Chevrolet has a wide spectrum of cars on offer and when it comes to SUVs, it has an even broader palette. It comprises of a bunch of Sporty Compact SUVs that have the stance of an SUV but the appeal of a hatchback - peppy and city-friendly. On the other hand, it also has a fair share of offerings that contributes to the big brawny bunch of American trucks that have meaty performance and can tow anything you throw at it.
The conservative bunch who are sensitive toward fuel efficiency and reliability tend to steer away from those brawny trucks and are confined to the compact or mid-size SUVs. Chevy has this section covered too with the Blazer and the Equinox. The former being a mid-size crossover and the latter is a compact crossover. Both scores highly on the Fuel Efficiency chart.
While Chevy Blazer and Equinox have similarities, fuel efficiency isn't one of them. We compare their MPG Figures and show which is more efficient and why.
Chevrolet Blazer Vs Equinox: Fuel Efficiency Compared
Chevy offers numerous powertrain options for both the Blazer and Equinox. This also happens to be a key reason for its wider MPG spectrum. The Chevy Blazer is the powerful one of them despite having almost similar dimensions. It is offered in 3 engine options: 2.5L NA Inline-4 (193 hp/ 188 lb-ft), 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 (230 hp/ 258 lb-ft) and the range-topping 3.6L NA V6 (308 hp/ 270 lb-ft). The change in engines also has various mechanical capabilities of the Chevy Blazer.
On the other hand, the Chevrolet Equinox is offered in 2 engine options: 1.5L Turbo Inline-4 (170 hp/ 203 lb-ft) and 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 (252 hp/ 260 lb-ft). The Equinox is more on the sober side in terms of performance but both these SUVs share an uncanny resemblance in terms of driving dynamics, despite the Blazer being the bigger one of the two. The performance difference is evident between these two SUVs but it isn't the case with its fuel efficiency, which differs noticeably.
The Chevy Blazer equipped with the base 2.5L NA engine returns 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway whereas the Equinox with its base 1.5L turbo engine churns out 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. That's quite the jump and turbocharging plays a crucial role in improving fuel efficiency. And so, the Blazer has the powerhouse to tackle the base Equinox with its 2.0L Turbo unit that returns similar figures as its base unit at 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
Regarding the top of the line offerings, the Chevy Blazer comes with a well-known 3.6L V6 unit that returns 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway, making it quite the guzzler. The Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, has a smaller 2.0L Turbo unit that returns 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. Considering the added performance and the sweet-sounding V6 in the Blazer, its fuel efficiency is surprisingly good.
Gearbox, drivetrain, and curb weight are the other crucial factors that fuel efficiency hugely depends upon and it is clearly evident between the Blazer and the Equinox. The Blazer comes with a standard 9-speed automatic transmission for all its engine options but the Equinox has two on offer. It's base 1.5L Turbo engine is equipped with a 6-speed automatic whereas the bigger 2.0L Turbo comes with the same 9-Speed Automatic as in the Blazer but with tweaked gear ratios to fare better with its engine configuration.
Chevrolet Blazer is the bigger one of the two, this added curb plays a crucial role in fuel efficiency figures as it stresses the engine more to pull things forward. It has a curb weight that ranges between 3,782 to 4,782 pounds whereas the Equinox comes in at a range of 3,274-2,512 pounds.
Chevy Blazer Vs Equinox: Which Is More Fuel-Efficient?
Chevrolet Equinox rules the lower spectrum but at the other end, with the most powerful engines of the two pitted against each other in its AWD layout, the margin becomes narrow, as AWD has its fair share of disadvantages over an FWD layout. Despite pumping out over 300 horses, Chevy Blazer manages to hold its ground with a combined 21 MPG against the Equinox's combined 24 MPG, which offers only 252 horses.
But keeping all those variables aside, even its performance numbers speak out louder and the Chevrolet Equinox prevails as the more pocket-friendly option in any given configuration. But the Blazer is not far behind and a few tips and tricks could easily help improve its fuel efficiency.
Sources: Youtube.com, Chevrolet.com, Fueleconomy.gov