Chevy’s 2013 Equinox crossover’s fuel economy varies, with the 2.4L DOHC four-cylinder and 3.6L V6 offering up to 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway while cranking out up to 301 horsepower.
Key Points
- The 2013 Chevy Equinox comes standard with a 2.4L dual overhead cam inline four-cylinder Ecotec engine with 182 horsepower and 172 lb.-ft. of torque.
- For a spike in power and torque, the Equinox LT and LTZ trims can be optioned with a 3.6L DOHC V6 sporting 301 horsepower and 272 lb.-ft. of torque.
- Both Equinox engines could run on E85 ethanol and feature six-speed automatic transmissions.
- Fuel economy varies, with the range-topping inline four-cylinder and FWD reaching an average 22 mpg in the city and 31 at highway speeds.
- The 3.6L DOHC V6 engine with the automatic transmission and AWD averages 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
2013 Chevy Equinox Comes Standard with Utilitarian 2.4L DOHC Inline Four-cylinder Ecotec Engine
The 2013 Chevy Equinox models are equipped with the inline four-cylinder engine across the LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels. Chevy’s 2.4L DOHC I4 features dominantly aluminum construction, making for a lightweight workhorse platform.
The I4 engine features direct sequential fuel injection and variable valve timing with E85 ethanol capability. Equinox’s inline four-cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower at a steep 6,700 rpm and 172 lb.-ft. of torque.
The inline four-cylinder engine is the most economical option for the 2013 Chevy Equinox line. The I4, when optioned with FWD, will average 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Fuel economy suffers slightly with the application of the AWD system. The I4 powerplant married to the AWD system averages 20 mpg city and 28 highway, given the task of running all four wheels at once.
The 2.4L DOHC inline four-cylinder engine in the 2013 Chevy Equinox is mated exclusively to a Hydra-Matic 6T45 six-speed automatic transmission and features an electronic range select function.
One area of worry about the 2.4L, it struggles with excessive oil consumption issues that have been well documented via registered consumer complaints at the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. While no engine-related recalls exist, of the over 600 complaints, more than half pertain to the engine.
Car Complaints further details this issue and shows that replacing the rings and pistons is the most common fix, followed by needing a new engine. The problem tends to appear with around 74,550 miles on the odometer and has an estimated repair cost of $3,140.
2013 Chevy Equinox LT and LTZ Could be Optioned with a 3.6L DOHC V6 Engine
The 2013 Chevy Equinoxes in upper tiers were available with a larger 3.6L DOHC V6 engine as an optional upgrade. The larger engines produced greater power and torque, albeit less impressive in terms of fuel economy. Power figures increase a full 119 horses, with the engine sporting 301 horsepower and 272 lb.-ft. of torque.
Larger displacement, altered cylinder orientation, and a higher compression ratio resulted in much higher figures than the inline four-cylinder engine that comes standard in the Equinox lineup.
“We had a chance to drive all-wheel-drive Equinoxes with old and new V-6s back-to-back, and we found no difference in drivability beyond the extra kick in the pants,” said Car and Driver in their comparison between the Equinox’s old V6 and the new.
Continuing, the site did notice an odd trait of the 3.6L engine, commenting “From the sliding rear seat, however, we detected a significant difference in engine noise. The 3.6 is considerably louder for those in the second row, who are treated to a slightly buzzy, metallic note.”
The newer engine even managed to achieve the same EPA fuel economy numbers as the outgoing 3.0L V6, which is admirable considering the difference in displacement, power, and torque figures. Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect is the improved performance of the 3.6L V6 Equinox in the sprint to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, more than a full second quicker than the outgoing V6.
The AWD-equipped 3.6L V6 Equinox is even quicker, launching the crossover SUV to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds. Both the FWD and AWD applications with the newer V6 are faster than the outgoing generation by a large margin and just as economic.
2013 Chevy Equinox’s Two Engine Options are Adequate, but the more Powerful 3.6L V6 Provides a Sportier Driving Performance
The 2013 Chevy Equinox offers decent engine options, but the larger motors do suffer in fuel economy, which drops from the 2.4L I4’s 22/31 city/high mpg to 17/24. Numbers dip even further when the 3.6L Equinox is optioned with the AWD system, to the tune of 16/23.
Although the V6 suffers in comparison to the four-cylinder’s fuel economy, it performs much better than the outgoing V6, while delivering similar fuel economy.
If you can swing the extra $500 price tag on V6-equipped models, as well as the extra monthly fuel costs, the 3.6L will yield an overall more enjoyable experience on the road.
Photos: Chevrolet
