The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV is GM's answer to the likes of the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V. GM is offering the car with 3 Engine options to choose from namely 1.5 L and 2.0 L Gasoline delivering 170 hp,127 lbs-ft torque and 252 hp,260 lbs-ft Torque respectively and a 1.6 L Turbo Diesel 137 hp and 240 lbs-ft of Torque.

General Motors has managed to sell more than 2 million units of the Chevy Equinox after its debut in 2005. The 2018 model year Chevrolet Equinox is completely redesigned and slots between a smaller Trax crossover and Traverse SUV. The redesigned Equinox sheds some weight and looks much slimmer, retaining some features from the 2017 model. Now, it is ready to confront the leading cars like the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape in the segment.

Powering the 2018 Equinox is an exclusive 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine integrated with engine stop-start technology as standard. According to Chevy, the optional 1.6-liter diesel powertrain is the most economical one. The diesel powertrain returns an impressive fuel economy of 40 mpg on the highway. Moreover, the downsized standard engine also returns improved fuel efficiency than the previous Equinox. Furthermore, a suite of driver-assistance features also makes its way into the 2018 Equinox.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox User Reviews

Overall Rating: 3.5 (1 Reviews)

SVDM

Samantha Van Der Merwe

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

••3.5

Posted On: May 18, 2024

An unmatched car for its class

Pros
Smooth handling at any speed, Luxury feel at an affordable price

Cons
Unable to connect devices to Bluetooth while moving, Rear access operation unavailable while in gear

I love being able to tell people I drive such an awesome vehicle. The performance is unmatched compared to other Suv's within its class. The smoothness of handling and speed is phenominal when Im driving, almost as if i'm gliding more then just driving. Everyone thats driven with me has mentioned that it almost feels like a luxury car, but with a more affordable price. It's spacious, comfortable,... Read more

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Review

Pros

Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Powerful and efficient base engine
Better turbo diesel fuel-efficient engine
Leather seat upholstery

Cons

Major drivers aids are part of a driver package
Safety features reserved for top-level trim
Base L trim is only available on special order
Smaller cargo space than competitors

Overview

Pricing and Features
6.0/10

The redesigned 2018 Equinox is offered in four trims: L (base), LS, LT, and Premier. The 2018 Equinox is offered with 1.5-liter- and 1.6-liter engines, which come paired mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0-liter engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Chevrolet Equinox offers AWD as optional with all trims, except the base model. The base model comes with an FWD setup only.

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	Chevrolet MyLink1 audio system with 7" diagonal Color Touch screen.	Same As L and the Following additions-	Same As LS	Fog Lamps.
	OnStar Guidance Plan Limited Trial Service.	digital compass	SiriusXM Satellite Radio.	Hands-Free Gesture Liftgate
	StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system.	Rear floor mats	High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps.
	Traction Control.	Acoustic laminated glass.	Roof-mounted luggage carrier provisions.

The trim-specific style features extend to the top-range trims, which get chromed mirror caps and chrome slats on the front grille. The LT wears mirror caps in body color, while the L and LS turn out to be black and dull. The L model of the crossover can only be availed on special orders.

We Recommend

Chevrolet Equinox LT Diesel with AWD is the trim that offers the most value for money. It has all the features available on the Equinox LT Diesel plus an AWD system for better traction.

Engine and Performance
7.4/10

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is powered by a base 1.5-liter Inline-4 engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine makes 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of peak torque. The 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine is believed to the most efficient, producing 137 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. A 2.0-liter Inline-4 engine, mated to a new nine-speed transmission generates 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of peak torque.

This is the first time that Chevy has introduced a turbo-diesel engine in the compact SUV segment. The engine produces decent power and torque, but the 6-speed transmission fails to maintain the pace of the car. Unfortunately, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox goes from 0-60 mph in a lethargic 8.5 seconds. The Equinox takes 16.9-seconds to cover a quarter-mile distance, which is the slowest among the competitors. If you are planning to do light towing with the new Equinox, you will be surprised to know that the Chevrolet Equinox can surprisingly tow up to 3,500 lbs, which adds to the SUV's capability quotient.

Models	2018 Chevrolet Equinox	2018 Ford Escape	2018 Honda CR-V	2018 GMC Terrain
MSRP	$24,575	$23,850	$24,150	$24,995
Engine	1.5 L Inline 4 Gas Engine	2.5 L Inline 4 Gas Engine	2.4 L Inline 4 Gas Engine	1.5 L Inline 4 Gas engine
Transmission	6-speed automatic	Automatic	Automatic	9-speed automatic
Power	170hp @ 5600 rpm	168hp @ 6000 rpm	184hp @ 6400 rpm	170hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	203 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	170 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	180 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm	203 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
0-60 MPH	8.5 sec	9.1 sec	7.5 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter mile	16.9 sec @ 91.2 mph	16.7 @ 81 mph.	15.8 @ 89 mph	16.5 @ 85 mph

The 2018 Equinox offers a confident handling and stable ride through all terrains. The crossover rides smoothly and maintains the exterior road and wind noise to a minimum level. The Equinox provides great beaking performance with an 11.8-inch disc in the front along with an 11.3-inch disc at the rear. Considering it weighs over 3,200 pounds, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox manages to brake from 60 to 0 mph in an impressive 119 feet.

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

The updated Equinox is a fairly efficient SUV, delivering decent results in terms of gas mileage. The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox returns a fuel economy of 26 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. Combined together, the Equinox returns a mileage of 28 MPG, which is great for a vehicle in this segment. With AWD, the figures drop to 24 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on highways.

Model	2018 Chevrolet Equinox	2018 Ford Escape	2018 Honda CR-V	2018 GMC Terrain
City MPG	26	21	28	26
Highway MPG	32	29	34	30
Combined MPG	28	24	28	28

Similar to the Equinox, the Japanese marque Honda with its CR-V managed to offer great fuel economy for the class. The Ford Escape, on the other hand, is the worst performer at just 21 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. Interestingly, the GMC Terrain manages to offer fairly decent fuel economy figures and stands at par with that returned by the Chevrolet Equinox.

Interior
7.0/10

The interior of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox feels upmarket and comes in dual-tone color. The updated Equinox shares much of its interior with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, and we're not complaining! The design allows you to easily use the infotainment system that comes integrated with advanced features. The new non-sliding rear seats offer great thigh support along with two backrest recline angles. You can find ample seating for five occupants in the new Equinox. The seats are available in standard cloth upholstery, with the higher trims getting leather seat upholstery.

The rear seats are also spacious with enough shoulder room and legroom available for all three passengers. The overall ambiance in the cabin feels pretty upscale and elegant, and the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox clearly makes up for a lack of power with a compliant, roomy cabin to be in. The cargo space offered by the Equinox is one of the drawbacks that give other cars an edge over it. The 2018 Chevy Equinox offers 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 63.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

Model	2018 Chevrolet Equinox	2018 Ford Escape	2018 Honda CR-V	2018 GMC Terrain
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	103.2	98.1	105.9	103.2
Front (Head/Hip/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40/54.2/57.2/40.9	39.9/54.8/56/43.1	40.1/55.1/57.9/41.3	40/54.4/57.2/40.9
Rear (Head/Hip/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/51.7/55.5/39.7	39/52.4/55.3/36.8	39.2/49.5/55.6/40.6	38.5/51.8/55.6/39.7
Behind 2ndRow(ft.cube)	29.9	31.4	39.2	29.6
With 2nd row folded (ft. cube)	63.5	67.2	75.8	63.3

Like other GM models, the 2018 Chevy Equinox comes gifted with the latest tech features. Even in the base Equinox model, you'll get a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which allows you to easily connect your smartphone and access apps, media, contacts on the touchscreen interface. The higher trims get a bigger 8.0-inch touchscreen.

The following is the list of interior features available in the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox:

Proximity key entry
Push-button start
Rearview camera
Chevy's Teen Driver system

The optional interior features that can be availed on the upper trims of Chevy Equinox include:

Dual-zone automatic climate control
Remote start
Seven-speaker Bose premium sound system
Universal garage door opener
Panoramic sunroof
Multi-color instrument cluster screen
120-volt electrical outlet

Exterior
6.9/10

Chevrolet has shed up to 400 pounds of weight in the 2018 Equinox, which is interestingly manifested in the updated styling. The new redesigned Equinox is now lighter and smaller. The 2017 model shared lots of underpinning with the 2005 model, but the 2018 model has got completely new mechanicals. Dimension-wise, the Equinox stands close to the Honda CR-V. The build quality is solid and stylish in comparison to the outgoing model. The front fascia looks much like the Malibu and Cruze, but the Van-like tail literally hurts at times.

The front fascia gets a sedan-like grille with a single unified piece split by a chrome through the lower portion. The headlights are now aggressively swept into the fenders. The character lines flow through the front wheel arch and split in the center of the front doors. The D-pillar got an aggressive rake and the rear side glass completely wraps into the back pane. The rear appears to be basic and doesn't match the styling which the rivals have to offer.

Model	2018 Chevrolet Equinox	2018 Ford Escape	2018 Honda CR-V	2018 GMC Terrain
curb weight(lbs)	3274	3542	3307	3449
Length(in)	183.1	178.1	180.6	182.3
Width(in)	72.6	72.4	73.0	72.4
Height(in)	65.4	66.3	66.1	65.4
Ground clearance(in)	6.9	7.9	8.2	6.9
Wheelbase(in)	107.3	105.9	104.7	107.3
Track width(in) F/R	62.2/62.2	61.5/61.6	63.0/63.7	62.2/62.2

The Ford Escape is the heaviest in comparison with 3,542-pounds, while the GMC Terrain comes close at 3,449-pounds. The Equinox has the highest length along with a wheelbase similar to the Terrain. This helps the Equinox to provide better spacing in the cabin. The 2018 Honda CR-V has the highest ground clearance, followed by the Ford Escape, which assists these vehicles to easily move over rough terrains.

Safety
9.5/10

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes with ironclad safety features. The NHTSA has given the 2018 Equinox four stars in rollover and side crash tests, five stars in frontal crash tests, and a four-star overall rating. The only standard driving assistance features available is a rearview camera, which is common in all cars these days. But for getting additional safety features, you need to step up to the upper trims of Chevy Equinox. On moving to upper trim levels, you can get your hands on features such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. These features facilitate you to detect other cars in your path when you are trying to change lanes or backing up.

The optional safety feature package available with the highest trim level include:

360-degree camera
Safety alert seat
Automatic high beams
Lane departure warning and Lane Keep Assist
Forward collision warning with low-speed automatic emergency braking
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ABS And Driveline Traction Control
Rear Child Safety Locks
Back-Up Camera

Competition
7.0/10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Ford Escape

In the compact SUV segment, both Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Equinox stand as capable vehicles in terms of performance. The base engine of Escape doesn't suffer from slow acceleration like the base Equinox engine.

The Equinox returns better fuel economy than the Escape, but the Escape is far better in handling and comfort level. Escape offers extra cargo space where you can comfortably store your shopping bags, thus grabbing the award for the better choice between the two

2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2018 Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V is offering one of the most spacious cabins in the segment. Chevy offers decent cabin space, but the models with panorama sunroof come up short on headroom. The 2018 Honda CR-V is equipped with a much better base engine, which produces higher power output and is quick on acceleration.

The redesigned 2018 Chevy Equinox still needs to learn a lot from the Honda CR-V interiors. The CR-V's cabin comes with soft-touch materials, woodgrain accents, and much more. So, we have to conclude that CR-V takes the cake in the competition.

Final Verdict

The new redesigned 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is substantially more improved than the outgoing models. In terms of ride quality, passenger space, and sound insulation, the compact SUV is simply flawless. With the Equinox LT, you get convenience and confidence packages that optimize your comfort. There's an array of advanced safety features on the higher trims. You'll need the 2.0-liter engine, not the 1.5-liter base engine unless the fuel economy is not much of your concern. Compared to the prominent rivals that are ahead in terms of standard safety features, the Honda CR-V offers adaptive cruise control but the Equinox misses it. As of now, the diesel trim can only help Chevy to boost up its sales empire with the 2018 Equinox.

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2018 Chevrolet Equinox User Reviews

An unmatched car for its class

ProsSmooth handling at any speed, Luxury feel at an affordable price

Cons Unable to connect devices to Bluetooth while moving, Rear access operation unavailable while in gear

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Also Read

Pricing and Features6.0/10

Engine and Performance7.4/10

Fuel Economy7.9/10

Interior7.0/10

Exterior6.9/10

Safety9.5/10

Competition7.0/10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Ford Escape

2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2018 Honda CR-V

Final Verdict

Pros
Smooth handling at any speed, Luxury feel at an affordable price

Cons
Unable to connect devices to Bluetooth while moving, Rear access operation unavailable while in gear

Pricing and Features
6.0/10

Engine and Performance
7.4/10

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

Interior
7.0/10

Exterior
6.9/10

Safety
9.5/10

Competition
7.0/10