2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2020 Toyota RAV4
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2020 Chevrolet
Equinox
5/10
Fine appliance, questionable brakes — get the 1.5T LT, skip the diesel and the AWD tank recall cars.
VS
2020 Toyota
RAV4
8/10
Not exciting, but it's the compact SUV everyone else is trying to beat, and the 2020 hits the sweet spot of updated tech and dropped early bugs.
Milo scores the 2020 Toyota RAV4 higher — 8/10 against 5/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Equinox |
Toyota RAV4 |
| Known failure points | 5 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 299 | 628 |
| Safety recalls | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 52 | 78 |
| Cheap to own | 58 | 80 |
| Fun factor | 30 | 38 |
| Holds value | 45 | 82 |
| Enthusiast cred | 10 | 30 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2020 Chevrolet Equinox
1.5T timing chain stretch/tensioner noise (rattling on cold start) on early 2020 LE1 engines
$800–$2,00040k–80k mi
2020 Toyota RAV4
Rare but reported transmission (Direct-Shift 8-speed) rough-shifting and oil leak cases showing up around this mileage on high-mile examples
$2,500–$4,500100k–140k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2020 Chevrolet Equinox
2020 Equinox 1.5T LT FWD, built after mid-year 2020, with the brake caliper and LATCH recalls both completed — the sweet spot of value, efficiency, and the fewest early-build gremlins.
✅ 2020 Toyota RAV4
2020 RAV4 Hybrid XLE or XLE Premium — best combination of the more powerful/efficient hybrid powertrain, AWD standard, and reasonable price without unnecessary tech-heavy trims that add failure points.
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.