With safety features in the base model and a user-friendly infotainment system, there’s a lot to love about the Chevrolet Equinox. This SUV rivals the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V with a powerful engine and lots of safety tech. If you’re considering this car, you’ll want to know the most important specs.
What specs stand out on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Among this car’s specs, some of the most important include:
- Seating capacity: 5 passengers with good rear legroom
- Safety features: Automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning
- Engine: 1.5L (92 ci) Turbo DOHC 4
With safety features to write home about, you’ll find this SUV is a great fit. Yet there’s more to this vehicle than just its tech. We’re here to help you learn about all of the details, so you can buy one with confidence.
Long History of Success for the Chevy Equinox
Chevrolet announced the Equinox, a mid-sized SUV, in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The original design sat on the GM Theta’s platform. In its first full production year, Chevy sold 130,542 of the SUVs.
Production continued until the 2010 model year when the second generation hit the market. New gasoline direct injection engines and a stiffened platform increased fuel economy. People kept buying.
In 2017 the third generation of Equinox SUVs was introduced. This design switched the vehicle from mid-sized classification to compact crossover. A smaller body did not reduce the appeal of this popular vehicle, and upcoming years brought some of the best sales yet for the Equinox.
Over the years, sales have remained steady, even as the SUV has undergone modifications and adjustments. One of the biggest sales years for this vehicle was 2019, when 346,048 SUVs left the dealerships with new owners. Every year except 2007-2009, at least 100,000 of these SUVs were sold.
Great Fuel Economy and Power for a Compact SUV
One of the challenges when buying an SUV is finding the right combo of power and fuel economy, and the Chevrolet Equinox hits the jackpot. The 1.5L Turbo DOHC 4 gas engine generates 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that has great handling.
This standard engine may seem a little less than others in the class, but consider that it gets an EPA estimated 26 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. That’s worth getting excited about, especially if you have a long commute.
In the 2020 Equinox, Chevy’s paired this with a six-speed automatic transmission, not a CVT. This means the base model has excellent acceleration and more forward gears than similar compact SUVs.
If you’re craving a bit more power, then consider the LT trim or higher. This comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can pair with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This upgrade delivers 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. It also ups the towing capacity to an impressive 3,500 pounds.
Regardless of trim, the overall drive experience of the Equinox is not too exciting. It has pleasant handling, but nothing thrilling. You’re not going to go off-road in this SUV, but you’ll find it works well for driving in town or commuting.
For hauling, the Equinox has 63.5 cubic feet of space when you fold down the rear seats. With the seats up, you have 29.9 cubic feet. Rear seats have a 60/40 split to help, and a subfloor rear cargo area is great for smaller items.
Safety Features Reign Supreme on the Chevrolet Equinox
Where Chevy has done well with the Equinox is in its standard safety features. You don’t have to pay extra to get these, as they come in the base model.
Drivers benefit from built-in features like automatic emergency braking, following distance indicators, and lane keep assist with departure warnings.
Every Equinox comes with a rear vision camera and multiple airbags. Forward collision alert and front pedestrian braking features help limit the risk of a collision.
Several safety features are designed for parents. Rear child security and a rear-seat reminder help parents with younger kids. A Teen Driver mode lets parents set the vehicle to encourage safer driving behavior by turning off distracting features and sending a driving report card.
All in all, this is a very safe vehicle. That’s why the NHTSA awarded it a five-star safety rating.
Pros and Cons of the Chevrolet Equinox
Pros:
- Safety features built into the base model
- 3,500-pound tow rating with the optional 2.0L engine
- User-friendly infotainment system available
Cons:
- Base 1.5L engine could be more powerful
- Less cargo capacity compared to competitors
- Good fuel economy, but falls behind some competitors
You’ll love the Chevrolet Equinox if you’re passionate about safety. If you need towing capacity or a powerful engine, be prepared to upgrade. The same is true if an infotainment system is something you’re looking for.
