The Chevrolet Equinox has been on the market for almost two decades. It is a tried and tested compact crossover that has successfully managed to stay relevant in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. Now in its third generation, production began in 2018. Chevy gave the Equinox a refresh for the 2022 model year. Despite this refresh and its commercial success, the compact crossover is starting to show its age.
Chevrolet doesn’t look too keen on giving one of its bestsellers an overhaul or upgrade though. A Car and Driver review of the 2023 Equinox suggests that the rapid electrification of the Chevy lineup makes it feel like the new Equinox is a placeholder for its eventual successor, the Equinox EV. This electrified version of the Equinox is slated to go on sale in the fall of 2023.
Despite Chevy’s lack of enthusiasm to modernize the Equinox, the compact crossover still has a lot going for it. It is still one of the best-selling SUVs in the United States in 2022, and for good reason, coming in only behind the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V. The Equinox is affordable, and it makes for a real bargain when you consider all the features on offer, compared to its rivals.
To understand why the Equinox continues to be so popular, we’ll review some of its top features and also see how the crossover stacks up against segment rivals like the Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, and the Honda CR-V.
10 Affordable To Buy And Run
Chevrolet lists the MSRP for the 2023 entry-level Equinox starting from $27,995. There are four models in total. The LT sits above the entry-level LS and has a $29,095 price tag before options. Then there is the RS that starts at $32,095, and the top trim Premier will set you back about $33,195 before options.
All models of the Chevrolet Equinox are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. You can choose between a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive setup ($1,600). Fuel consumption estimates from the EPA suggest that the Equinox can get up to 26 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway bringing a combined fuel rating of 28 miles per gallon.
These ratings are comparable to the Kia Sportage and are better than those of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Bronco Sport. But, other rivals like the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape provide better gas mileage.
9 Spacious Cabin
The 2023 Equinox offers 103 cubic feet of passenger volume. This is better than the passenger volume of the Toyota RAV4 and is comparable to that of the Honda CR-V. You get about 40 inches of front headroom and 38.5 inches at the rear. There is also ample legroom at the front and the rear with 40.9 inches and 39.9 inches respectively.
Shoulder room is approximately 57.2 inches in the front and 55.5 inches in the rear. Hip room is also not compromised thanks to the Equinox’s width which measures about 72.6 inches between the door panels. There are about 52.6 inches of hip room in the front and 51.7 inches for the rear passengers.
8 Great Safety Features
The Equinox is a great value for money considering the number of safety features and technologies you get as standard. Automatic emergency braking, following distance indicator, forward collision alert and front pedestrian braking are standard across all the models. Additionally, you get lane keep assist with lane departure warning, rear seat reminder, rear vision camera, and electronic stability control system with traction control.
Front and rear park-assist and Chevrolet’s HD Surround Vision are reserved for the top trims. The safety alert seat feature that uses the left, right, or both-side seat vibration pulses to help you identify the direction of potential crashes, is also only equipped in the Premier trim. All models except the entry-level LT come with LED Daytime Running Lights.
7 Trim Choices
The level of premium features always goes up as you move up the trim levels in affordable vehicles. This is no different for the Equinox. Chevrolet has tried to attract a wide variety of car buyers with its compact crossover. With outstanding standard safety features and a roomy interior, the entry-level LT is an adequate daily-drivable crossover.
For about $1000 more, the LT adds to the practicality of the LS with a bigger 4.2-inch digital multicolor driver information screen, optional adaptive cruise control, a bigger digital HD-colored touchscreen, and optional dual-zone automatic climate control. The LT also has power driver seat lumbar control as standard.
The top trims add touches of premium to the practical crossover. eight-way power driver and front passenger adjustable leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 120-volt power outlet, memory seat package, and wireless charging are all standard in the top-spec Premier Trim, which we have tested. Chevy also provides a universal home remote that activates compatible devices such as garage door openers, security systems, and home automation devices from inside your vehicle. Chevy also produces two special editions of the Equinox; the Midnight and Redline Editions.
6 Ample Luggage Space
The exterior dimensions of the Equinox provide as much adequate room for the passengers and cargo. The crossover has a wheelbase of 107.3 inches and an overall height of about 65 inches. The total luggage space immensely benefits from these measurements. There is a total of 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space in the Equinox. Fold down the rear seats and the space increase to 63.9 cubic feet.
The space is a little less than the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CR-V but is comparable to its two Ford competitors.The 2023 Ford Escape has a total of 60.8 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded down and 34.4 cubic feet when they are upright. The Ford Bronco Sport has 65.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
5 The Equinox Offers A Comfortable Drive
A 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with the six-speed automatic is not the most exciting drivetrain in the segment, but it does a decent job of propelling the over the 3600-pound vehicle. The Equinox has a power rating of 175 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque.
However, its in the handling department where the Equinox will win you back. The suspension setup is good, providing comfort for short city commutes or long Interstate drives. The front suspension setup uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot, commonly known as the MacPherson strut. The rear suspension is a four-Link setup.
A Consumer Reports review of the Third Generation Chevrolet Equinox points out that the compact SUV handles better than its predecessor because it is much lighter (about 400 pounds lighter). It also has a quiet cabin and the suspension does a commendable job of smoothing out the bumps on the road.
4 Chevrolet’s Infotainment System
There are a host of integrated features and technologies that make Chevy’s infotainment system intuitive to use. The MyChevrolet App connects to the infotainment console from your phone, and it can be used as an electronic key. It can also locate your vehicle and give the owner real-time diagnostics.
Standard features include navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, compatible wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The infotainment system is compatible with Google's Built-In apps and Amazon’s Alexa. Entry-level Equinox models are kitted with a 7.0-inch diagonal color infotainment screen while the top trims have an 8.0-inch center console display with all the aforementioned features available.
3 Low Cost Of Ownership
The Equinox is a relatively affordable SUV to live with because of its low maintenance costs. Edmund’s Cost To Own segment estimates that the true cost of ownership for a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox that was purchased for $24,878 will eventually cost about $37,768 to own in five years. Edmunds takes into account several aspects of vehicle ownership like depreciation, interest on financing, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel, maintenance, repairs, and any federal tax credit that may be available to estimate these figures.
The publication also limits the annual driving distance of the vehicles to 15,000 miles. From an average annual insurance of between $700 and $900, maintenance costs of up to $800, and a yearly fuel consumption of about $2000, the total cost of owning an Equinox may average to about $13,000 in five years. This figure is comparable to the Kia Sportage and is significantly better that the cost of owning a Volkswagen Tiguan.
2 Plenty Of Optional Accessories
There are plenty of accessories that will help you personalize your Equinox. Please note that these accessories come at an extra cost. For cargo management, Chevy offers a cargo box, different designs of roof-mounted rails, bike carriers, ski carriers, tire carriers, and protective cargo nets for the exterior. Cargo mats and liners, interior cargo nets, and cooler boxes are available for interior cargo management.
The 2023 Equinox can tow about 1500 pounds and if you are considering exploring the great outdoors, the available trailer hitches and trailer wiring adapters are worth looking it. Chevrolet also provides dashcams, battery chargers, charging cables, and a host of other electronics to add to the practicality of the Equinox. The accessories list is a long one with about 175 different products tailored to the Equinox. Most of the items on the list are relatively affordable.
1 The Chevy Badge
Chevrolet as a brand carries a lot of influence in the North American market when it comes to car sales. It has been part of America’s automotive history since 1911. The Bow Tie brand has awed car enthusiasts with its rich racing history, while at the other end of the spectrum it has built a loyal consumer base by producing reliable vehicles. Some of these models include famous nameplates like the Tahoe, the Suburban, Bolt, and the Silverado.
This reputation eventually, for the most part, gets attached to other lesser-known Chevrolet models as well. Automakers usually have flagship cars that set the tone for innovation, production, and marketing. For Chevy, its flagship SUV is, of course, the Suburban. This is not to say that the success of the Suburban directly affects the sales of the Equinox, but the compact SUV benefits from the reputation that its bigger siblings has built for decades.