2006 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Not a Terrible Mid-Size SUV, but Unimpressive for the Price

The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox finds itself in the unfortunate position of being a budget-quality SUV selling at the same price as mid-range models like the Ford Explorer. There’s nothing wrong with it, exactly, but you can get a lot more bang for your buck with almost any competing mid-size SUV from this model year.

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – If you’re after a budget SUV, the Equinox will meet your expectations. But it won’t surpass them.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – While the Equinox doesn’t offer as much interior space as its competitors, the folding front passenger seat is a neat idea.
• Reliability 7/10 – The engine should reach at least 200,000 miles, but expect to make a lot of little repairs along the way.
• Safety 7/10 – The Equinox’s crash test scores are pretty good, but onboard safety tech is pretty basic.
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – 19/24 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t bad for a 2006 mid-size SUV.
• Value 7/10 – The sticker price is nice and low, and so is the cost of ownership. But the same price will get you a 2005 Ford Explorer, which is superior in almost every way.

What Do Critics Say About the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?

Consumer Reports praised the 2006 Equinox’s spacious interior, “rivalling that of some large sedans and SUVs,” but they ultimately found the overall package to be underwhelming. They cited cheap-feeling interior, uncomfortable seating, and clumsy handling as marks against the SUV.

Kelley Blue Book give the 2006 Equinox a lukewarm 73% recommendation, with praise for the reliable powertrain and one driver claiming 320,000 miles on the original engine. Unintuitive body design, frequent minor repairs, and weak headlights all earned the car some red marks from drivers.

Edmunds liked the interior space and stability offered by the Equinox’s long wheelbase, and they praised the SUV for its excellent crash test scores. They were less impressed by the unintuitive stereo controls, the sluggish steering, and the limited powertrain options.

What Common Problems Does the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Have?

More than one third of the Equinox’s 693 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints are for visibility, with drivers reporting failing defrosters. 141 complaints are for electrical issues in general, with reports of burning, overheated wires.

There are 63 braking complaints on file with the NHTSA with drivers reporting vibrating brake pedals and seizing front calipers due to overheating.

The 2006 Equinox has 68 engine complaints on file, and 60 for engine cooling, with drivers reporting overheating engines leading to a host of related problems from antifreeze odors to engine stall and ignition failure.

There are zero recalls and zero investigations on file with the NHTSA for the 2006 Equinox. This is almost unheard of for a vehicle this old, but it does have its share of complaints, so check the brakes and take a look under the hood when you go on a test drive.

How Long Will the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Last?

Equinox drivers typically report a minimum lifespan of 200,000 with decent maintenance. Mileage past the 250,000 mark has been reported as well, but, in a used model, you should expect the expensive repairs to start mounting up after the first 200,000.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $537, with the most expensive common repair being a new fuel pump starting at around $1,346.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox is adequate for the model year. You’ve got a CD player and 6 speakers as standard equipment,and that’s pretty much it.

Safety technology in the Equinox is decent for 2006. Anti-lock brakes come standard and all front wheel drive models are equipped with traction control.

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox a Good Value?

A 2006 Chevrolet Equinox is an okay value. Sticker prices typically range around $4,145 for an entry-level LS, with the high-end LT listing for just a few hundred bucks more at $4,564.

The Equinox tends to come in on the lower end when it comes to longevity, so if you buy one with 150,000 miles on the odometer, you might not get another 100,000 miles out of it. Major repairs are few and far between, but you might be replacing various switches and tubes and hoses on a pretty regular basis.

What are the Different Models of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?

The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox is available in just two trim levels, the base LS and the high-end LT.

With the entry-level LS you’re getting:

• CD player with 6 speakers
• Cloth seating
• Manual air conditioning
• Cruise control

The top-of-the-line LT adds:

• Premium cloth seating
• Fog lights

What Engines Come In the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?

• The 2006 Chevy Equinox comes packed with a 3.4L V6 engine delivering 185 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission in front or all wheel drive depending on your options, and it averages 19/24 miles to the gallon, city/highway.

What Colors Does the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?

The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox is fairly mediocre in the comfort department. You’ve got plenty of elbow room and the back seat is a 51 inches across, but some drivers find the suspension a bit stiff and the seating less than luxurious.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Have?

You have 35 cubic feet of storage space in the back of a 2006 Equinox, and you can expand that to nearly 69 cubic feet with the seats down. This should be enough for most cargo, and the front passenger seat folds down for use as a table.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2006 was the second model year for the Chevrolet Equinox’s 1st Generation, running from 2005 to 2010, when the mid-size SUV was redesigned as a compact.

2005: Chevrolet debuted the Equinox with a 185 horsepower V6 and an innovative folding passenger seat.

2006: New styling touches included GM badges on the front doors and black dashboard panels.

2007: Trip computers were new for 2007, and the instrument clusters got a redesign.

2008: A new 264 horsepower 3.6L V6 debuted in 2008.

2009:  XM satellite radio is new for 2009

How Does the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Compare to the Competition?

The 2006 Equinox is a decent little mid-size SUV, but it’s easily outclassed by similarly-priced competitors, especially those offered by Ford and Hyundai.

Admittedly, 2006 wasn’t a very good year for the Ford Explorer, with lots of mechanical issues plaguing the iconic mid-size. But, the 2005 model typically lists for a few hundred dollars cheaper than a comparable Chevy Equinox, but the interior is more comfortable, and the engine is a little more powerful without sacrificing fuel economy.

The 2006 Hyundai Tucson typically at around $500 to $1,000 more than the Equinox, The entry level GL runs 45 horsepower behind the Equinox, but with superior fuel economy and more generous entry-level features, including an 8-way adjustable driver seat.

Overall, the 2006 Equinox isn’t a bad SUV, but there are far better options for the price.

Do Owners Recommend the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?