Dodge Nitro vs. Chevrolet Equinox Review

Performance
Regarding horsepower, the Chevrolet Equinox packs quite a punch and will knock the Dodge Nitro down a few rungs. On the flip side, remember that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
With its tighter turning radius, the Dodge Nitro is quite certainly more maneuverable than the Chevrolet Equinox, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the flip side, keep in mind that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Nitro has a larger engine than the Chevrolet Equinox. Note that smaller engines are often cheaper to fix, but smaller engines can be stressed more. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the Nitro is considerably more powerful than the Equinox. Torque equals pickup, and the Nitro will have picked up and gone by the time the Chevrolet Equinox finally gets moving.

Utility
Neither the Dodge Nitro nor the Chevrolet Equinox has a marked advantage in terms of seating capacity. There's no clear winner between the Chevrolet Equinox and the Nitro with respect to hauling capacity. Towing is considerably more the Nitro's forte than it is the Chevrolet Equinox's.

Convenience
You'll most definitely have to take the Dodge Nitro for a fill-up more often than the Chevrolet Equinox because of its tank size and fuel economy.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Chevrolet offers a bit more head room than the Dodge, there really isn't much of a difference. While the rear of the Equinox offers a bit more head- and leg-room than the Dodge Nitro, there frankly isn't much of a difference.

Dimensions
The Dodge Nitro's tank is roughly the same size as the Chevrolet Equinox's, though the Chevrolet Equinox's is a bit larger. The Nitro and the Equinox compete for the same parking spaces.

Cost
The Dodge Nitro pales in comparison to the Chevrolet Equinox when it comes to gas mileage. When it comes to fuel economy, the Chevrolet bests the Dodge Nitro. In terms of MSRP, the Dodge Nitro doesn't cost much less than the Chevrolet Equinox. The Dodge will cost you a lots_of_money in gas every year compared to the Chevrolet Equinox.

Warranty
The Equinox and the Dodge Nitro have the same basic after-sale protection.