Open Today Sales: 8:30 AM-5 PMOpen Today Service: 8 AM-4 PMOpen Today Parts: 8 AM-4 PM
Starting at
Starting at
| 175 | Horsepower | 152 |
| 203 | Torque (lb-ft) | 284 |
| 63.5 | Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 50.1 |
Compact SUVs are widely popular because of their affordable price tags, responsiveness and agility, spacious cabins, and value-rich design. The segment is full of road-worthy options, yet few outshine the best-selling Equinox under the Chevrolet marque. The American automotive pioneer opened its doors in the early 1900s to build reliable and affordable automobiles. Today, comparing the 2025 Chevy Equinox vs 2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross shows how Chevrolet fulfills its promise over a century later.
There's an undeniable appeal to the 2025 Eclipse Cross on paper because of its budget-friendly starting price of $26,545. Chevrolet's best-selling SUV starts at $28,600 in 2025, but is spending more worth it?[a] Chevrolet and Mitsubishi answer that question with their entry-level trims, with the Eclipse Cross ES maintaining its affordable price tag because of its sparse features and amenities. Alternatively, the 2025 Equinox LT offers more tangible value, setting the benchmark for a feature-rich three-trim lineup.
Beyond the starting price, what else differentiates the 2025 Equinox from the 2025 Eclipse Cross? How does Chevrolet solidify the Equinox's fate as a best-seller? Where does the Eclipse Cross fall short regarding performance, technologies, and functionality? Here's a closer look at how the models compare and why we're confident your search for a compact SUV will end with you in the driver's seat of the newly redesigned 2025 Equinox.
The 2025 Eclipse Cross has a five-trim lineup that starts with the entry-level ES and progresses to the LE, SE, SEL, and SEL Touring. Mitsubishi keeps the Eclipse Cross's starting price low by offering the bare minimum with the ES, which starts at $26,545. While the price makes the Eclipse Cross seem attractive, looking at the features and what you get with your investment tells a different story.
The 2025 Eclipse Cross ES rolls off Mitsubishi's production line with an edgy style enhanced by 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels and LED lighting. The SUV offers mediocre performance and a smooth ride, but that is not enough to overcome its minimalist packaging. The base trim has a small 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth capability, an AM/FM radio, HD Radio, and a rearview camera.
Mitsubishi forces drivers to spend more on features Chevrolet makes standard on the 2025 Equinox. For example, the Eclipse Cross LE starts at $28,195 and is the first trim to offer smartphone integration on Mitsubishi's 8-inch touchscreen. Climbing the lineup adds driver-assistance technologies, leather seats, and more conveniences. Still, it isn't enough to compete with the 2025 Equinox and the tangible value offered across its three-trim lineup, which stretches from the LT to the RS and ACTIV.
The Equinox LT has heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an expansive digital landscape with an 11-inch Driver Information Center and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen. Seamless smartphone integration is guaranteed via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Google Built-In adding a virtual assistant and Google Maps. The Chevy Safety Suite and Teen Driver are also standard, with the mid-tier RS and top-tier ACTIV offering enhanced driver-assist features and distinct styling elements. The RS is instantly recognizable by its athleticism, which includes an optional two-tone black roof, black molding and badging, and 19-inch or 20-inch machined wheels. The top-tier ACTIV is the adventurer in the family, sitting on all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch machined wheels and boasting a rugged front fascia.
As compact SUVs, the 2025 Equinox and 2025 Eclipse Cross have similar footprints, making them more agile than their midsize and full-size counterparts. However, Chevrolet goes above and beyond to enhance the Equinox's agility, leaving the Eclipse Cross behind in the dust. So, how does Chevrolet deliver and solidify the Equinox's fate as a segment leader?
While both SUVs rely on a 1.5L turbocharged inline-four for power, Mitsubishi focuses on short-term performance that leaves much to be desired when you're behind the wheel. The Eclipse Cross's inline-four makes 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, with Mitsubishi promoting the engine's success in delivering short bursts of power. The continuously variable transmission ensures seamless gear shifts through those bursts, with Super All-Wheel Control providing all-season and all-terrain confidence by maximizing traction and stability in slippery conditions.
It's easy to assume the Eclipse Cross's short bursts of power make the SUV more responsive, but comparing the 2025 Equinox's performance reveals the truth. The 2025 Equinox debuts Chevrolet's 1.5L turbocharged inline-four with a choice of drivetrains and suspensions. The front-wheel drive Equinox relies on a smooth-shifting, continuously variable transmission as the engine makes 175 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. With more horsepower at your fingertips, the Equinox is more responsive at any speed.
Chevrolet also offers the 2025 Equinox as an all-wheel drive SUV. The notable difference is that the all-wheel-drivetrain swaps the continuously variable transmission for an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new combination pushes the engine's torque output to 203 lb-ft, outshining and outperforming the all-wheel-drive Eclipse Cross and its 184 lb-ft of torque. So, how does this increased output affect the Equinox's fuel economy compared to its Mitsubishi rival?
Despite offering more torque, the all-wheel drive Equinox's fuel economy is comparable to the all-wheel drive Eclipse Cross. The Mitsubishi averages an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 MPG combined, with the all-wheel drive Equinox offering the same. Alternatively, the 2025 Equinox with front-wheel drive has a slightly better fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated average of 27 MPG combined.
Technology is another area where the 2025 Equinox gains an irrefutable lead over the 2025 Eclipse Cross. While the compact SUVs are tech-savvy, Mitsubishi doesn't offer as many standard or advanced technologies. Instead, the Japanese automaker requires drivers to spend more on mid- and top-tier trims without ever coming close to providing the same value as Chevrolet.
The 2025 Eclipse Cross ES sets the benchmark as an entry-level model with few amenities and features. For example, the base trim features a small, 7-inch display that offers Bluetooth integration rather than Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Those features require spending more on the Eclipse Cross LE, SE, SEL, or SEL Touring, which come with Mitsubishi's 8-inch Smartphone Link Display Audio system.
Unfortunately, Mitsubishi takes a similar approach with its driver-assistance technologies. The Eclipse Cross has Automatic High Beam Assist headlamps and rain-sensing wipers. Trim-specific features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and a Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist.
The Eclipse Cross's limited technologies give the 2025 Equinox more opportunities to shine. Chevrolet frames the Equinox's cabin with an extensive digital landscape that stretches from the 11-inch reconfigurable driver information center to the 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Chevrolet's infotainment system offers seamless smartphone compatibility via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You'll also enjoy Google Built-In, which adds Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant to enhance your experience behind the wheel.
The Equinox's digital displays are also a gateway to the SUV's extensive driver-assist tools. Chevrolet's Teen Driver technology and Chevy Safety Assist are standard across the lineup. The safety suite includes Automatic Emergency Braking, IntelliBeam headlights, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, and Forward Collision Alert. Other standard features include Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Enhanced Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Rear Park Assist, and Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking. These additional tools far outnumber what Mitsubishi offers, even on the top-tier Eclipse Cross SEL Touring.
The 2025 Eclipse Cross and 2025 Equinox are compact SUVs praised for their spacious and functional cabins. The models offer seating for five with a versatile two-row layout, making it easy to transition between your passenger- and cargo-hauling needs. Yet, the Equinox's growth spurt in 2025 to give it a more rugged and athletic stance significantly impacts its cabin and gives the Chevrolet SUV another lead over its Mitsubishi rival.
The 2025 Eclipse Cross sits on a 105.1-inch wheelbase and measures 179 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 66.5 inches tall. Alternatively, the 2025 Equinox has a more robust footprint. Its longer 107.5-inch wheelbase accommodates its length of 183.2 inches. It stretches wider at 74.9 inches and sits slightly lower at 65.6 inches. How does this translate to the cabin capacities and overall comfort?
Looking at the total passenger volume and cargo capacity paints a broad picture of what you can expect from the Eclipse Cross and Equinox in 2025. The Eclipse Cross offers a total passenger volume of 96.7 cu.ft. with 23.4 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row or 50.1 cu.ft. total. The Equinox is far more spacious, thanks to a passenger volume of 104.3 cu.ft. and a total cargo capacity of 63.5 cu.ft. The Equinox's cargo volume behind the second row is also significantly larger than the Eclipse Cross at nearly 30 cu.ft.
The 2025 Equinox's wider stance accounts for more head, leg, hip, and shoulder room across both rows. To compare, the 2025 Eclipse Cross offers 39.5 inches of headroom, 56.2 inches of shoulder room, 53 inches of hip room, and 40.9 inches of legroom in the front row. The 2025 Equinox rivals those measurements, offering 40 inches of headroom, 57.7 inches of shoulder room, 55.2 inches of hip room, and 40.9 inches of legroom. The second row is even more telling, with the Eclipse Cross falling significantly behind and offering substantially less legroom at 37.1 inches compared to the Equinox's 39.9 inches.
Did you initially search for a compact SUV thinking the 2025 Eclipse Cross was the perfect fit? While Mitsubishi's compact SUV is appealing on paper, comparing it to rivals like the Equinox showcases why Chevrolet often leads the segment. The 2025 Equinox offers more value, from its engaging powertrain to its tech-savviness and spacious cabin.
The Equinox's value-rich packaging makes it a popular choice at DePaula Chevrolet, where we are excited to welcome you into our family and the Chevy legacy. Our customers enjoy an exceptional dealership experience defined by mutual respect and open communication. It's our job to make your automotive dreams a reality, so why not make the experience fun and rewarding?
Every experience is enjoyable when you trust our team. We make a lifetime commitment to every customer, from our showroom floor to our service center. It's a partnership that fosters confidence as you climb behind the wheel of a best-selling SUV like the Equinox.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.