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2018 Chevrolet Equinox

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Rating6.8

Ranked #10 in 

Compact SUV
Write Review
$23,580 - $37,230
Starting Price 

Year

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on June 10, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Comfortable ride quality

Cramped cargo hold

Completely redesigned

A spacious and well-equipped cabin

Base 1.5-liter engine lacks performance

Commendable fuel economy

Intuitive and user-friendly MyLink infotainment interface

Specs & Features

$23,580

price

170 hp @ 5600 rpm

horsepower

203 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

torque

6-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

1.5L 4cyl FWD 6A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Chevrolet Equinox is a popular crossover SUV from the American automobile brand and has been on sale since 2004. The vehicle was initially introduced as a mid-size crossover but enters into its third-generation model along with entering into the highly competitive compact crossover segment for 2018 MY. GM also offered a performance-specced trim of the Equinox for the 2008 and 2009 model years but was discontinued later. The SUV is aimed to offer excellent practicality within the cities and can double up as a decent highway cruiser as well.

Buying Advice

The LS trim is the best option for the ones looking at the base L trim. The LT is suitable for buyers looking to have a good experience with the vehicle without shelling out much.

Read More +

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The Chevrolet Equinox gets a major redesign along with a generation upgrade for 2018 MY as mentioned earlier. Now, the vehicle is built on an updated GM D2XX platform which it shares with the Buick Envision and the GMC Terrain. The SUV is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo four-pot motor that offers a decent fuel economy. Starting at a price of $23,580, the Equinox competes against the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and the Subaru Forester.

Features
7.0/10

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is available in a total of four well-equipped trim levels starting with the base L trim. The price of the base trim starts at $ 23,580 and it comes with the base 1.5-liter engine along with the 6-speed transmission and a standard FWD layout. Despite all the basics, the trim offers a handsome list of interior features along with some exterior ones such as LED DRLs, engine start-stop system, a rearview camera, heating function for the mirrors, a keyless entry and ignition system, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system running MyLink user interface, OnStar, and height-adjustable front seats among other features. The LS trim doesn’t add a lot of features atop the base L’s features yet it unlocks the options of availing the AWD layout along with various exterior color options. The range-topping Premier trim gets the two most popular and feature-loaded trims, the Sun and Infotainment package along with the Confidence and Convenience package as standard.

Trims

L

LS

LT

Premier

MSRP (FWD)

$ 23,580

$ 26,505

$ 27,745

$31,785

MSRP (AWD)

N/A

$ 28,255

$ 29,495

$ 35,430

Features

LED DRLs and automatic headlamp units

Adds the following features to L:

Adds to LS:

Adds to LT:
 

17-inch alloy wheels

Rear floor mats

Privacy glass for the rear windows

Sun & Infotainment package and Confidence and Convenience package are standard
 

Engine start-stop system

Spare tire

Xenon headlamps

LED headlamp and tail lamp units
 

Rearview camera

Digital compass

8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat

18-inch wheels
 

Heated mirrors

  

Satellite radio

Hands-free tailgate

Ambient interior lighting

Which trim should you buy?

The LS trim is the best option for the ones looking at the base L trim. The LT is suitable for buyers looking to have a good experience with the vehicle without shelling out much.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

Modern compact crossover SUVs are known for their impressive fuel efficiency and the 2018 Equinox is a brilliant example. When equipped with the base 1.5-liter turbo four-pot motor, the vehicle returns an average of 26mpg within the city limits, 32mpg out on the highways, and combined mileage of 28mpg. Even though the vehicle is equipped with a smaller than average 14.9-gallon gasoline tank, its excellent mpg ratings allow it to offer some striking driving range figures.

Models

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

2018 Kia Sorento

2018 Subaru Forester

MPG (City)

26

22

22

26

MPG (Highway)

32

29

29

33

MPG (Combined)

28

25

25

29

Fuel Tank Capacity (gal)

14.9

18.8

18.8

16.6

Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles)

387 / 477 / 417

414 / 545 / 470

414 / 545 / 470

432 / 548 / 481

Both the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento are mechanically similar, hence their fuel economy ratings are identical too along with the driving range numbers as well. The Subaru Forester comes out as the most fuel-efficient offering here with marginally higher highway and combined mpg numbers than the Equinox and some overwhelming driving range figures such as 432 miles of city range.

Interior
6.0/10

The interior of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is fresh and stylish since it received a major design upgrade for this MY. The dashboard design is quite practical with the infotainment display nicely tucked in between the vertical-shaped air-con vents. There are some minimal buttons and a couple of rotary knobs for the air-con controls. The center stack is slim with the gear selector stick and a sizable cup holder. There is an abundance of exposed plastic surfaces yet the robust build and the nice texture of the surfaces make up for it. The front seats are comfortable for long drives and spending long hours on them while the rear seats offer a decent amount of comfort too. The cargo capacity is decent at 29 cu-ft.

Models

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

2018 Kia Sorento

2018 Subaru Forester

Seating Capacity

5

5

7

5

Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

40.0 / 57.2 / 40.9

41.2 / 59.1 / 44.1

39.5 / 59.1 / 44.1

41.2 / 58.2 / 43.3

Second Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

38.5 / 55.5 / 39.9

39.2 / 58.3 / 40.9

39.3 / 58.0 / 39.4

39.6 / 57.2 / 39.4

Third Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

NA

NA

36.3 / 52.8 / 31.7

NA

Cargo capacity (cu-ft)

29.9

35.9

11.3

31.1

The Hyundai Santa Fe’s cabin looks at par and equally intriguing when compared side by side with the updated cabin of the Equinox. The stylish dashboard design along with the steering wheel draws all the attention yet, the dashboard is quite button-heavy, especially in the middle. The infotainment screen is also smaller than what the Equinox gets. The Kia Sorento offers a more sober and professional interior than its mechanical twin, the Santa Fe. Despite being button-heavy, the placement and arrangement of the buttons along with the center stack makes for a premium appeal while the list of features and the comfort levels are a tad better than what the Equinox puts on the table.

Some standout interior features are:

  • Perforated leather upholstery
  • 8-way power-adjustable seats 
  • Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Heated mirrors

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Apart from the updated design of the interior, the infotainment system of the SUV has been updated thoroughly and now it comes with a standard 7-inch touchscreen display running the MyLink user interface underneath. OnStar is also there that offers standard Bluetooth connectivity along with 4G LTE capability and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with a USB port and a 6-speaker audio system are standard.

Some infotainment features are:

  • MyLink user interface
  • A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
  • Bluetooth and USB tethering
  • Apple CarPlay and Android auto
  • SiriusXM satellite radio 
  • 4G LTE and WiFi hotspot
  • Rear seat entertainment package(optional)

Exterior
7.0/10

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox exterior design now looks quite striking with a touch of sportiness to appeal to the younger buyers as well. The front end now gets a two-part grille design that is finished in chrome while the headlamp units together with the stylish LED DRLs uplift the aforementioned sporty appeal of the vehicle. The lower part of the vehicle gets black plastic cladding to induce a sense of ruggedness and its 7.6-inch ground clearance does some justice to it. The side profile of the SUV is simple while from the rear, it looks quite appealing too courtesy of its tailgate design and the taillamp design.

Models

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

2018 Kia Sorento

2018 Subaru Forester

Curb Weight (lbs)

3,274

3,591

3,810

3,449

Length (inches)

183.1

187.8

189.0

182.1

Width (inches)

72.6

74.4

74.4

71.5

Height (inches)

65.4

66.1

66.3

67.5

Ground Clearance (inches

7.6

7.3

7.3

8.7

Wheelbase (inches)

107.3

108.9

109.4

105.1

The Hyundai Santa Fe has a “big SUV” feel, especially due to its rear-end design while the front-end design looks quite toned down in comparison to the Equinox. The side profile of the Santa Fe gets slightly more styling than the Equinox. The Kia Sorento looks way better than the Santa Fe and even surpasses the Equinox in terms of road presence and design brilliance. The Subaru Forester still continues with an age-old design language yet, its shortest wheelbase and exceptional ground clearance make it the most practical option here.

Some standout exterior features are:

  • LED DRLs
  • Active aero shutters
  • Automatic headlamps
  • Rear power hands-free tailgate
  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Chrome-tipped exhausts

Safety
6.0/10

Chevrolet has never joked around when it came to the safety of its vehicles and the updated Equinox also continues with the same traits. The SUV got a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a top “Good” rating from the IIHS as well. The disappointing bit about the safety of the vehicle is its safety techs since almost all the advanced techs are offered as optional extras while the standard features are just the basics such as ABS, EBD, traction control, and a rearview camera.

Some important safety features of the Equinox are:

  • A rearview camera
  • Rear-seat reminder
  • Teen Driver
  • A blind spot monitoring system(optional)
  • Rear cross-traffic alert(optional)
  • Rear parking sensors(optional)
  • Low-speed forward collision warning with brake assist(optional)

Competition
7.0/10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe has started to show its age and needs an update in terms of both interior and exterior design, especially if pitched against the updated Equinox here. Practicality-wise, the Santa Fe is better than the Equinox owing to its generous cargo capacity and excellent headroom for the front and rear passengers. In terms of performance, the Santa Fe is almost evenly matched to the Equinox.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is the mechanical twin of the Santa Fe and gets identical power and mpg numbers. However, it does come with a striking exterior design, a well-built and premium cabin, along with a decent list of features. It also trails the Equinox closely with all of its strengths in place.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is one of the most dated offerings in the segment and is still kicking majorly due to its unique motor and the exceptional symmetrical AWD drivetrain. On the inside too, the vehicle offers a more spacious and comfortable cabin than the Equinox however, it falls behind in terms of design and equipment.

Final Verdict

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes with an all-new approach to the market with its bold design and attractive performance stats with the optional powertrains. By default, it might not appeal to the enthusiasts much in terms of its performance yet it is a near-perfect city companion. In terms of comfort and practicality, it is way better than what its immediate and outdated rivals have to offer. Overall, the Equinox is the best option in the segment if you’re looking for a reliable and friendly compact crossover for your daily needs.

Trims

    L
    $23,580 onwards
    • 7-Inch touchscreen infotainment display
    • Automatic headlights
    • Chevrolet'S Teen Driver watchdog modes
    • Driver information display
    • Keyless entry and ignition
    • Led daytime running lights
    • Rearview camera
    • Six-Speaker audio system
    LS
    $25,510 onwards
    • Digital compass
    • Rear floor mats
    LT
    $26,750 onwards
    • Auxiliary rear-seat release levers
    • Eight-Way power driver seat
    • Leather-Wrapped shift knob
    • Rear privacy glass
    • Xenon headlights
    LT w/2LT
    $29,300 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl 9A
    • Horsepower: 252 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 260 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9.2 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 25 mpg
    Premier
    $30,790 onwards
    • Ambient interior lighting
    • Auto-Dimming mirrors
    • Chrome exterior trim
    • Driver-Seat memory settings
    • Hands-Free liftgate
    • Led headlights and taillights
    • Roof rails

Compare to similar cars

6.8
2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Price

$23,580- $37,230

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

6.79

Horsepower

252 hp @ 5500 rpm

Torque

260 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

7.0
2018 Buick Encore

$22,990- $32,100

Gasoline

6.97

138 hp @ 4900 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

5

Read Review

6.5
2018 Buick Envision

$33,995- $44,960

Gasoline

6.48

197 hp @ 6300 rpm

192 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

7.7
2018 Chevrolet Traverse

$29,930- $52,600

Gasoline

7.67

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

8

Read Review

6.5
2018 Chevrolet Trax

$21,000- $28,795

Gasoline

6.49

138 hp @ 4900 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

5

Read Review

7.0
2018 Dodge Durango

$29,995- $62,995

Gasoline

7.05

293 hp @ 6400 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

5.5
2018 Dodge Journey

$22,995- $34,895

Gasoline

5.5

173 hp @ 6000 rpm

166 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

7

Read Review

6.8
2018 Fiat 500X

$19,995- $27,415

Gasoline

6.79

160 hp @ 5500 rpm

184 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

5

Read Review

6.4
2018 Ford EcoSport

$19,995- $27,330

Gasoline

6.36

123 hp @ 6000 rpm

125 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

5

Read Review

7.5
2018 Ford Edge

$29,315- $40,770

Gasoline

7.45

245 hp @ 5500 rpm

275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

5

Read Review

2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    		SourceCompare
    		9.2 sec16.9 sec-
    		6.3 sec14.9 sec130 mph
    		6.5 sec15.1 sec131 mph
    		6.7 sec15.2 sec132 mph
    		6.8 sec--
    		6.9 sec15.4 sec-
    Read More

    2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      		SourceCompare
      		26 mpg32 mpg28 mpg14.9 gal.387.4/476.8 mi.
      		52 mpg49 mpg50 mpg11.9 gal.618.8/583.1 mi.
      		34 mpg30 mpg32 mpg14.8 gal.503.2/444 mi.
      		29 mpg34 mpg31 mpg12.7 gal.368.3/431.8 mi.
      		27 mpg33 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/435.6 mi.
      		29 mpg28 mpg29 mpg17.2 gal.576/537.6 mi.

      2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        		SourceCompare
        		183.1 in.72.6 in.65.4 in.7 in.107.3 in.
        		204.3 in.78.6 in.70.7 in.8 in.120.9 in.
        		201.2 in.75.8 in.70.9 in.8.1 in.119.8 in.
        		199.4 in.77.5 in.69 in.8.8 in.115.3 in.
        		198.5 in.77.3 in.69.5 in.7 in.114.2 in.
        		198.3 in.78.3 in.70 in.8 in.117.3 in.

        2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          		SourceCompare
          		29.9 cu.ft.90 cu.ft.63.5 cu.ft.
          		10.3 cu.ft.128.2 cu.ft.63.3 cu.ft.
          		16.5 cu.ft.152.9 cu.ft.83.9 cu.ft.
          		30.9 cu.ft.103.6 cu.ft.59.6 cu.ft.
          		24.6 cu.ft.105.4 cu.ft.100.7 cu.ft.Jeep USA
          		20.6 cu.ft.153.7 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.

          2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            		SourceCompare
            		68.4 cu.ft.29.9 cu.ft.63.5 cu.ft.-
            		77.7 cu.ft.38.8 cu.ft.73.5 cu.ft.-
            		74.7 cu.ft.34.4 cu.ft.74.7 cu.ft.-
            		83.1 cu.ft.20.9 cu.ft.15 cu.ft.-
            		83.1 cu.ft.21 cu.ft.81.7 cu.ft.73 ft.
            		73.3 cu.ft.35.5 cu.ft.73.3 cu.ft.-

            2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              		SourceCompare
              		1500 lbs.1190 lbs.3274 lbs.
              		9300 lbs.1233 lbs.3056 lbs.Jeep USA
              		8600 lbs.1031 lbs.2809 lbs.
              		6200 lbs.1330 lbs.4680 lbs.
              		6200 lbs.835 lbs.3300 lbs.
              		6200 lbs.1180 lbs.4513 lbs.Jeep USA

              2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              5

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              343

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              #10

              2018 Chevrolet Equinox User Reviews

              1.5

              [2 Reviews]

              1

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              2

              [50.0%] [1 Reviews]

              3

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              4

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              5

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              POPULAR TAGS

              camera
              backup
              family
              midsize
              vacation
              anyone
              vehicle
              TR

              Tracie Ricks

              2018 Chevrolet Equinox

              L 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

              3

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: May 13, 2024

              Great vehicle

              Pros - Remote start, Moonroof is great

              Cons - Nothing at all, Nothing at all

              Great family vehicle. Spacious for groceries and going on vacation. Reliable car with lots of options. Remote start, moonroof, heated seats full radio screen with backup camera and alerts for pedestrians and motorists. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a midsize suv for their family

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review
              RH

              Ryan Hindman

              2017 Chevrolet Equinox

              L 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: August 4, 2024

              2017 Chevy Equinox

              Pros - ["Has a lot of features like radio, Onstar and lots of trunk space", "Easy to read manual so I can find what I need", "Seats and seatbelts are adjustable"]

              Cons - ["Uses lots of gas", "Decent miles per gallon but could be better", "Low traction for wheels"]

              This car is a good starter car basically. It has commutable seats, decent MPG, and working radio with Bluetooth so I can answer calls hands free. This cars does have a lot of buttons and switches so it is hard to know what they all do off the top of the head. While it does have 3 rows of seats if you leave the 3rd row down you have decent storage space for traveling

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review

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