Compare the2024 Chevrolet Equinox EVVS 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Chevrolet Equinox EV has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Equinox EV has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Equinox EV has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Equinox EV and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV weighs 1032 to 1470 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona Electric. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox EV’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

The Equinox EV’s standard electric motor produces 80 more horsepower (213 vs. 133) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The Equinox EV’s electric motor produces 12 more horsepower (213 vs. 201) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited’s standard electric motor. The Equinox EV’s optional electric motors produces 87 more horsepower (288 vs. 201) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (333 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited’s standard electric motor.

The Equinox EV can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

			Miles
Equinox EV
	FWD	Electric Motor	319 miles
	AWD	Electric Motors	285 miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	261 miles
		SE Electric Motor	200 miles

For better stopping power the Equinox EV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

	Equinox EV	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

The Equinox EV’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Equinox EV has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (245/55R19 vs. 215/60R17). The Equinox EV’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (275/40R21 vs. 215/60R17).

The Equinox EV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s standard 60 series tires. The Equinox EV’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Kona Electric’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox EV has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric. The Equinox EV offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Kona Electric only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox EV’s wheelbase is 11.6 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (116.3 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Equinox EV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (6.4 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Equinox EV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Equinox EV has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona Electric (102.2 vs. 99).

The Equinox EV has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

The Equinox EV has a larger cargo volume than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (26.4 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Equinox EV uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Equinox EV has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Equinox EV, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Equinox EV’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox EV offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Equinox EV’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Kona Electric Limited’s rear windows don’t open automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Equinox EV the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Equinox EV’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona Electric’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the Equinox EV with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox EV has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/Limited. The Equinox EV also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The Equinox EV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Kona Electric Limited.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Equinox EV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kona Electric Limited offers wireless charging.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Hyundai Kona by almost three to one during 2023.