What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- Five-seat compact SUV with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive
- 175-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine
- Pricing starts at $30,995 (including $1,995 destination fee).
After its redesign for 2025, the Chevrolet Equinox vaulted from an also-ran to a leader in its class. Now it’s the third-bestselling compact SUV in the U.S., and it combines attractive styling, a comfortable and quiet interior, and an accessible price tag with a generous list of standard features.
What’s New for 2027?
The only major change to the 2027 Equinox is that the FWD model has traded in its continuously variable automatic transmission for the AWD model’s eight-speed automatic.
Pricing
The following prices include a mandatory $1,995 destination fee and are correct as of September 2026 (manufacturers sometimes change a vehicle’s pricing over the course of a model year).
- LT: $30,995
- RS: $35,895
- Activ: $35,895
Trims and Features
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox comes loaded with lots of standard safety tech, including forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure steering assist, blind spot warning with steering assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and rear parking sensors. A 360-degree camera system and road-sign recognition are optional on every trim level.
The Equinox’s standard equipment puts it well ahead of most competitors, and it also includes three proprietary GM features: Buckle to Drive, Teen Driver and Safety Alert Seat. Buckle to Drive temporarily prevents the vehicle from being shifted out of Park until the driver buckles their seat belt, while Teen Driver allows parents to prohibit or limit certain functions when a designated key fob is used to start the vehicle. Safety Alert Seat vibrates the sides of the driver’s seat bottom cushion to alert the driver to the direction of potential hazards.
Each of the Equinox’s three trim levels wears unique grilles, bumpers and wheels. The entry-level LT gets chrome grille bars, while the RS’ and Activ’s maws have a black hexagonal motif above fascias intended to evoke on- or off-road performance, respectively.
LT
The base Equinox LT comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, keyless entry and start, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Standard tech includes an 11-inch digital instrument panel and 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system.
RS and Activ
The RS and Activ are priced the same, and both add rain-sensing windshield wipers, a hands-free power liftgate and upgraded interiors. Both get a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control and wireless phone charging. The RS rides on 19-inch aluminum wheels, while the Activ has 17-inch wheels wearing all-terrain tires. To add their luxury gear to the base LT model, opt for the Convenience II Package.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
Every 2027 Chevrolet Equinox uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 175 hp and 203 pounds-feet of torque. It’s backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD a $2,000 option on every trim level.
| Powertrain | Driveline | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
| Turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder; eight-speed automatic | FWD | 25 | 29 | 27 |
| Turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder; eight-speed automatic | AWD | 25 | 29 | 26 |
Interior
The Equinox’s interior is spacious and comfortable; if you like color in your cabin, you can get it in any trim level. Two-tone black and gray is optional in the LT, while the RS has a black interior with red accent stitching. The Activ is upholstered in a handsome blend of tan and black. Buyers looking for more luxury can opt for a Convenience III Package on the RS and Activ, which adds a power-adjustable passenger seat, ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats. A panoramic moonroof available on all three trim levels brightens up the cabin.
Versus the Competition
The compact SUV class is packed with strong competitors, including the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4. The Equinox has historically enjoyed a lower base price and more standard content than all three, but all have similarly spacious front and rear seats. The Honda, Hyundai and Toyota, however, all boast significantly more cargo room than the Chevy. Those competitors all also offer hybrid powertrains (the RAV4 is exclusively hybrid) that are considerably more efficient than the Equinox. The Hyundai’s most efficient model is rated 38 mpg combined, while the Honda tops out at 40 mpg and the Toyota at 43 mpg.
Do We Like the Chevrolet Equinox?
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox is a compelling package. All three trim levels are attractive outside and in with their different appearance packages, it’s loaded with standard safety and luxury features, and it’s quiet. The Equinox enjoys a comfortable and refined ride, and while it’s not quick, among its competitive set, only the RAV4 is markedly more powerful. We do, however, lament the loss of the FWD model’s CVT, as we preferred it to the AWD Equinox’s eight-speed automatic.
