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Model Years and Variations:

The Chevrolet Equinox is a mid-size crossover that seats five and has optional all-wheel drive. It competes with the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and more.

See our  review of the 2014 Chevy Equinox  for more information, including options, prices, gas-mileage ratings, and specifications. Also check out The Car Connection’s coverage of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox . 

While it shares no body panels, the Chevy Equinox is nearly identical to the GMC Terrain –both vehicles are made by General Motors, and differ mostly in styling, interior, features, and options.

Today’s Chevrolet Equinox first went on sale for 2010.

It comes with either a four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, or as a V-6 crossover with an automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive option. It’s known for good ride quality; safe, secure handling; and a much improved feature set compared its predecessor. The Equinox’s EPA rating of 32 mpg highway is still competitive, even as a new generation of crossovers has emerged.

At the same time, it retains an exceptionally roomy second-row seat, which slides on a track to increase passenger foot room or to boost cargo space in the rear. There is no option for third-row seating, however. Competitive but slightly larger vehicles such as the Dodge Journey and Kia Sorento offer a third-row seat as an option.

The Equinox has seen few major changes in recent model years, although it has received some of the latest connectivity and active-safety features. Those include lane-departure warning and forward collision alert, plus Chevy’s MyLink system, for easier hands-free calling or media access. In 2013, the Equinox introduced a combination of MyLink and touch-screen navigation, while a new 301-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 replaced the 3.0-liter V-6 as the top-level powertrain.

A replacement for today’s Equinox and Terrain crossovers will likely arrive for the 2015 model year.

With many new luxury features added to the latest Equinox, this is a model that can be a bargain in its base form. Yet it’s relatively easy to push its $22,500 base price up near $30,000–where a seven-passenger Chevrolet Traverse wagon might make more sense.

The first generation Equinox debuted in 2005, one of four then-new crossover vehicles that used the same underpinnings. Only the Equinox survives; the other three has passed into history (they were the Saturn Vue, Pontiac Torrent, and Suzuki XL7). That 2005 Equinox waspositioned as a ‘just right’-sized crossover utility vehicle–a little larger than compact crossovers like the Ford Escape, but a little smaller than three-row mid-size entries like the Toyota Highlander.

That edition of the Equinox was offered with front- or all-wheel drive, and four- or six-cylinder engines, through the 2009 model year. While reviewers appreciated the interior room of the first Equinox, its antiquated, coarse V-6 engine and bland styling were outdone by competitors from Honda, Ford, Toyota and Subaru. In 2008, Chevrolet added a smoother, more powerful V-6 to the Equinox lineup (and to the Pontiac Torrent as well).

Used Chevrolet Equinox Models

Two very different vehicles have been sold under the Chevy Equinox nameplate in the past decade. The original Equinox crossover had dull drivetrains and uninteresting styling. In 2010, GM replaced that vehicle with a much improved Equinox, outfitted with four- and six-cylinder engines. The four-cylinder is one we recommend strongly for any family not engaged in towing; it’s rated at up to 32 mpg highway.

If you’re buying used, make sure the Equinox comes with the optional sliding second-row seat; it’s clever and very useful.