2026 Chevrolet Equinox is a fine and affordable SUV

CHEVROLET

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox blends off-road strength, seating for five and affordability in a gas- or electric SUV.

General Motors is America’s largest car manufacturer and offers the very affordable like the Chevrolet Trax to the ridiculously expensive bespoke Cadillac Celestiq.

GM is really good at both ends of the spectrum, but it also doesn’t neglect the middle, which is where lots of customers shop.

The Chevy Equinox is part of that middle. It’s a five-seat SUV that’s also available in EV form, both of which are reasonably priced and offer comfort, type and value for the money.

The Equinox was redesigned in 2025 so there isn’t much new for 2026. The redesign made it much better-looking. The grille is bigger and more modern looking, and the rest of the truck looks more like the bigger vehicles in the lineup: lots of bold lines, squarer and wider.

The interior gets a massive overhaul. There are two 11-inch screens, the first being the gauge cluster or as Chevy call it a Driver’s information screen. This digital display can be reconfigured to prioritize the info the driver feels is most important.

The second screen is the touch screen that takes you through apps and the entertainment system. The screen also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both screens are bright, with modern graphics that are sharp and easy to see. The dash is covered in a soft-touch vinyl with chrome accents and chrome HVAC vents.

My test car was an ACTIV, which is designed to be more suited for wilderness driving. It came standard with AWD, all-terrain tires and 17-inch machined-faced aluminum wheels. The engine is a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that makes 175 horsepower. A continuously variable transmission is standard, but the AWD calls for an eight-speed transmission that manages 203 pounds-feet of torque.

The Maple Sugar-colored interior goes well with the optional Radiant Red exterior paint job. The front seats are ventilated and head and covered with sueded microfiber and vinyl. Both seats are power adjustable are very comfortable. There are multiple USB ports along with a wireless charging pad. There is some storage for smaller items and a fairly deep center armrest to put bigger items. 

The rear bench seat is fairly comfortable and will accommodate three adults. Two would be the most comfortable. The bottom cushion has enough padding as does the back portion. There are USB ports and air vents as well.

The Equinox is a compact vehicle that performs about what you would expect. It accelerates nicely when you need to merge with traffic and pulls off briskly from a stop light. The steering feels a bit light but not overly boasted. I’d say 0-60 miles per hour is around the 8.0 second or maybe quicker. 

The Equinox ACTIV is made more for off-roading driving but it’s not bad on urban streets as long as the streets are smooth. Big bumps are transmitted into the cabin when the vehicle bounces over those bumps. That’s only over really large bumps, however. There is enough sound deadening material to keep the ride quiet. Overall, the vehicle is well above livable.

Handling is good and predictable. There’s body roll when cornering but nothing dramatic. It’s easy to keep the vehicle centered when driving and the droves of safety equipment work well.

If you want the ACTIV trim, it starts at $35,600. As tested with destination the price goes to $41,480. That includes a panoramic sunroof, safety and tech package and the convenience package 3.

Pros 

• Plenty of room

• Lots of tech

• Comfortable, modern interior 

• Fair price

• Updated styling 

Cons

• So-so fuel economy

• Average power output 

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