Chevrolet Equinox Review 2026: Surprisingly Easy to Love

from the experts at Invoice Pricing

2026

Chevrolet

Equinox

Chevrolet | Essential | SUV

In this 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Review, you will find everything you need to know about the popular Chevy Model.

The tough exterior of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox makes it look like a family car when parked next to the powerful Tahoes and strong Silverados in the Chevy showroom, even though the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V have better MPG than this one’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

Chevrolet offers a lot of standard technology, including two digital dashboards and driver-assist features. The car is also very useful, with a big trunk and enough room for people in both rows of seats. We have to say this SUV works well and looks good; the Equinox is just a middle-of-the-road option in a market already full of winners.

What's New?

After a big redesign for the 2025 model year, the Equinox doesn’t get many changes for 2026. Roof rails are no longer part of the Convenience II package for LT cars. On the other hand, black roof rails come with the Midnight Edition package or the optional sunroof on LT cars. All trims now offer a choice of drive modes, and on the Activ and RS trims, Iridescent Pearl Tricoat has been replaced with Polar White Tricoat.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The dashboard of every Equinox model has two big digital screens. In the middle of the dashboard, at a slight angle to the driver, there is a tall 11.3-inch multimedia screen. It shows the newest Google-based infotainment system from Chevy. It has Wi-Fi hotspot access and Google Maps guidance. There is a stand-alone 11.0-inch digital gauge set in front of the driver that can be reconfigured to fit your needs.

Engine and Performance

All Equinox models are equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower. The turbo is combined with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) in front-wheel-drive models, while an eight-speed automatic transmission is used in all-wheel-drive versions. We liked how comfortable the Equinox was to drive, how smooth the ride was, and how heavy the progressive steering was. Off-road capability and back-road sports are not included in the equation.

In our tests, the all-wheel-drive Equinox took 8.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is less than most cars in its class.

Fuel Economy

The most fuel-efficient Equinox is the front-wheel-drive model, which gets 26 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Even though the all-wheel-drive type gets 24 mpg in the city, it gets 29 mpg on the highway, making it a better choice for people who want to go on long road trips.

Safety Features

Chevrolet includes many cutting-edge driver-assistance technologies as standard on the Equinox. For example, adaptive cruise control with lane-centering is one such technology. Additional features include a 360-degree camera system, rear pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition. The following are important safety features:

Most automatic emergency braking systems can detect who’s on the road.
Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance come standard.
Adaptive cruise control, also a standard feature, helps keep the car centered in its lane.

Cargo and Towing Capacity

The Equinox can tow up to 1,500 pounds, so you’ll need to add the extra all-wheel-drive system. Front-wheel-drive models can tow up to 800 pounds.

Price and How to Choose

There are many different grades and choices that can affect the cost of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. There are three types in the Equinox line: LT, RS, and Activ. We suggest you upgrade to the RS or Activ trim. Since they both start at the same price, you can choose between the RS’s faster look and the Activ’s more rugged look. Each case has more features than the original LT, such as different wheel styles and a two-tone exterior paint job.