The Dated Equinox Gets a New Look and Powertrains in 2018

2018 Chevrolet Equinox (Credit: © Chevrolet)

If there is one crossover that desperately needed and update, it’s the Chevy Equinox. It’s looked essentially the same since 2009 and had a powertrain that was equally dated. Chevrolet was apparently thinking the same thing, as it just unveiled the completely redesigned 2018 Equinox and its new powertrains.

The changes to the looks are quite obvious, as GM gave the outdated Equinox a stunning new appearance that is more modern and in better alignment with the brand’s current design cues. Included in this redesign are new projector headlights, the brand’s new-look grille, and widened LED taillights.

In terms of size, the 2018 Equinox is a good bit smaller than the current model, as it is 183.1 inches long (4.7 inches shorter), 65.4 inches tall (0.9 inches shorter in height), and rides on a 107.3-inch wheelbase (5.2 inches shorter). The only area where the 2018 Equinox is larger is the width, where it measures 72.6 inches (0.1 inches wider). This downsized body has dropped the curb weight of the Equinox by 400 pounds – roughly 10 percent.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox (Credit: © Chevrolet)

This shorter body results in 0.3 inches less front legroom, 0.2 inches less rear legroom, 0.9 inches less front headroom, and 0.7 inches less rear headroom. Cargo room also falls to 29.9 cubic feet (-0.6 cubic feet) with the rear seats up and 63.5 cubes (-0.2 cubic feet) with the seats folded.

It does, however, have 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 0.6 inches more rear hip room.

Also completely overhauled are the under-hood bits. The Equinox starts out with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The range-topping gasoline engine is no longer a V-6; instead, it’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Finally, the Equinox is the first in its segment to offer a diesel engine in the form of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 136 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Respectively, Chevy expects highway fuel-economy ratings of 31 mpg, 28 mpg, and 40 mpg.

The 1.5- and 1.6-liter engines will pair with a six-speed auto transmission, while the 2.0-liter will use a more towing-friendly nine-speed unit. Speaking of towing, the range-topping equinox, despite losing power and cylinders relative to the current Equinox, matches its 3,500-pound max towing capacity. Front-wheel drive will be standard, but buyers can opt for all-wheel drive.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox (Credit: © Chevrolet)

Safety was top of mind for Chevy when crafting this new people hauler. The automaker made a plethora of new safety features available for the taking, including a safety alert seat, surround vision, forward collision alert with following distance indicator, low-speed auto braking, lane-keep assist with departure warning, a rear-seat reminder, lane-change alert with blind-zone alert, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2018 Equinox will hit showrooms in the first quarter of 2017. Pricing should come around that time.