2027 Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Equinox — it leads our weighted scorecard 1.5–0 across 5 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (47% vs 42.1%). The Terrain doesn't win a category on our scorecard; it makes sense mainly if you find a meaningfully better deal on one locally.
Scorecard: Equinox 1.5 pts · Terrain 0 pts across 5 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Equinox | 2027 Terrain | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $28,600 | — | No data |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.35 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 47% | 42.1% | Equinox |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 27 mpg | 26 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 175 hp | 175 hp | Tie |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | Tie |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | — | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 8.4% off MSRP | — | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 4 | 3 | Tie |
| Weighted points | 1.5 | 0 | Equinox |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Equinox 27 mpg vs Terrain 26 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Equinox — 47% vs 42.1% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Equinox 1,500 lb vs Terrain 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
A current starting MSRP isn't on file for both models. Verified Equinox buyers paid a median 8.4% off MSRP across 9 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 13% off. Used, the median asking price is $19,263 for the Equinox and $21,179 for the Terrain (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Equinox: 0.35 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 79th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Terrain: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Equinox 4, Terrain 3.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Equinox 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid) · Terrain 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Equinox | 2027 Terrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $28,600 | — |
| Top-trim MSRP | $33,000 | — |
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 175 hp |
| Max torque | 203 lb-ft | — |
| EPA combined | 26–27 mpg | 25–26 mpg |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | — / 5 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Equinox lists for a median $16,286 — 47% of today's median new price of $34,640. A 5-year-old (2021) Terrain lists for a median $17,999 — 42.1% of today's median new price of $42,735.
Shop both
- See 40,232 new 2027 Chevrolet Equinox for sale →Median listed price $34,821 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 10,515 new 2027 GMC Terrains for sale →Median listed price $41,817 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Chevrolet Equinox
More on the GMC Terrain
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Equinox better than the Terrain?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Equinox — it leads our weighted scorecard 1.5–0 across 5 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (47% vs 42.1%). The Terrain doesn't win a category on our scorecard; it makes sense mainly if you find a meaningfully better deal on one locally.
Which is more reliable, the Equinox or the Terrain?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Equinox and 3 for the Terrain.
Which holds its value better, the Equinox or the Terrain?
The Equinox: a 5-year-old example lists for 47% of the new price, versus 42.1% for the Terrain, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Equinox or the Terrain?
We don't have a current starting MSRP for both models.
Which has better gas mileage, the Equinox or the Terrain?
It's a wash: 27 mpg vs 26 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/chevrolet-equinox-vs-gmc-terrain, updated November 8, 2026.