Chevy’s Equinox is stuck in that middle ground where it’s not cheap enough to be a great budget vehicle, and it’s not powerful enough to compete with other midsize compact SUVs. The 2016 is no exception, with the base engine feeling a bit wimpy, and the V6 upgrade not delivering enough oomph to justify the higher cost.
Key Points
- The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is available with a 182 horsepower 2.4L I4, or a 301 horsepower 3.6L V6.
- The 2.4L is available in all four trims, while the V6 is available in the LT, starting at around $3,500 over the base trim, and the LTZ.
- Either engine can be paired with front/all-wheel drive in the LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels, but this may seem pointless with the underpowered 2.4L.
- Zero engine-related recalls affect the 2016 Equinox, and less than 100 registered complaints have been made. Although the 2.4L reportedly burns through oil at an alarming rate, it’s still our best pick in terms of value.
2016 Equinox’s Base 2.4L DOHC Engine has Slow Acceleration and Mediocre Fuel Economy at 22/31 MPG City/Highway
Available in all four trims, the 2.4L DOHC is your standard inline-four grocery-getter engine. At 172 lb.-ft. of torque and 182 horsepower, it’s the perfect A-to-B engine option.
The 2.4L is coupled with front-wheel drive in the entry-level L trim but can be paired with front/all-wheel drive in the LS, LT, and LTZ. Given the engine’s meager specs, you have to wonder why that was included as an option.
In a compact coupe, the 2.4L DOHC might be described as nimble. In a midsize crossover, it could stand to be a little stronger. With a zero to sixty time clocked at just under ten seconds, you might find yourself hesitant to merge or pass on the highway.
The engine is efficient enough, at 22/31 miles to the gallon, city/highway, with an 18.8-gallon gas tank. You could do better, but you could do a lot worse, too. That’s kind of the overall theme with this SUV. It’s an aggressively middle-of-the-road crossover, a jack of all trades, master of none.
That’s not to say that the 2.4L won’t get the job done. It won’t leave you stalling out on hills or anything like that. But you’re not gonna like driving one in mud and rain, you can forget towing the boat or going off-road on your next camping trip, and you may feel a little under-equipped on the highway.
3.6L V6 SIDI Engine Adds Boost of Power, Including Hitting 0 to 60 in Just over Six Seconds, but it’s not Enough to Justify Additional Cost
Available in the LT and LTZ trims, the 3.6L V6 probably should have been the entry-level engine. Delivering 272 lb.-ft. of torque and 301 horsepower via a six-speed automatic and front/all-wheel drive, it’s not quite an off-road all-weather mudding machine, but it won’t have you missing out on parking spaces or lacking confidence on the highway. Plus, towing capacity is upped to around 3,500 pounds, so you can do some light hauling with the V6 that you couldn’t with the 2.4L.
You can expect a zero to 60 time of just over six seconds, so it’s got a little vroom to it. Maybe not enough to justify the $3,500 price increase over the entry-level Equinox, but it’ll get up and go.
The V6 gets a slight upgrade to the gas tank, carrying up to 20.9 gallons. And thank goodness for that, since fuel efficiency takes a hit, with the engine delivering 17/24 miles to the gallon in front-wheel mode or 16/23 in AWD.
That brings us to the main issue with the Equinox: entry-level costs are low, but entry-level specs are underwhelming. And once you start upgrading this thing, it starts to get pretty expensive, both in terms of sticker price and what you’re spending at the pump. A fully decked-out Certified Pre-Owned LTZ with a V6 engine will run you about $25,000 according to the Kelley Blue Book, and it barely competes with a full-size pickup for fuel economy. That’s a lot of money to be spending on a five-year-old midsize that’s neither as luxurious nor as powerful as the competition.
Problem-prone 2.4L Engine Struggles with Excessive Oil Consumption and a Faulty Rear Main Seal
The 2016 Equinox has no engine-related recalls and has less than 100 registered complaints between the 2.4L and 3.6L engines. The most worrying issue relates to excessive oil consumption in the 2.4L, which tends to occur around 93,000 miles. One driver mentions burning through a quart of oil per week. Another claims to have resolved the issue, but only after spending $5,000 on a new engine.
Also pertaining to the 2.4L, the rear main seals have been said to blow due to excessive pressure from a stuck/frozen PCV valve. Some report having to rebuild the engine, a fix with a cost of about $2,000 on average.
If You’re Driving an Equinox, You Might as Well Drive the More Affordable 2.4L Engine
One big advantage of the 2016 Equinox is its low starting price, with an L trim costing around $15,000. Considering the $3,500 price hike for the V6, you’d be better off contemplating something like a 2016 Ford Edge or a 2016 Honda Pilot. While the 2.4L has its share of possible issues, reports are few enough that we can’t call it a major concern.
Photos: Chevrolet
