If you’re weighing the Chevrolet Equinox against the Ford Edge, there’s one thing you should know before we get into horsepower and cargo numbers: these two aren’t really competing on the lot anymore.
Ford ended Edge production in April 2024. There’s no 2025 or 2026 model — the only way to get one now is used or certified pre-owned. The Equinox, on the other hand, was fully redesigned for 2025 and carries into 2026 as a fresh, current-generation SUV. So this isn’t a straight new-car-vs-new-car matchup. It’s a “brand-new compact crossover vs. a discontinued midsize one you’d buy secondhand” decision, and that framing changes everything.
We’ll still break down price, performance, space, safety and running costs the way any buyer would want. But we’ll do it with the 2026 reality baked in, not last year’s brochure copy.
Quick verdict
- Buying new, want value and low running costs: the redesigned Chevrolet Equinox is the obvious pick.
- Want more space and power and don’t mind buying used: a leftover or pre-owned Ford Edge still makes a strong case, often at a discount now that it’s discontinued.
Now the detail.
Price & value
The Equinox is the cheaper vehicle to get into, and it’s brand new. The current Equinox starts right around $28,600 for the base LT (before options and a roughly $2,000 AWD upcharge), with the sportier RS and rugged Activ trims landing in the mid-$30,000s.
The Edge, in its final 2024 form, carried a starting MSRP closer to $39,000–$40,000, climbing past $50,000 for a loaded ST. Because it’s discontinued, though, pricing today is whatever the used and CPO market says it is — which can mean real savings on remaining inventory, or a premium on clean low-mileage examples people are holding onto.
Value takeaway: For a no-surprises new purchase, the Equinox wins on sticker and on being a current model with a full warranty. The Edge only makes financial sense if you find the right used deal.
Performance & drive feel
Here’s where the Edge earns its keep. It was always the bigger, punchier vehicle.
| Chevrolet Equinox (2026) | Ford Edge (2024, final year) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L turbo 4-cyl | 2.0L EcoBoost turbo 4-cyl (V6 in ST) |
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 250 hp (335 hp in ST) |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft FWD / 203 lb-ft AWD | 275 lb-ft (380 lb-ft in ST) |
| Transmission | CVT (FWD) / 8-speed auto (AWD) | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard, AWD optional | FWD standard, AWD optional/standard on higher trims |
| Fuel economy | ~26 city / 29 hwy mpg | ~21 city / 28 hwy mpg |
The Equinox is tuned for easy, efficient everyday driving. It’ll merge and pass fine, but acceleration is relaxed and the engine gets vocal when you push it — nobody’s cross-shopping this for thrills. The Edge feels genuinely quicker, especially the ST, and its extra torque makes highway merging and light towing less of a chore.
Bottom line: If your driving is mostly city and commuting and you like better mpg, the Equinox fits. If you want stronger acceleration and effortless highway pace, the Edge (or Edge ST) is the more satisfying drive.
Space & cargo
Both seat five, but the Edge is a size class up — it’s a midsize crossover, while the Equinox is a compact. You feel it most in cargo and rear legroom.
| Chevrolet Equinox | Ford Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Front legroom | ~40.9 in | ~42.6 in |
| Rear legroom | ~39.9 in | ~40.6 in |
| Cargo (seats up) | ~29.8 cu ft | ~39.2 cu ft |
| Cargo (seats folded) | ~63.5 cu ft | ~73.4 cu ft |
If you routinely haul gear, travel with taller passengers, or load up for road trips, the Edge’s roughly ten extra cubic feet behind the second row is a real, usable advantage. For grocery runs, a stroller, and daily commuting, the Equinox has plenty and stays easier to park.
Safety & driver assistance
Both come well equipped. The Equinox includes Chevy Safety Assist as standard — automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, pedestrian detection and more, with adaptive cruise on the current generation. The Edge offered Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite: pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping and automatic high beams, with availability rising by trim.
Both historically earned strong crash-test scores. One honest caveat: the current-generation Equinox is new enough that not every agency rating was finalized at the time of writing, so check the latest IIHS and NHTSA results for the exact model year you’re considering rather than assuming.
Reliability & running costs
Using RepairPal’s ownership data as a neutral reference:
- Equinox: ~3.5/5 reliability, about $537/year in average repair costs.
- Edge: ~3.5/5 reliability, about $611/year, a bit higher thanks to the larger engine and AWD hardware.
Neither is expensive to run by SUV standards. The Equinox edges ahead on annual costs, and buying new means fewer near-term surprises. With a used Edge, condition and service history matter far more than the averages — a well-kept one can be trouble-free, a neglected one won’t be.
Cross-shop these too
Since the Edge is off the new-car menu, most people comparing these end up looking at current alternatives:
- Honda CR-V — the compact-SUV benchmark for reliability and resale; a direct Equinox rival.
- Toyota RAV4 — efficient and dependable, with strong hybrid options.
- Hyundai Santa Fe — closest in size and feel to the old Edge, with a long warranty.
- Mazda CX-5 — the enthusiast’s pick, with the nicest cabin and sharpest handling in the group.
- Chevy Blazer / Ford Explorer — natural step-ups if you want the Edge’s size in a still-in-production model.
Which one should you choose?
Go Equinox if you want a brand-new SUV, the lowest running costs, better fuel economy, and a right-sized compact for city and suburban life.
Go Edge if you specifically want its extra space and power, you’re comfortable buying used or CPO, and you can find a clean example at the right price.
There’s no universal winner here — it genuinely comes down to whether “new, efficient, and affordable” or “bigger, faster, but discontinued” matches how you actually drive.
Want to feel a bigger SUV before you commit?
Buying a family SUV is a multi-year decision, and a 15-minute dealer test drive rarely tells you what living with the extra size feels like. If you’re in Southern California and thinking about stepping up into a larger, more premium SUV, it’s worth spending a weekend behind the wheel of one first.
At Premier Auto San Diego, we rent premium and luxury SUVs — think Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover and Mercedes G-Class — alongside our exotic and sports car fleet. Take one on a real road trip, load it up, live with it for a couple of days, and you’ll know exactly how much SUV you actually want before you sign anything. Browse the luxury lineup or call us at 619-815-5818.
FAQ
Is the Ford Edge discontinued?
Yes. Ford ended North American Edge production in April 2024, and there’s no 2025 or 2026 model. New examples are limited to leftover dealer stock; otherwise you’re shopping used or certified pre-owned.
Which Ford is closest to the Chevy Equinox now?
With the Edge gone, the Ford Escape is the nearest match in size and price — both are compact crossovers aimed at the same value-focused buyer.
Which is cheaper to own over 5–10 years?
The Equinox, in most cases. It has a lower purchase price, better fuel economy, and slightly lower average annual repair costs (about $537 vs. $611). A used Edge can still be economical if it’s a well-maintained example.
Does the Edge’s extra power mean more maintenance?
Generally, yes. The larger engine, more torque, and AWD hardware put more mechanical load on the vehicle, which nudges long-term upkeep costs higher than the smaller Equinox.
Which has more cargo space?
The Edge, comfortably — roughly 39 cu ft behind the second row versus about 30 in the Equinox, and around 73 cu ft folded versus 63. It’s a size class larger.
