Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Solterra: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Subaru Solterra burns about $650 of fuel annually against $700 for the Chevrolet Equinox. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $400 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 Subaru Solterra leads in both cycles — 131 mpg city and 109 mpg highway against 117 and 100 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Chevrolet Equinox is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV), the Subaru Solterra with no. Across 57 recorded Chevrolet Equinox configurations and 10 for the Subaru Solterra, 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 Chevrolet Equinox is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Subaru Solterra with All-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 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.