Used 2018 Chevrolet Equinox for Sale nearDes Moines, IA

How much does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox cost?

Prices have softened 9.34% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,524 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox a good car?

Generally — you’re looking at a 4.3/5 user rating and a 7.17/10 expert rating, which points to a well-liked used SUV with broad appeal. The standout strength is Technology at 10/10.

Owners most often praise the comfortable ride, spacious interior, and good fuel economy. The overview also frames it as a compact SUV with generous seating room and everyday practicality, which fits shoppers who want an easy-to-live-with family vehicle. Market availability is healthy too, with 30.1% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

Owners rate it 4.3/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback repeatedly points to a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise for the comfortable ride, good fuel economy, and upgrades from earlier models that make the SUV feel more modern and easier to count on. The turbo engine is also called out as a positive for power and efficiency, which supports the sense that the redesign improved everyday usability.

The expert review describes the Equinox as refined, inoffensive, and built to be easy to live with, with a good ride and decent handling. It also notes that the redesign removed rough edges and made the SUV more settled in daily driving.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term risk is that owner concerns about engine reliability deserve a careful pre-purchase inspection and service-history review.

What should I look for when buying a used 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?

At 62% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle-history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. Then prioritize a thorough inspection of body panels, paint consistency, tires, brakes, and any signs of uneven wear or poor repair work. Because owner feedback mentions engine reliability concerns, service records matter just as much as cosmetic condition.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base model is the least equipped, while LT and Premier trims add more of the driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems. If you want more safety tech, avoid assuming the lower trims include it.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, and the review notes that a turbo diesel and another turbocharged gasoline engine were planned later in the model year. The 1.5-liter is described as adequate, with good ride quality but only average passing confidence.
• Safety package: Standard safety features include Rear Seat Reminder, Teen Driver technology, and OnStar Guidance Plan features such as automatic collision notification, crisis assist, and emergency services. Chevy’s driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems are largely limited to LT and Premier trims, and adaptive cruise control and full-speed-range automatic emergency braking are not available.
• Infotainment: Chevrolet’s MyLink system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, OnStar with 4G LTE Wi-Fi, a volume knob with tuning buttons, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. Embedded navigation and Bose premium audio are optional.
• Fuel efficiency: The review says a front-wheel-drive model with the 1.5-liter engine should get 28 mpg in combined driving, though the test result was 23.3 mpg.

Which 2018 Chevrolet Equinox trim should I buy?

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is offered in 4 trim levels: L, LS, LT, Premier.

Here's the short version:

• L: This is the entry point, so it makes the most sense only if you want the lowest purchase price and can live without the extra convenience and safety equipment found higher up.
• LS: This is the trim to target if you want a value-oriented Equinox with the core redesign benefits without stretching too far on price.
• LT: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it’s where more of the driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems become available.
• Premier: Choose this if you want the most upscale feel and the most available equipment, including the richer cabin presentation and the highest trim content.

Chevy’s driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems are largely limited to the LT and Premier trims, so those are the trims to focus on if safety tech matters most.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully and compare listings.

• Deal availability: 30.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,524 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.34% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 62.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $12,326, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox's resale value?

The current average of $12,326 sits slightly below last year's $13,595.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable entry point today. For a future seller, it also means resale value may depend heavily on condition, mileage, and documentation rather than model-year age alone.

Because the Equinox is still drawing steady shopper interest and has a broad inventory base, well-kept examples should remain easier to move than neglected ones. Strong maintenance records and clean history will matter more if you want to protect value later.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.3/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox safe?

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The safety content highlights Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver technology as standard equipment, along with OnStar Guidance Plan features such as automatic collision notification, crisis assist, and emergency services. Chevy’s driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems are largely limited to the LT and Premier trims, and you cannot get adaptive cruise control or a full-speed-range automatic emergency braking system on this Equinox.

That trim-level gap matters if you’re comparing lower trims against better-equipped rivals. The review also notes that crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication, so you should lean more heavily on equipment content and inspection quality when evaluating a used example.

Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2018 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2018 if:

• 30.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 62% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.34% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.3/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2018 brings the full redesign and a more compact, modern shape that puts it squarely in the compact SUV class.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $13,903, the 2019 costs more than the current year's $12,326 average.
• It adds HD rear-view and surround-view cameras for better visibility.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2018 is the smarter buy because pricing has softened and inventory is broad. If you’re willing to pay more for improved visibility and a fresher feature set, the 2019 is the better upgrade path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.