/337 pounds	562/382 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Equinox is much safer than the Compass:

	Equinox	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	80	189
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.3 in
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1517 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.57 in	2.13 in
Shoulder Force	402 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	14 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Equinox’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Compass’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 21 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 106 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 7 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Equinox’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (14.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.6 vs. 13.5 gallons).

The Equinox stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Equinox	Compass
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Equinox has larger tires than the Compass (235/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox RS offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Compass’ largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Equinox has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Compass doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Compass (107.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Equinox is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Compass.

The Equinox RS AWD handles at .79 G’s, while the Compass Trailhawk pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Equinox RS AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

The front grille of the Equinox uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Compass doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Equinox uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Compass doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Equinox has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (104.3 vs. 99.6).

The Equinox has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

The Equinox’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The Equinox uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Compass uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

When two different drivers share the Equinox ACTIV/RS, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Compass doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Equinox ACTIV/RS’ optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Compass doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

On a hot day the Equinox’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Equinox’s standard Keyless Access allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Compass doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Equinox’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Compass’ headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

When the Equinox ACTIV/RS with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Compass’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Equinox ACTIV/RS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Compass doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Equinox and the Compass offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Equinox has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Compass doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Equinox is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Compass doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Jeep Compass by over three to one during 2025.