Cadillac OPTIQ vs Chevrolet Equinox: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Cadillac OPTIQ burns about $700 of fuel annually against $700 for the Chevrolet Equinox. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Chevrolet Equinox leads in both cycles — 117 mpg city and 100 mpg highway against 117 and 93 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Cadillac OPTIQ is recorded with no distinct engine configurations, the Chevrolet Equinox with 3 (SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV). Across 12 recorded Cadillac OPTIQ configurations and 57 for the Chevrolet Equinox, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Cadillac OPTIQ is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Chevrolet Equinox with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.