2023 Chevrolet Equinox Reviews, Pricing & Specs

It might not have the space-age design of a Kia Sportage, the rugged looks of a Toyota RAV4, or the upscale confidence of a new Honda CR-V, but the Chevrolet Equinox is undoubtedly an attractive crossover. Although the bodywork is largely restrained, overall, a chunky front end makes the grille look smaller than it actually is. That’s a nice change of pace in an industry overwhelmed by huge, aggressive front fascias. Similarly, while the gold Bowtie emblem looks a bit garish against some paint colors (specifically the new Radiant Red Tintcoat on our test vehicle), it looks lovely on others, like Blue Glow Metallic or the new Harvest Brown Metallic. Chevy has also introduced a third new paint for 2023: Sterling Gray Metallic.

Chevrolet sells the 2023 Equinox in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier. All four trims can be equipped with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

Viewed in profile, the Equinox’s thick C-pillar demonstrates the compact crossover’s shared design language with the larger Chevrolet Traverse. Add big windows on a relatively short profile (the Equinox is only 65.4 inches tall), and the Equinox gives an impression of spaciousness. Thankfully, the interior doesn’t disappoint.

Our 2023 Chevrolet Equinox Premier test vehicle’s insides were highlighted by handsome two-tone leather upholstery. Being the top trim level, our car had heated front seats included as standard equipment–they’re also standard on the RS trim level and available on the LT, but not the LS. Similarly, we had a standard heated steering wheel, which is also available on the RS and LT (but again, not the base LS trim).

Next to some of its competition, the Equinox looks a bit dated on the inside. A small touchscreen, a basic driver-information display, and lots of plastic buttons didn’t fool us into thinking this car sports a high price tag. However, despite the spartan appointments, the Equinox is extremely practical, approachable, and easy to use. The PRNDL shift lever is a breath of fresh air amid the increasingly common dial- and button shifters. Yes, it eats up a bit more space in the center console, but it’s simple and gratifying to use. Plus, the two tandem-set cupholders next to it are plenty big enough for most drinks.

Thanks to the $1,745 Confidence and Convenience II package, our test car also had lumbar adjustments for the front passenger, ventilated front seats, and heated outboard seats in the rear. Plus, it added an HD surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control. Although the price tag for this package may deter some shoppers, we recommend paying for it. Many of the included features are items we’d want to see on any good compact SUV.

A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine returns as the Equinox’s sole powertrain option. Despite receiving an additional five horsepower for the 2023 model year (up to 175 hp from 170), the Equinox still doesn’t feel overly spritely.

With 203 pound-feet of torque, it handles low-speed acceleration well enough to be reasonably satisfying around town. Nonetheless, once you get above 30 miles per hour, the Equinox doesn’t accelerate as well as we’d like. If you have a city commute, the Equinox’s anemic power output won’t bother you. 175 horsepower is enough to get the Equinox up to highway speed in about eight seconds, but it makes plenty of noise doing so. If you need to merge onto a highway or pass traffic at higher speeds, you might want to look into a more potent alternative.

While many cars in the compact crossover segment employ a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or eight- or nine-speed automatic transmissions, Chevrolet makes do with an older six-speed automatic transmission. With fewer gears to shift through, the six-speed ends up holding each one longer than a comparable eight- or nine-speed, and this is undoubtedly the source of the Equinox’s powertrain cacophony.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox is available with AWD in all trims, but it’s not an automatic system that engages when wheel slip is detected. Instead, you’ll need to remember to press the AWD button on the center console to engage it. Luckily, the Equinox will remember that setting the next time you turn it on. It’s a quirk, to be sure, but not an overly annoying one.

Chevrolet swapped out the old vacuum-boosted braking system for 2023 and installed an electronically assisted brake-by-wire system in its place. The result is a net positive, as the Equinox brakes well, with a predictable bite point and smooth action. Further, the car’s suspension is well-sorted and handles bumps and potholes nicely. GM historically does well engineering chassis dynamics, and the Equinox is no different. For a compact crossover, it handles very well. Steering is tight and accurate, making the Equinox enjoyable to drive in most situations.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox can’t boast as large a trunk as the new Honda CR-V, but it’s not small. Measuring 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, the Equinox’s cargo area outstrips the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. However, when you fold down the rear seats to access the maximum cargo space, you’re greeted with only 63.9 cubic feet. That’s less than all the major players, minus Mazda: the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.

Luckily, we found passenger space in the Equinox to be more than ample. With a six-foot-tall driver, we heard no complaints about headroom, and when we stuffed him in the back seat, there was plenty of head- and legroom, too.

The Equinox uses plenty of plastic components in its interior, but they’re a higher-quality material than the plastic of old GM cars. With cup holders for every passenger, a decently sized center console bin, and good door pockets, there’s space for smaller items around the cabin. Additionally, we’re wont to mention our Premier-trim test vehicle’s standard power liftgate–it was nearly silent to operate.

On the surface, the Equinox's technology offering isn’t much to write home about. A small touchscreen interface, measuring only 7 inches in the LS, LT, and RS trims, and 8 inches in the Premier, looks simple and not as flashy as Kia’s UVO infotainment or Jeep’s UConnect5 system.

However, simplicity is Chevrolet’s calling card, and in the Equinox, the company has taken what could be a weakness and made it a strength. Yes, the 8-inch touchscreen is small, but it’s crisp and clear and incredibly easy to use. Additionally, while it falls behind the visual flash of UVO and UConnect5, the Equinox’s tech still looks more impressive than what you’ll find in a Nissan Rogue or Subaru Forester.

The infotainment system responds quickly and offers good voice recognition software. There are also plenty of redundancies. Customizable icons in the screen’s bottom tray give you quick access to favorite features like music, navigation, and home, and additional hard buttons below the screen provide further easy controls.

Our Premier trim came standard with a wireless charging pad, but all trim levels get wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, plus Bluetooth connectivity. And, although the upgraded driver-information display on the LT, RS, and Premier trims still looks a bit simple, it offers nice features; you can see your music, navigation, trip computer, and other vehicle settings.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox includes a suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure assistance, and automatic high beams are all standard safety features.

However, Chevrolet doesn’t offer genuine level two autonomous driving technology, and although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall in its battery of crash tests, the Equinox did not fare as well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In particular, the Equinox scored a Poor rating in the IIHS’ moderate overlap front crash test, and it managed only a Marginal score in the side-impact crash test.

With a starting price of $27,995 plus a $1,395 destination fee, the Chevy Equinox undercuts many of its competitors. However, this crossover’s value becomes more apparent as you climb the trim ladder. The Premier trim’s starting MSRP is only $33,195, as compared to $35,005 for a non-hybrid Honda CR-V EX-L trim or $36,875 for a non-turbo Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus trim. Granted, both the Honda and the Mazda outshine the Equinox in terms of styling and interior refinement, but if you’re primarily looking to get high value for your hard-earned dollars, the Equinox is a good choice. After destination and a few options packages, our car’s as-tested price rang up at $39,355.

Further, fuel economy isn’t too bad in the Equinox. AWD models should return 24 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, per the EPA, but if you can make do with FWD, those numbers jump up to 26 city, 31 highway, and 28 combined. Unfortunately, Chevrolet doesn’t offer a hybrid variant of the Equinox, something that puts it behind the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, and Toyota RAV4.

By 2023, the Chevrolet Equinox is looking a bit long in the tooth (something that is only compounded by the upcoming Equinox EV). It may have fallen behind some of its competition, but it remains a good value in a competitive segment. Better yet, Chevrolet is likely aware that the Equinox is due for a redesign, and many dealerships may be offering incentives to further sweeten the deal.