Chevrolet Equinox vs. Jeep Cherokee

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Chevrolet Equinox

$537
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Jeep Cherokee

$520
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

3
1
2
Above Average
The Chevrolet Equinox Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 23rd out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $537 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, these issues occur less often, so major repairs are infrequent for the Equinox.
4
Excellent
The Jeep Cherokee Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $520 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Cherokee.
Cost
Average annual repairs total
$537
inexpensive
expensive
$520
inexpensive
expensive
Frequency
Average annual repair shop visits
0.31
not often
very often
0.19
not often
very often
Severity
Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent
18%
not urgent
urgent
12%
not urgent
urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

5 (3)
4 (15)
3 (13)
2 (5)
1 (1)
“Paint chips found (3 yrs old) new rotors 65000 miles,front and back plastic cover for chevy logo fell off around 2.5 years, new struts needed 3 yrs old,drivers door locks (infrequently) when...”
“Paint chips found (3 yrs old) new rotors 65000 miles,front and back plastic cover for chevy logo...”
5 (1)
4 (16)
3 (9)
2 (2)
1 (2)
The Jeep Cherokee ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in fuel economy.
“Bought one of these in 1992 and it was one of the best vehicles I ever owned and what a four wheeler took it to the top of the Warner mountain range while deer hunting in the snow only had to chain...”
“Bought one of these in 1992 and it was one of the best vehicles I ever owned and what a four...”

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

The Jeep Cherokee and the Chevrolet Equinox are both compact, two-row SUVs. Both of them come with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

The Cherokee scores an advantage over the Equinox when it comes to their engines. The Cherokee’s 180 standard horsepower leads the Equinox’s 170-horsepower standard engine. It happens again when comparing their optional engines, as the Cherokee offers a 271-horsepower top engine that outdoes the Equinox and its 252-horsepower option. The Equinox also offers a diesel engine option, which is useful if you have some serious towing needs.

In terms of cargo space, the Jeep Cherokee loses out to the Chevrolet Equinox. The Cherokee has a total of 54.9 cubic feet with the rear seats down. The Equinox easily bests it, with its larger 63.5 cubic feet of space.

The next clear-cut comparison is on the driving qualities of the Jeep Cherokee and the Chevrolet Equinox. The Cherokee is superior in off-road capability, while the Equinox has great on-road driving manners that compare favorably to upscale European brands.

The Cherokee is the more powerful SUV in this comparison, and also has the best off-road chops. The Equinox is the more spacious SUV here, and also excels in overall on-road driving performance. Your choice will be based on what your SUV usage profile looks like. Each one is the right tool for a specific job.