New & Used 2026 Chevrolet Equinox for Sale nearDes Moines, IA

How much does the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox cost?

Prices have softened 11.66% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 6,317 listings available, which suggests you should have a healthy number of options to compare.

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox a good car?

Yes — the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

It’s a straightforward compact crossover that focuses on the core job well: a stylish design, a well-executed interior, and easy-to-use technology. That makes it a sensible fit if you want a balanced small SUV that covers the basics without trying to be flashy.

The trade-offs are clear, though: cargo space is less generous than rivals, the transmission can be irritating, and performance is fairly pedestrian. Even so, the market still shows 36.6% of listings as good or great deals, which supports the case for shopping this year carefully.

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

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

The Equinox is presented as a balanced, everyday crossover rather than a complicated one, and that usually helps ownership confidence. Its standard turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and mainstream hardware point to a familiar, low-drama formula, while the expert evaluation describes it as a competent compact crossover that does what the segment expects.

Chevy also includes practical ownership-friendly touches such as the Teen Driver system and a vibrating driver’s seat for alerts. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is more about living with the transmission behavior and modest performance than about any obvious durability red flag.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one with optional equipment. Focus your walkaround on interior condition, tire wear, and how smoothly the transmission behaves on a test drive.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: LT, Active, and RS each bring different styling and equipment. The LT is the most basic, with standard cloth seats and 17-inch wheels, while the Active adds a more rugged look, all-terrain tires, and unique microfiber and Evotex seating. The RS leans sportier with more black trim, a wider grille, 19-inch wheels, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
• Powertrain: The only engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four with 175 horsepower. Front-wheel-drive models use a CVT, while all-wheel-drive models use an eight-speed automatic and more torque.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and rear park-assist. The Safety and Technology Package adds a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition.
• Infotainment: A standard 11-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.3-inch touchscreen give the cabin a modern layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, along with Google built-in apps.
• Fuel efficiency: The Equinox is rated at 27 mpg combined, with 26 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. All-wheel-drive models are rated 1 mpg lower in the combined and city categories.

Which 2026 Chevrolet Equinox trim should I buy?

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is offered in 3 trim levels: LT, Active, RS.

Here's the short version:

• LT: This is the value-oriented choice if you want the Equinox’s core strengths without paying for extra styling flourishes. It gives you the standard tech and safety setup, plus the most accessible starting point in the lineup.
• Active: This is the best-value trim if you want the most distinctive look and the most character. It adds the more rugged exterior treatment, all-terrain tires, and unique interior materials, though the content makes clear that its off-road advantage is limited.
• RS: Choose this if you want the sportiest appearance and the most aggressive visual package. It adds more black trim, a wider grille, larger standard wheels, and a sportier steering wheel.

The standard safety package is strong across the lineup, and the Safety and Technology Package adds useful upgrades if you want more camera and alert coverage.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 36.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 6,317 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.66% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 92.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $27,402, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox's resale value?

The current average of $27,492 sits slightly below last year's $31,121.

That price movement suggests the Equinox has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future sellers if the market stabilizes. If you buy at the right price now, you may have less downside left than a shopper who bought closer to the prior-year average.

The model’s broad appeal should also help support demand, especially because it combines mainstream usability with strong tech and a polished cabin. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox safe?

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox received mixed safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning Good ratings in the updated moderate overlap front and side-impact tests and Acceptable ratings in the whiplash and small overlap front tests.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and rear park-assist. GM also includes a vibrating driver’s seat for alerts and the Teen Driver system.

The main caveat is the mixed IIHS result, especially the Acceptable ratings in whiplash and small overlap front testing. If safety is a top priority, the available Safety and Technology Package adds a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition.

Should I buy a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 36.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.66% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds a standard drive mode selector and a new Polar White exterior color.

Consider the 2025 if:

• At $25,570, the 2025 costs less than the current year's $27,492 average.
• It brings a fresh redesign with new standard tech and safety features.

The bottom line: Buy the 2026 if you want the current-year market data, strong inventory, and a well-rounded compact SUV with modern tech. If your priority is saving money, the 2025 is the better value play, especially if you find one with the equipment you want at a lower asking price.

How does the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox compare to the 2026 GMC Terrain?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.