2026 Chevrolet Equinox Vs. Pricier SUVs: What You Get For Your Money

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Thursday, 1 Oct 2026 10:00 0 6 autotech

Mainstream and luxury SUVs are crossing into each other’s territories today. Some affordably-priced SUVs now get a lot of features you find in high-end models, and high-end models aren’t just there to look at anymore. This has made the already-burgeoning U.S. SUV market a very busy area.

The 2026 Equinox Brings More SUV For Less

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox driving on road

Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Equinox is Chevy’s small family SUV, and since 2005, it has offered something a little more accessible for those who want to buy American. The Equinox is now in its fourth generation, which started in 2025; prices are still low, it is still family-friendly, and you still get a lot for your money.

A $28,800 Starting Price Keeps It Within Mainstream Territory

Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox lineup parked

Over 60 Cubic Feet Of Cargo Space Gives It Serious Utility

Shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox cargo area

There’s no getting around the fact that the new Equinox is a similar size to a large sedan, with dimensions of 183.2 inches long by 74.9 inches wide, and a 107.5-inch wheelbase. Despite this, there is a very generous 104.3 cubic feet of passenger room inside, and a cargo capacity that embarrasses some larger models.

With all the seats in place, you get 29.8 cubic feet of space. If you fold down the rear row, a maximum of 63.5 cubic feet of storage space is available. While we love the ever-useful RX, its 46.2 cubic feet of storage space is well behind the Equinox, despite being a larger vehicle.

2026 Equinox Has More Than Just A Low Price

Shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox interior showing front cabin

The low starting prices for the new Equinox may be enough, and if you’re on a budget and need five seats, 40 inches of front headroom, 40.9 inches of front legroom, 39.2 inches of rear headroom, and 39.9 inches of rear legroom, the Equinox ticks a lot of boxes.

If you want a small family SUV that is also built to go the miles, it also looks good. iSeeCars says the Equinox has an average lifespan of 149,180 miles, or around 10.9 years. It also notes that the Equinox is typically driven 11,566 miles per year, and has a 15.5 percent chance of reaching at least 200,000 miles during its usable lifespan.

The 1.5-Liter Turbo Makes For Easy Everyday Driving

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox driving on road

Chevy hasn’t given the new-generation Equinox a hybrid powertrain, and while that may irk those who are looking for the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market, things are still not bad. All models are equipped with a 1.5-liter DOHC turbocharged inline-four good for 175 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.

Power is routed through a CVT to either the front wheels or to all four wheels via on-demand AWD. Zero-to-60 mph times are clocked between 7.8 and 8.6 seconds. Not super-SUV times, but this is not super-SUV money.

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox LT driving on road

FuelEconomy.gov estimates that AWD models can achieve 26 combined mpg (25 mpg city/29 mpg highway), while FWD models return 27 combined mpg (26 mpg city/29 mpg highway). This translates to a range of between 400 and 406 miles, and yearly gas costs of between $2,400 and $2,500 (45 percent city/55 percent highway/15,000 miles per year).

RS And ACTIV Trims Give You Two Different Ways To Spec It

Front shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS parked

Opting for the LT is hardly buying a bare-basic model. It gets heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, an 11.3-inch touchscreen, an 11-inch driver display, wireless phone integration, and a six-way power driver’s seat.

It is a lot of SUV for not a lot of money. If you want more though, the top-tier RS and ACTIV trims do things a bit differently. With the RS, you get black exterior trim, a flat-bottom steering wheel, Evotex seating, and 19-inch machined wheels, with 20-inch wheels available if you want to make it look more serious.

Close-up shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox wheel

The ACTIV swaps the RS’s road-going attitude for 17-inch wheels, A/T tires, a unique front fascia, and Evotex with suede microfiber seating. You can also add a two-tone roof, while available heated and ventilated front seats and rear heated outboards make it more useful if you live in a colder part of the country. The RS is the pick for a sporty look; the ACTIV offers a touch more off-pavement capability.

How The Equinox Compares With Pricier Rivals

Profile shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox parked

Price-wise, the new Equinox sits well below a lot of similarly sized SUVs that offer similar features. Compared to something like the 2026 Genesis GV70, which has a starting price of just under $49,000, you do get a slicker all-around look, a plusher cabin, and a more powerful set of powertrain options, but the fundamentals fall short of what the Equinox offers.

In the GV70, you only get 56.9 cubic feet of storage space and 37.2 inches of rear legroom. Even up against the revered RAV4, its 37.8 inches of rear legroom falls noticeably short of what the Equinox gets you. The new Equinox has also become one of the most reliable affordable family SUVs.

Rear 3/4 shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox parked

Earlier Equinox models are prone to engine failure, but the relatively new 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four is already proving quite trustworthy. It is a direct-injected mill, so it is prone to carbon build-up, but some owners of older models (2018–2024) with it under the hood have said it will go beyond 100,000 miles with next to no serious maintenance tasks.

Features You’d Expect From More Expensive SUVs

Shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS interior showing front seats

The Equinox trims also get serious about driver assistance. Chevy makes Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, and Rear Cross Traffic Braking standard across the whole range. The expensive SUV experience here isn’t just about what you can see or touch.

The Equinox is available with Rear Camera and HD Surround Vision. The rearview camera does exactly what it promises, while HD Surround Vision uses multiple camera feeds to create a bird’s-eye view around the SUV, making it even easier to take advantage of its compact dimensions in urban environments.

Available AWD Adds Capability Without A Big Price Jump

Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox parked off-road

The on-demand AWD rig also makes the Equinox a little more versatile than its family-SUV shape suggests. When properly equipped, it can tow 1,500 pounds, which is enough for a small trailer or a lightweight boat. That doesn’t turn it into a proper towing rig, but it does make the AWD version a little more useful when you want to do more than just commute.

The AWD system is better viewed as insurance for bad conditions than an invitation to go mud hunting. Chevy calls it “traction on demand,” allowing the system to send power where it is needed, which can be useful on snow or slippery roads. We’d still leave serious off-roading to something built for it, though.

Where The New Equinox Gives Up Ground

Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox parked

The Equinox makes a lot of sense for a lot of people, especially if you have a small family and spend a lot of time driving through towns and cities (though highway fuel economy is still good). However, its low price does mean there are some limitations to what you should expect.

For starters, horsepower and torque figures are nowhere near what the new BMW X3 (minimum of 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque), the new GV70 (minimum of 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque), or the new VW Tiguan (minimum of 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque) can muster.

Larger SUVs Still Offer More Cargo Space

Shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Activ seating

Because the Equinox is a small SUV, despite how well it is packaged, there is obviously less room in it than some of its larger counterparts, which could be a drawback if you constantly need to load up. Models like the new RAV4 offer a maximum cargo capacity of 70.4 cubic feet; the new Nissan Rogue offers 74 cubic feet; the new Tiguan offers 74 cubic feet; the Traverse offers 97.6 cubic feet; and the new Grand Highlander Hybrid offers a very impressive 97.5 cubic feet.

The Cabin Doesn’t Fully Match More Expensive Alternatives

A lot of pricier SUVs put serious effort into making the cabin feel expensive, and you can see where the extra money goes. The 2026 Honda CR-V EX-L brings genuine leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable seating, and an auto-dimming mirror. The Equinox is nicely finished, but its materials don’t quite have the same upscale richness.

That gap is even clearer in something like the 2026 Mazda CX-50. Its upper trims offer leather seating, ventilated front seats, seat memory, and a 12-speaker Bose system, while the new Tucson can be had with leather seats and a pair of 12.3-inch screens. There are good touches in the Equinox, but the cabin does feel more value-based in comparison.

Is The 2026 Equinox Enough SUV For Your Money?

Close-up shot of 2026 Chevrolet Equinox central screen

The 2026 Equinox probably isn’t enough if you want your family crossover to tow serious gear, embarrass hot hatches away from the lights, or make the dashboard feel like a lounge. The 1.5-liter turbo-four isn’t built to be exciting, the cabin could be more lavish, a hybrid powertrain could be made available, and larger SUVs will carry more stuff.

That said, the Equinox isn’t built for that kind of thing. It is built for value for money and everyday comfort. There is plenty of space inside for everyday duties; fuel efficiency could be a lot worse; there are five usable seats; the base trim delivers plenty, while the two top trims are meaningfully differentiated; and it is sensibly priced. It nails the everyday SUV brief without having to win every comparison.