Chevrolet Equinox vs Tesla Model X: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Chevrolet Equinox burns about $700 of fuel annually against $700 for the Tesla Model X. 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 versus highway split: the Chevrolet Equinox is the stronger commuter at 117 mpg city, while the Tesla Model X pulls ahead on the interstate at 101 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Chevrolet Equinox is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV), the Tesla Model X with no. Across 57 recorded Chevrolet Equinox configurations and 41 for the Tesla Model X, 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 Tesla Model X 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 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.