The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox has two decent engine options. They both perform adequately well, but they fall short in fuel economy, especially the 2.4L Inline-four. The compact sport utility vehicle’s 301-horsepower 3.6L V6 is the engine to go with because of its superior refinement and performance.
Key Points
- The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox‘s base Ecotec inline-four engine gets 26 mpg combined, but the SUV’s performance suffers at highway speeds.
- The 3.6L V6’s 301-hp and 272 lb.-ft. of torque allows the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
- Most 2015 Equinox vehicles can last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.
- The superior performance and driving experience provided by the compact sport utility vehicle’s V6 make it the best choice for the 2015 Chevy Equinox.
2015 Chevrolet Equinox’s 2.4L Inline-four Engine Requires Gas Pedal is ‘Floored During Merging and Passing,’ According to Owners and Auto Critics
The base engine offered in the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox is a DOHC 2.4L Ecotec inline-four. It has a cast aluminum block, four valves per cylinder, and uses continuously variable-valve-timing.
The 2.4L inline-four produces 182-horsepower and 172 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The SUV can go from zero to 60 mph in around 9.8 seconds.
While its horsepower numbers are good on paper, the real-world output of the 2.4L is arguably underwhelming. Around town and in the city, it performs adequately.
However, at highway speeds, owners and auto critics report that it struggles at high speeds. Edmunds says, “You’ll have the gas pedal floored during routine merging and passing maneuvers, and this is neither very relaxing nor advantageous for fuel economy.”
The base engine gets an EPA-rated 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Those numbers can vary depending on whether or not you have all-wheel-drive equipped. With AWD, fuel economy goes down to 19 mpg combined.
Thanks to flex-fuel technology, the inline-four can run on E85 Ethanol fuel. This puts out 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.
The 2015 Chevy Equinox units with the 2.4L engine aren’t quite up to par with the efficiency of some of their rivals. For example, the 2015 Honda CR-V gets an EPA-rated 28 mpg combined compared to the Chevy’s 26.
For oil, you’ll need around five quarts of 5W-30. We recommend using fully synthetic to maximize the engine’s performance.
301-hp 3.6L V6 Engine Utilizes Light-weight Components to Improve 2015 Equinox’s Overall Efficiency and Performance
Available only on the LT and LTZ trims, the 2015 Chevy Equinox’s other engine is a 3.6L direct-injected V6. Chevrolet also used a cast aluminum block and continuously variable valve timing. It produces a strong 301-hp and 272 lb.-ft. of torque. This means the 2015 Equinox can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
The 3.6L V6 engine features an integrated cylinder head and exhaust design that saves 13 pounds. It also has a composite intake manifold that saves up to six pounds compared to a traditional aluminum intake.
All those weight-saving components improve both performance capabilities and fuel economy. The V6 engine gets the 2015 Chevy Equinox a reasonable 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Fuel economy takes a hit with all-wheel-drive, going down slightly to 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
Compared to rivals, the V6 suffers even more than the 2.4L, because the Equinox’s competitors only use small-capacity four-cylinders.
If you end up needing to replace this engine, the price is pretty reasonable. A used unit with 68,000 miles costs just $1,850. A rebuilt unit goes for $4,044.
As for oil, the 3.6L V6 takes six quarts of fully synthetic 5W-30 engine oil.
Decent Engines Mean the 2015 Chevy Equinox has an Annual Repair Cost of $465 and can Last 150,000 to 200,000 Miles
The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox’s reliability is not quite up to par with its rivals. Thankfully, most of the SUV’s reported problems have to do with other areas of the vehicle. With that in mind, the reliability of the 2.4L inline-four and the V6 is still respectable.
Annual repair cost of this vehicle comes in at $465 according to Repair Pal. The most expensive engine-related service that might come up is a head gasket replacement. Fixing the problem may cost between $1,100 and $1,400.
With regular maintenance and care, the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox with either engine will last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles without major issues.
Substantial Performance and Refinement Gains from 2015 Chevrolet Equinox’s 3.6L V6 Negate the $500 Price Gap Between it and the Inline-four
With only two options to choose from, picking an engine for your 2015 Chevrolet Equinox can be challenging.
The inline-four has its strengths (mostly its fuel efficiency), but the V6 has it beat in every other area. This includes horsepower, torque, and all the other benefits that come with a V6-powered Equinox, like a better ride and handling.
Kelley Blue Book’s typical listing price of an inline-four 2015 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ is $18,077. The price for a 2015 Equinox LTZ with the V6 is just $18,651. For just under $600, you are getting an extra 119 horsepower, 100 more lb.-ft. of torque, and better steering.
Ultimately, if you really need to prioritize fuel economy and don’t want the V6 Equinox, look at a 2015 Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V instead.
Otherwise, the amount of perks with the V6 you get for that little money is too good to not take advantage of. You’ll just need to spend marginally more money on gas.
Photos: Chevrolet
