2015 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2015 Honda CR-V
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2015 Chevrolet
Equinox
3/10
A budget crossover with a genuinely dangerous engine problem that GM never properly fixed under warranty.
VS
2015 Honda
CR-V
7/10
Buy the 2.4L 4-cylinder, avoid the 1.5T if you live somewhere cold and only do short trips — otherwise this is a 250k-mile appliance in a good way.
Milo scores the 2015 Honda CR-V higher — 7/10 against 3/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Equinox |
Honda CR-V |
| Known failure points | 6 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 679 | 668 |
| Safety recalls | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 28 | 78 |
| Cheap to own | 25 | 72 |
| Fun factor | 25 | 38 |
| Holds value | 35 | 80 |
| Enthusiast cred | 10 | 22 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2015 Chevrolet Equinox
2.4L Ecotec (LAF/LEA) excessive oil consumption from piston ring design, leading to low oil pressure and potential engine seizure
$3,500–$6,50060k–100k mi
2015 Honda CR-V
1.5T oil dilution — gasoline seeping into engine oil during short cold-weather trips, diluting oil and raising level on dipstick
$0–$3,0000k–60k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2015 Chevrolet Equinox
A 2015 Equinox LTZ or LT with the 3.6L V6 (LFX) and AWD, with full documented oil-change history — this engine sidesteps the entire 2.4L oil consumption saga.
✅ 2015 Honda CR-V
2015 CR-V EX or EX-L with the 2.4L naturally aspirated engine and 5-speed automatic — skip the turbo entirely if you want the boring-reliable version of this car.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.