2027 Chevrolet Equinox vs. GMC Terrain Comparison with Price, Specs, & Photos

Chevy Equinox VS GMC Terrain - Basil Cars

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain are both the best-selling SUV models from their respective brands. The two are built on the same platform and offer tremendous value for money. The two have more in common than not, but there are still some differences that should be considered if you’re in the market for a compact SUV. And since these differences aren’t necessarily obvious, we put together this guide.


Chevrolet Equinox VS GMC Terrain – Specs

Chevrolet Equinox GMC Terrain
2027 Chevrolet Equinox VS 2027 GMC Terrain
$29,000 Starting MSRP* $30,400
1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder Engine 1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder
175 HP / 203 LB-FT TQ Horsepower / Torque 175 HP / 203 LB-FT TQ
5 Seats 5
40 inches Front Headroom 40.58 inches
39.2 inches Rear Headroom 39.18 inches
40.9 inches Front Legroom 43.95 inches
39.9 inches Rear Legroom 39.7 inches
29.8 cubic feet Cargo Volume To Seat 2 29.8 cubic feet
63.5 inches Cargo Volume To Seat 1 63.5 inches

Both the Equinox and Terrain come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard for both, with all-wheel drive available. Power output is also the same, as is seating capacity. Interior measurements are mostly either identical or extremely close to it. The couple of differences are the extra .58 inches of front headroom and 3.05 inches of extra front legroom in the Terrain. For most people, this isn’t an important difference, but for very tall people who still want a compact SUV, this is a very useful thing to know.

Styling is different, but look at both for a minute, and you can see a number of similarities. To help further set the two apart, most of the paint colors offered for one of the two aren’t available on the other. Even shades like black and white are slightly different for each model.


Chevrolet Equinox VS GMC Terrain – Equipment

Chevrolet Equinox Interior GMC Terrain Interior

The interiors of these vehicles are more distinct than the shared platform would usually suggest. An important difference is the infotainment screen, which is both larger and vertically oriented in the Terrain. The LT trim of the Equinox and the Elevation trim of the Terrain are quite similar, but the differences are more pronounced with the other, more specialized trims. For starters, all trims of the Equinox come with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. FWD is only standard on the Elevation trim of the Terrain; the AT4 and Denali trims both come with standard AWD. The Equinox has an ACTIV trim, which is geared towards outdoor activities like camping. It comes with features like all-terrain tires and suede microfiber seat trim to make it more outdoor-friendly. The AT4 trim of the Terrain is similar, but is built with more off-road ability, thanks to features like standard AWD, hill descent control, and skid plates.

The top trim of the Equinox is the RS, which gives the vehicle a performance-oriented look and feel with features like black side mirrors and badges, a flat-bottom steering wheel, 19-inch wheels (20-inch available), and the option of a two-tone black roof. For the Terrain, the top trim is the Denali, which is the luxury-oriented trim. This also comes with standard AWD, as well as comfort-tuned suspension, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and HD Surround Vision. Each trim of each vehicle also comes with a unique grille design, which helps make each vehicle feel more distinct.

*The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price.