Holden Equinox vs Toyota RAV4

What's the difference?

You might not think right now is the best time to buy a Holden, what with the announcement from General Motors about closing down its Aussie operations at the end of 2020.

That’s understandable but side-stepping around the Equinox could see you miss out on what is a practical, comfortable and safe mid-sized SUV.

You can also bet on some heavily discounted deals on the final Holdens which could see you pick up a huge bargain if you buy an Equinox.

I’ve tested the top-of-the-range Equinox LTZ-V in this review and along with taking you though its features and what the SUV is like to drive, I’ll cover what type of support you can expect to have after Holden closes down. The company has promised to take care of its customers with parts and services for at least the next decade.

Explore the 2020 Equinox LTZ-V in 3D below
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=RnCngGtbQHx

The Toyota RAV4 is arguably Australia’s darling and has been for years. It’s long set the benchmark in the mid-size SUV segment - a position rivals like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 would love to occupy.

It’s also been close to a decade since we’ve seen anything new from the RAV4, so expectations for this sixth-generation update are understandably high. For this family review, we’re testing the flagship Cruiser Hybrid 2WD, which brings the most features and the biggest price tag in the line-up.

On paper, it promises meaningful upgrades, particularly in technology and refinement, while holding onto the practicality and efficiency that made it so popular in the first place.

But with stronger competition and rising expectations in this segment, the question is no longer whether the RAV4 is good, it’s whether it’s done enough to stay at the top.