Compact SUVs make a lot of sense for today’s car buyers, and it’s easy to see why. They bring practicality, pleasant driving manners, the latest tech and safety features, plus available all-wheel drive (AWD). Best of all, they offer all this at a price that won’t break the bank. Two popular contenders in this contentious segment are the 2027 Kia Sportage and 2027 Chevrolet Equinox.
The Sportage still looks sharp thanks to a 2026 facelift and brings even more to the table this year, while the Equinox gets a few welcome updates for 2027, like a new standard transmission. Coincidentally, both SUVs have a new brown paint option this year. Here’s how they compare.
2027 Kia Sportage
It’s safe to say there’s a Kia Sportage for every type of buyer, thanks to its wide range of choices. The 2027 Kia Sportage is available in half a dozen trims, from the base LX to the top-line X-Pro Prestige. The Sportage was treated to a freshened design for 2026, and all models now include a 12.3-inch touchscreen and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Powering them is a 187-horsepower 4-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The rugged and upmarket X-Pro trims come with all-wheel drive standard. For 2027, a panoramic sunroof and power liftgate come standard on the X-Line trim, and there’s a new Road Rider Brown paint option. The Sportage is also available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, which we review separately.
Kia Sportage Highlights
X-Pro: The trend toward more off-road-oriented SUVs is apparent with the Sportage. In the X-Pro configuration, you get off-road features such as extra ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and off-road settings for the all-wheel-drive system. If you just want the rugged look, the X-Line model is a more affordable alternative.
Excellent warranty coverage: Once again, Kia deserves credit for tacking on some serious peace of mind to its vehicles. This entails a 5-year/60,000-mile standard warranty, plus powertrain coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Bigger interior: Although both fit into the compact SUV class, the Kia Sportage has a little more rear legroom and significantly more cargo space than the Chevy Equinox. In rear legroom, the Kia wins by a small but meaningful 1.4 inches. As for cargo room behind the back seats, the Sportage has a substantial 32 percent more than the Equinox.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sportage models for sale near you.
2027 Chevrolet Equinox
For many compact SUV shoppers, the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox is the right tool for the job. This Equinox boasts a tech-rich cabin and decent space for passengers and their cargo. All Equinox models are powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 175 hp. For 2027, the Equinox gets a standard 8-speed automatic transmission, raising its standard towing capacity to 1,500 pounds. It also has a handsome new Autumn Harvest paint option.
Chevrolet Equinox Highlights
Dual digital displays: The 2027 Equinox makes a great impression when you step inside, thanks to an 11-inch digital driver display and 11.3-inch touchscreen. They are standard in every grade of Equinox and give it a modern, tech-rich feel.
Heated front seats, heated steering wheel: You’ll appreciate these warm features every cold morning. Even better, these come standard in the 2027 Equinox.
Affordable upper trims: The Equinox has two upper trims with different personalities, but the same price tag. The sporty RS and the rugged Activ both start at $35,895, which is a reasonable price for the extra style and standard features like a power liftgate, roof rails, and a wireless charging pad.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Equinox models for sale near you.
Pricing
New 2027 Kia Sportage Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$30,485 |
$30,100 |
|||
$32,285 |
$32,200 |
|||
$36,085 |
$35,700 |
|||
$36,285 |
$35,900 |
|||
$38,085 |
$37,700 |
|||
$41,385 |
$40,900 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2027 Kia Sportage vehicles and New 2027 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2027 Kia Sportage | 2027 Chevrolet Equinox | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 2,500 pounds | N/A |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 175 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | automatic, 8-speed | automatic, 8-speed |
| Fuel Economy | 25 city/33 highway/28 combined mpg | 25 city/29 highway/27 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches | 107.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 184.4 inches | 183.2 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches | N/A |
| Height | 65.4 inches | 65.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 19.3 feet | N/A |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.4 inches | 39.2 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.3 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.5 inches | 57.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.6 inches | 55.8 inches |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | N/A | N/A |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 74.1 feet | N/A |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
The Chevrolet Equinox brings bold looks, impressive technology, and some welcome standard amenities. That said, it doesn’t have much variety in its lineup with only three trims and one engine. The Sportage has broader appeal thanks to its wider choice of trims and features, not to mention available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Add to that the Kia’s far more generous warranty and larger cargo space, and we give the edge to the Sportage in this contest. We suggest test-driving both to experience the differences for yourself.
