2021 Chevrolet Equinox: Everything You Need to Know | In-Depth Review

With a reputation already well-established, The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t need an introduction anymore. It has been one of the best options for people looking for a reliable and affordable SUV for quite a while now. Famous for its spacious cabin, great driving experience, and decent fuel economy, the Equinox is a strong contender in the compact crossover segment.

In 2020 alone, and despite the global pandemic, Chevrolet managed to sell over 270,000 Equinox, making it the 7th best-selling vehicle as well as the 3rd best-selling SUV in the United States. General Motors also reported that the Equinox is its second best-selling vehicle overall.

The Chevy Equinox has matured well since the first generation was introduced in 2005. However, the Equinox on sale today is the third generation and has entered its 3rd production year. Being more than due for an update, GM has already announced that the 2022 refreshed model will be available for sale in Q3 2021.

The 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is expected to go head-to-head with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Mazda CX-5. Although the 2021 Equinox carries over from the 2020 model with no significant changes, being equipped with a high-tech infotainment system and Chevy Safety Assist as standard means that it still has a lot to offer for such a competitive price.

Powertrain

All Equinox variants are equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 170 hp at 5600 rpm and 203 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. Mated to this engine is a 6-speed automatic transmission, channeling power to either the four wheels (for the AWD configuration) or only the front wheels (for the FWD configuration).

With this setup, the 2021 Equinox can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 124 mph. Chevrolet claims a 26 MPG/city and 31 MPG/highway fuel efficiency, good enough for 400 miles of range with a single tank.

That being said, the Equinox’s engine is one of the main drawbacks. Although the power output is not that bad for such a small engine, it is still underpowered compared to its two biggest rivals, the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4.

Unfortunately, Chevy is no longer offering the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which could have brought the competition to a fair one. On the plus side, the car is fairly easy to drive, has accurate steering, and a seamless shifting gearbox.

Interior and Exterior

The Equinox can take on five people to sit comfortably on a long journey. The car’s dimensions are 183.1 inches long, 72.6 inches wide, and 65.4 inches tall. Moreover, the SUV has a decent ground clearance of 6.9 inches and a wheelbase of 107.3 inches. Still, the Equinox tips the scales at 3646 lb., which is heavier than its main rivals.

Furthermore, the base model comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, although 18-inch and 19-inch wheels are available as an option. The interior is pleasant to look at, and it’s made out of durable materials. The passenger’s portion of the interior is spacious for both passengers who sit at the front and the back.

The presence of many cup-holders and a large center console bin also make it convenient to store various stuff. Nonetheless, the cargo area is smaller when compared to most competitors at 29.9 cubic feet and at 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. There is also hidden storage under the rear cargo floor, and the Hands-Free Power Liftgate feature is available as an option.

Infotainment System

The SUV’s infotainment and connectivity features are very hi-techy. As standard, the Equinox comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen (or optional 8.0-inch screen) display with Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment interface, which is very intuitive and user-friendly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are also standard.

Other features such as Alexa, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, wireless charging, USB and auxiliary connectivity, and onboard Wi-Fi are also available as standard. Such a wide range of features makes the Equinox one of the most tech-advanced SUVs on the market.

Safety Features

Safety-wise, all trims are feature 6-airbags, Rear Vision Camera, and Chevy Safety Assist, which includes Forward Collision Alert & Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator, and Auto High Beam Assist (Intellibeam®).

Additional optional safety and driver assistance features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, High Definition Surround Vision, Safety Alert Seat, and OnStar® Safety & Security.

Besides, the Equinox received 5-Star Safety Ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for two years in a row, from 2018 to 2019.

The Equinox also comes with a three-year or 36,000 miles limited warranty, a powertrain warranty covering five years or 60,000 miles, and complimentary maintenance on the first visit.

Special Editions

Currently, the Chevrolet offers two special editions of the Equinox (only available on the LT trim), the Equinox Midnight Edition and the Equinox Sport Edition.

Equinox Midnight Edition

Comes with a Mosaic Black Metallic exterior color with dark accents such as 19-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, a black grille with black surround, black fog lamp bezels, and front and rear Black bowtie emblems.

Equinox Sport Edition

Has a street-inspired design with the same dark accents of the Equinox Midnight Edition but available in a variety of exterior colors and standard cloth seating.

Pricing

The 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is available in L, LS, LT, or Premier Trim, with the L trim only offered in FWD drivetrain configuration. The rest are all available in both FWD and AWD drivetrain configurations.

Specifications

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