The facelifted Chevrolet Equinox will release for sale sometime in the third quarter of 2021 as a 2022 model. It will come with more sporty-looking LED headlights and an even more aggressive front grille design. Even the rear end of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox has been revised with new taillights and an updated rear bumper.
There will also be the addition of several new safety features such as Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, rear vision camera, and camera-based adaptive cruise control. While Chevrolet has not yet officially announced the price of the 2022 Equinox, speculations suggest it will start somewhere around $25,000. That way, it will cost only slightly more than the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox starting at $24,995.
"The 2022 Equinox features updated styling that gives it a more mature look. Key to changes include a reworked grille, headlights, and taillights." - MotorTrend
The biggest update to the new Equinox comes in the form of an all-new RS model. The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS will get exclusivities like gloss black grille, 19-inch Android wheels, black badges, black Bow-Tie logos, RS shift knob, and contrast red stitching on blacked-out upholstery. Chevrolet has confirmed that the 2022 Equinox will be powered exclusively with the 1.5-liter turbo-four motor making 170 hp. It will come mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front two wheels as standard while AWD is optional. As far as the competition is concerned, the Chevrolet Equinox will continue to rival the likes of Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Subaru Forester.
2022 Chevrolet Equinox get refreshed front grille and LED headlights
2022 Chevrolet Equinox gets redesigned taillights
2022 Chevrolet Equinox Pricing and Features
The price of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox could start at around $25,000 for the base L model. The lineup will consist of three other standard trims; LS, LT, and Premier. On the 2022 Equinox Premier, there will be trim-specific exterior features like gloss black grille with chrome inserts, 19-inch machined-face wheels, and logo projection liftgate.
Trims
L
LS
LT
Premier
MRSP (FWD) (Estd.)
$25,000
$27,500
$29,000
$33,000
Key Features
Six-speaker stereo
Adds/ upgrades to L trim:
Adds/ upgrades to LS trim:
Adds/ upgrades to LT trim:
Four-way manually adjustable front seats
Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
HID headlights
Standard leather upholstery
Proximity keyless entry
Rear-seat entertainment system
Power adjustable driver’s seat
Hands-Free power liftgate
The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Forward collision warning system
Color driver information display
Wireless device charging
Wifi hotspot
Pedestrian detection
Rear parking sensors
Eight-way power-adjustable passenger seats and Ventilated front seats
Voice recognition
Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Even the interior of the 2022 Equinox Premier will get unique features like French stitching and a black gloss finish on the console. Chevrolet has also announced that the Equinox will be joined by an RS trim as well. The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS will cost somewhere around $34,000. It will get unique features like gloss black grille, 19-inch Android wheels, black badges, black Bow-Tie logos, RS shift knob, and contrast red stitching on blacked-out upholstery.
Compelling as it may be, the lower trims of the Chevrolet Equinox don’t offer enough for you to want to pick them over what rivals have to offer. So the 2022 Equinox would best be had in RS or Premier trims, as the increased investment would result in more features.
"The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 170 horsepower, and when paired with the optional (and heavier) all-wheel-drive system (front-wheel drive is standard), it takes a heavy foot to hustle the Equinox up to highway speeds." - Car And Driver
The base engine that is on offer with Equinox is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower, which sounds adequate but does not feel the same. The optional all-wheel-drive takes care of Equinox’s lazy, sluggish attitude, but the six-speed automatic is tuned for efficiency and does not downshift unless absolutely necessary.
A better and more powerful alternative would be the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine which has a maximum output of 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, this motor will not be offered with the 2022 Equinox. So when set up with the base and only 1.5L four-cylinder engine, the Equinox is able to sprint from 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds.
Models
2022 Chevrolet Equinox
2021 Ford Escape
2021 Subaru Forester
2021 Honda CR-V
MSRP
$25,000 (Estd.)
$24,885
$24,795
$25,350
Engine
1.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-4
1.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-3
2.5-liter Naturally Aspirated Flat-4
1.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-4
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
AWD
FWD
Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
CVT
CVT
Power
170 hp @ 5,600 RPM
181 @ 6,000 RPM
182 hp @ 5,800 RPM
190 hp @ 5,600 RPM
Torque
203 lb-ft @ 2,000 RPM
190 lb-ft @ 3,000 RPM
176 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM
179 lb-ft @ 2,000 RPM
0-60 MPH
8.7 secs
8.9 secs
8.5 secs
9.3 secs
Quarter-Mile
16.9 secs
16.6 secs
16.7 secs
16.0 secs
In comparison, the Honda CR-V offers the most powerful engine churning 190 horsepower and 170 lb-ft torque. And while it is the slowest in a 0-60 mph run at 9.3 seconds, it is the quickest to reach the quarter-mile in just 16.0 seconds. The Subaru Forester comes in next, offering the most performance for money, as it is the only one to offer AWD as standard.
We estimate the 2022 Equinox will return 26 MPG in the city, 31 on the highway, and 28 MPG in a combination of both, the same as the 2021 model. These figures can only be expected from the 1.5-liter engine when paired with the standard front-wheel drive. Upgrading to AWD reduces these figures by 1 MPG in each case.
Models
2022 Chevrolet Equinox
2021 Ford Escape
2021 Subaru Forester
2021 Honda CR-V
MPG (City)
26
28
26
28
MPG (Highway)
31
34
33
34
MPG (Combined)
28
30
29
30
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)
14.9
15.7
16.6
14.0
Range (City/Highway/Combined; Miles)
387/462/417
440/534/471
432/548/481
392/476/420
The Honda CR-V performs better than rivals, offering both class-leading fuel economy and the highest power output. But the smaller 14.0-gallon fuel tank compromises its overall range. That way, the Subaru Forester has the best figures. Its 16.6-gallon tank allows it to return a combined range of 481 miles.
"Compared against the CR-V and CX-5, the Equinox typically comes up short on interior space and refinement. But any improvement is welcome, and the Equinox still boasts a smooth ride." - Edmunds
The Chevy Equinox has one of the least spacious cabins. To make matters worse, the interior is made from durable but drab materials. Thankfully, it is well equipped with all the modern tech and infotainment features to keep the passenger entertained on long road trips. A 7.0-inch touchscreen with an option to upgrade it to an 8-inch screen for the infotainment functions is available in the Chevy Equinox.
It comes with Chevrolet’s MyLink system which is well renowned for its user-friendly interface and quick responses. Smartphone integration is available in the form of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with Bluetooth audio streaming, 4G LTE network, onboard Wi-Fi, USB ports, and an auxiliary jack is also present.
Models
2022 Chevrolet Equinox
2021 Ford Escape
2021 Subaru Forester
2021 Honda CR-V
Seating Capacity
5
5
5
5
Front (Headroom/Shoulder room/ Legroom; inches)
40.0/57.2/40.9
40.0/57.6/42.4
41.2/58.2/43.3
40.1/57.9/41.3
Rear (Headroom/Shoulder room/ Legroom; inches)
38.5/55.5/39.9
39.3/56.0/40.7
39.6/57.2/39.4
39.2/55.6/40.4
There are plenty of cupholders inside the cabin, and a roomy center console is the best place to store your daily use items. Apart from that, the Equinox also offers 29.9 cu-ft of storage behind its rear seats. But in no way is that impressive as all the rivals of this Chevy offer more passenger and storage space as well. Otherwise, the most notable interior and Infotainment feature offered in the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox are:
"The restyled 2022 Equinox boasts a more Camaro-like front grille design with new split-level LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, new taillights, and a redesigned rear bumper." - CarBuzz.Com
The most extensively updated area of the 2022 Equinox is its exterior design. The design of the 2022 Equinox has made it more aggressive and seems to bring a fresh breath of athleticism and sportiness to the car. The front and rear fascias of the car have been updated with new LED headlamps, LED DRLs, new taillamps, and redesigned bumpers.
There are also several trim-specific enhancements as well. On the 2022 Equinox Premier, you will get a gloss black grille with chrome accents and 19-inch wheels. Opting for the all-new Equinox RS will get you unique features like 19-inch Android wheels, black Bow-Tie logos and badges, and black side rails.
Models
2022 Chevrolet Equinox
2021 Ford Escape
2021 Subaru Forester
2021 Honda CR-V
Curb Weight (lbs)
3,274
3,298
3,453
3,337
Length (inches)
183.1
180.5
182.1
182.1
Width (inches)
72.6
74.1
71.5
73.0
Height (inches)
65.4
66.1
67.5
66.1
Ground Clearance (inches)
6.9
8.6
8.7
7.8
Wheelbase (inches)
107.3
106.7
105.1
104.8
Among its rivals, the Chevrolet Equinox is the lightest compact SUV weighing just 3274 pounds. But it has the longest wheelbase at 107.3 inches. This is quite ironic as the Equinox is neither great at passenger volume nor at providing enough cargo hold. The most eye-grabbing changes to the exterior features of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox include:
The 2022 Equinox has not yet been tested by the NHTSA but the 2021 model received an overall rating of five stars from the same. Even the 2020 Equinox was selected as the ‘Top Safety Pick’ by IIHS in 2019. For 2022, Chevrolet has decided to further enhance the Equinox's list of safety driver-assistance features. The list of standard safety features on offer with the 2022 Equinox include:
Both American-borne crossovers and their current quality are a result of the sudden shunning of the sedan body-style in the American automobile market. Both are torchbearers for their manufacturers in this segment. They have plenty to offer at competitive prices. But the Ford Escape still edges the Equinox out as the better driving crossover, and it doesn’t lack much in other areas either.
2021 Ford Escape
2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs the 2021 Subaru Forester
The 2021 Subaru Forester is quite easily one of the best crossovers in the segment when it comes to the driving experience. The symmetrical AWD system is predictable but the CVT takes away from the fun of the Forester, but it still remains an easy car to maneuver. Moreover, the Forester is a better vehicle to take light off-roading.
2021 Subaru Forester
2022 Chevrolet Equinox vs the 2021 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a tried and tested vehicle of the class, having been sold for over 20 years now. Based on a slightly modified platform of the Civic, it is one of the most successful crossovers the world has ever seen, owing to its pleasant ride quality, noise insulation, and the general hassle-free experience it provides.
The Chevrolet Equinox cannot necessarily compete with the refinement levels of the CR-V, which has been around for much longer, and people now know what to expect of the crossover. That being said, the more expensive trims of the Chevrolet Equinox could bring in the quality that the CR-V misses out on. And now with the 2022 redesign and the introduction of an all-new RS model, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox is clearly looking to start a new chapter in the world of compact crossovers.
Cons - Driving dynamics are bad, acceleration is nonexistent, not very comfortable
No fun There are always good and bad points of everything and Equinox is no exception in this regard. So, it is both good and bad like everything else but in this case, bad far outweighs the good. And that is not very good especially if you are a vehicle. What are the good parts? Well, it is roomy/spacious. The cabin is airy and doesn’t feel claustrophobic at all. This is the only good part though. The bad part is it makes a lot of noise, doesn’t have enough power. In short, the driving dynamics are garbage. It’s that bad. The suspension is not good either, killing the ride quality. Everyone was very friendly and easy to work with! They made the whole buying the car an easy, and exciting decision. I never felt pressured.
Pros - Turbo, good gas mileage, decent driveability
Cons - Tedious instrument console
Starts in a jiff in morning and drives quite smooth Equinox may look a sissy car on the window sticker but it has even better power than most of the cars I've ever driven. All thanks to turbo. I would have wanted to see Chevy putting some efforts for the instrument console as well. It looks tedious and has nothing to offer but boring guages Just the boring guage display up front which ruins it all. Not bad actually except a few flaws here and there I feel safe in it because of all the features and it's decent driveability No problems with reliability as well. It's driving just fine and never really throws those tantrums on us As long as it drives the way it is, I don't have any problems with the price I paid and the value I like the car and I definately enjoyed my time at the dealership getting it
Pros - Comfortable front row seats, caramel metallic finish, lots of get up and go
Cons - Not a lot of options on it, does not have a remote start, stiff seats at back
Equinox is overpriced as it misses out on several options which should have been included in this price Lots of get up and go of our Chevy is what makes it our fav hauler. It's always nice to have a reliable/practical option parked on the driveway and we count on it Not all the advanced features but the ones useful for daily driving. The front row enjoys the most cushy and snuggly seats. Has this contouring on edges for even more comfort. Totally opposite bench seat at back though It has a pretty good design and quality fit and finish. In caramel metallic finish, it looks absolutely stunning Sure hasn't bothered us there. May have had more features on the list though The pricing either could be better or the number of features/options should have been there in this price range Deserves more bells and whistles for the price I wouldn't be honest if I said it was the best experience of my life
