2027 Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai IONIQ 5: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the IONIQ 5 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2–2 across 4 categories, winning on more available power (601 hp vs 175 hp) and more towing capacity (2,700 lb vs 1,500 lb). Choose the Equinox if the lower sticker matters most ($28,600 vs $35,000 to start).
Scorecard: Equinox 2 pts · IONIQ 5 2 pts across 4 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Equinox | 2027 IONIQ 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $28,600 | $35,000 | Equinox |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.35 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 47% | — | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 27 mpg | 115 MPGe | Not scored |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 175 hp | 601 hp | IONIQ 5 |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 2,700 lb | IONIQ 5 |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 8.4% off MSRP | — | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 4 | — | No data |
| Weighted points | 2 | 2 | IONIQ 5 |
Not scored: one is rated in mpg, the other in MPGe (electric).
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Equinox — $28,600 vs $35,000 (starting MSRP).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — Equinox 5 vs IONIQ 5 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Equinox — $28,600 vs $35,000 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the IONIQ 5 — 2,700 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Equinox starts at $28,600 and tops out at $33,000; the IONIQ 5 runs $35,000 to $66,100 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Equinox buyers paid a median 8.4% off MSRP across 9 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 13% off.
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).
- IONIQ 5: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Equinox 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid) · IONIQ 5 2024 (solid), 2025 (caution), 2026 (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 IONIQ 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $28,600 | $35,000 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $33,000 | $66,100 |
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 168–601 hp |
| Max torque | 203 lb-ft | 545 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 26–27 mpg | 94–115 MPGe |
| Electric range (best) | — | 318 mi |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 2,700 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 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. There's no 5-year retention figure for the IONIQ 5 yet.
Shop both
- See 40,232 new 2027 Chevrolet Equinox for sale →Median listed price $34,821 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 4,552 new 2027 Hyundai IONIQ 5s for sale →Median listed price $46,210 · 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 Hyundai IONIQ 5
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Equinox better than the IONIQ 5?
On our data, no — the IONIQ 5 comes out ahead. Our pick: the IONIQ 5 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2–2 across 4 categories, winning on more available power (601 hp vs 175 hp) and more towing capacity (2,700 lb vs 1,500 lb). Choose the Equinox if the lower sticker matters most ($28,600 vs $35,000 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Equinox or the IONIQ 5?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the Equinox or the IONIQ 5?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the Equinox or the IONIQ 5?
The Equinox starts lower: $28,600 vs $35,000 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Equinox or the IONIQ 5?
They're rated differently: the Equinox is rated 27 mpg and the IONIQ 5 115 MPGe (EPA best combined). Not scored: one is rated in mpg, the other in MPGe (electric).
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 Hyundai IONIQ 5: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/chevrolet-equinox-vs-hyundai-ioniq-5, updated November 8, 2026.