by Gabrielle DeSantis

With inflation affecting new car prices, $5 can make or break the bank. That’s why we’re looking at what $5 will get you between the 2022 Chevy Equinox ($26,995) and the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander ($26,990. We weren’t kidding, it’s a $5 difference). How do those 500 pennies affect you in the long run, and is it worth it to sink in the extra dough for the Chevy, or settle for the Mitsubishi?

For an extra $5 you get more safety features

The 2022 Chevy Equinox is pretty basic in terms of features, but that’s the case for most base-model cars. That said, you do get Apple CarPlay/Android Auto built into the Equinox’s standard 7-inch touchscreen. The base Outlander, on the other hand, comes with an 8-inch screen but no CarPlay connectivity.

However, the main advantage of the Equinox is the standard safety features, ones that are optional on the Mitsubishi Outlander. This includes frontal collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. There’s also standard lane keep assist, which catches the driver if they start to drift out of their lane. And the Equinox has already received a 5-star safety rating, whereas the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander hasn’t been reviewed yet.

So, in terms of a compact SUV, that extra $5 gets you a lot of extra goodies. But what if you’re hungry and want a sandwich? If decide to get one, all of a sudden, you’re priced out of the Equinox. Okay, perhaps that’s an exaggeration. If $5 is the tipping point as to whether or not you can buy a new car, you probably shouldn’t buy a new car. But the Outlander actually has a key advantage for just $5 less: more seating.

That $5 is the difference between 5 seats and 7 seats

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander actually has multiple advantages over the Chevy Equinox, but the most significant is that, for $5 less, you get two extra seats. What a steal! Provided, Kelley Blue Book deems the third row only usable for children, but if you have a large family with a couple of younger kids, just stuff them in the back and all is well. That third row does eat up cargo space, with just 11.7 cubic feet in comparison to the Equinox’s 29.9 cu-ft.

Put all the seats down and things shift in favor of the Outlander, which boasts 79.7 cubic feet over 69.3 cu-ft in the Equinox. It’s also slightly roomier in the front, with about an inch more headroom and legroom. But those are small numbers. What may make convince buyers to give Mitsubishi a shot is a more powerful engine.

The Equinox is fitted with the “sporty” RS engine, an inline four-cylinder turbo that only puffs out 171 horsepower. On the other hand, the Outlander’s 2.5L four-cylinder makes 181 hp. But in terms of torque, the Equinox stomps the outlander with 203 lb-ft over 181 lb-ft.

The deeper you look into it, the more you realize just how split the decision between the Chevy Equinox and the Mitsubishi Outlander is. They’re not the same kind of car, but in terms of value, they’re both strong contenders. Deciding which is right for you all depends on what you’re looking for.

Which is the better value?

Sure, you get more seats with the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. For many, not being able to fit the entire family in the car is a dealbreaker (unless you just leave the kids at home). So, if you’re looking for passenger volume, the Outlander is the way to go. But there’s no denying you get more amenities and features in the Chevy Equinox.

If you can do without the back row, your occupants will be safer, they’ll be able to listen to their music, and your gas mileage will be one mpg better. You get more space in the Outlander, but you get more stuff in the Equinox. So, for 5,933 sandwiches (or $26,995) the Equinox is better for quality of living. But if you need the space, for just a sandwich less, the Outlander will serve you well and beat that posh Equinox in a drag race.

RELATED: How Reliable Is the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The post 2022 Chevy Equinox vs. Mitsubishi Outlander: A $5 Split appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Cars from the 1990s exude a lot of charm, especially the quick ones with rear-wheel-drive and two doors. Almost every car company made a prime example of a fun, cheap, and nimble sports car during the 1990s. Toyota made its Supra MK 4, Nissan made its 300zx, and Chevrolet gave the Camaro its LS1 V8. The Ford Mustang, Mazda RX-7, and BMW 325e are just a few iconic sports cars of the 1990s and some inexpensive yet effective mods they respond well to.

BMW 325E to I Conversion Mod

BMW’s E30 was the ultimate car for the everyman. BMW’s 325e uses one of the company’s least popular engines, so they tend to go cheaper than a 325i. The engine is a 2.5-liter inline-six that redlines at low revs, in an effort to achieve greater fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, that cuts into the fun factor, which isn’t ideal when driving a rear-wheel-drive manual transmission executive sports car. 

The solution many enthusiasts go for is a cylinder head swap mod. They take the cylinder head from a 325i and mount it onto the 325e block. This modification combines the high-end power of a 325i and the torque of a 325e. Ideally, the modification would use as many factory parts as possible. Strictlyeta.net outlines the mod from costs to installation.

SN95 Ford Mustang GT Rear End Gears Mod

The fourth-generation Mustang GT has several popular mods available to it. Ford Explorers with the same engine had better flowing cylinder heads which could be easily swapped onto the Mustang’s 5.0 for a low price. The best bang for the buck, however, is a final drive gear swap. 

Depending on which axle it has, an SN95 Mustang either runs 2.73, 3.08, or 3.27. An axle with a 2.73:1 ratio means the driveshaft spins 2.73 times for the tire to complete a single rotation. A numerically bigger gear means the engine has an easier time accelerating the car at a faster rate. 

For a manual transmission, a 3.73 swap is common. While this will make the car leap forward, top speed suffers as the engine runs out of revs much quicker. A kit for this mod only costs $268 from Ford Racing. It’s the best bang for the buck, for a “seat of your pants” difference in performance.

Mazda RX-7 Engine Bay Clean Up

RX-7 FCs came with a 1.3-liter Wankel rotary engine, which was no doubt how it gained popularity. It’s tiny and light enough to pick up with two hands. The car is already well balanced and nimble, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. The RX-7 FC’s engine bay is a little crowded. Removing some accessories from the burdened rotary engine could free up some horsepower.

Turbo II cars came with electric fans, so installing one of those would free up the belt-driven fan. Removing A/C would make the car lighter, because the compressor, lines, and tank sometimes weigh up to 50 pounds, and it would also empty a large portion of the engine bay. Finally, the RX-7’s steering wouldn’t be too affected by removing the power steering. The car is so light already it wouldn’t add too much drama. Parking would be difficult, but once in motion, the car would be just as easy to maneuver. 

These are just three of the coolest sports cars to come out of the 1990s, and a few cheap mods to make them even better. Removing parts that make little or no difference like a spare tire, or replacing body panels with lighter ones also help performance. The convertible RX-7 FCs, for instance, came with aluminum hoods and wheels. Both can be easily swapped onto a non-convertible RX-7 to save weight. Regardless, the wealth of information about modding 1990s sports cars is insurmountable and readily available.

RELATED: Forgotten But Affordable 1990s Two-Seaters

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