After its introduction in 2004, the Chevy Equinox was a big hit for drivers across the country. Despite being introduced to the auto market during a time of financial instability, the Equinox was able to overcome all obstacles, and Chevy provided the market with a compact SUV that was more than competitive with other vehicle manufacturers. The 2022 Chevy Equinox lives up to the standards set for all compact SUVs and surpasses many of those standards by a long shot. There are three different generations of the Chevy Equinox currently on the market, and their manufacturing dates span from 2004 to present, with the third generation beginning in 2018. However, just because the 2022 Equinox is technically considered a third-generation model, that does not mean that Chevy hasn’t kept up with competitors. Let’s take a look at what the Chevy Equinox has to offer this year.
The Basics
On the most basic of levels and for the stock models, the Chevy Equinox is a compact SUV that can come in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. Depending on your needs as a driver, you will want to closely consider what option you decide when it comes to the driveline. If you know you are going to be on dry, clear roads most of the time and you are looking for the best fuel mileage you can get, front-wheel drive is the way to go. The front-wheel drive gas mileage is 26 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The all-wheel drive option is just slightly lower at 25 miles per gallon for the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Despite this slight decrease, if you find you have a need to drive off-road or under less than ideal conditions, all-wheel drive offers you a bit of an edge and quite a bit more traction.
Under The Hood
The Equinox comes stock with a 6-speed automatic transmission that is able to take you from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds or less! This is possible because the Equinox has 170 horsepower from a turbo 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that gives the 2022 Equinox a sporty edge while allowing it to maintain good levels of fuel efficiency. Chevy also keeps its competitive 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty and 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Equinox is even able to tow up to 1,500 pounds when equipped with the available trailer hitch. That is enough for a small camp trailer, boat, or four-wheeler trailer. The 2022 Equinox is perfect for taking you, your family, and your toys on a trip.
Behind the Seats
The Cargo capacity on the Equinox is 29.9 cubic feet with the seats in position. This amount of room can hold up to approximately eight carry-on suitcases. If you find the supplies you need are taking up a little more space and you need more room, you can utilize the back seating section for a total of 63.9 cubic feet of space. That’s approximately 16 suitcases. If you intend to use that seating space for actual people and not bags, the Equinox comfortably sits five individuals total.
Safety First
Your passengers won’t only be comfortable, but they will be safe. Rated with 5 stars from the NHTSA, the 2022 Equinox has a plethora of functioning safety features. Standard in all models is an automated emergency braking system, lane assist and lane departure warnings, pedestrian detection, automatic high beam assistance, and adaptive cruise control. If you want even more safety for your passengers, the Chevy Equinox offers OnStar Security, a safety alert seat for the driver, and a teen driver system that includes a buckle to drive feature, a driving log, and can enable or disable certain vehicle features to keep your teen driver safe.
The 2022 Equinox also can have front and rear park assistance, rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot alerts, lane change alerts, surround vision for the vehicle exterior, and rear-seat reminders. Safe and reliable across all trims, the Equinox also offers a smooth drive with responsive handling. Whether you’re on the road or off on the trails, the Equinox’s suspension is able to handle bumps and potholes and keep you comfortable at the same time.
Upgrades
The base model is amazing, but you may feel like you need a little bit more still. The Chevy Equinox comes in a couple different trims that offer different options that will fit any driver’s needs. Different trims will have different options, but overall, Equinox drivers can select between eight different exterior colors and two interior colors. These colors include your standard white, black, and gray, along with some red and blue options. The interior comes in black or tan. Stock models all have gloss black finishings on the interior. This adds a definite feel of luxury to the interior of any trim. If you find that the base models don’t fit your needs, then one of the following trims will surely make that happen.
LS
The Equinox LS has a 7-inch touchscreen, is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enabled, has keyless open capabilities, two power outlets, a 6-speaker audio system, a 4-inch driver information display screen, WiFi hotspot capabilities, push to start, and noise cancelation.
LT
The Equinox LT builds from the LS trim and adds a power driver’s seat, tinted rear glass, lumbar support for the driver, and rear seat release levers. The LT can also have a panoramic sunroof added. If you need even more features than that, you can upgrade to the sporty Equinox RS.
RS
The new for 2022 RS trim has all the features of the LT with the addition of a power rear liftgate, roof rails, remote start system, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and the Driver Confidence II package. The Driver Confidence II packages include many of the optional safety features listed above.
Premier
For those who want even more bang for their buck, the Equinox Premier is for you! This trim adds to the RS features by including perforated leather seats, driver memory settings, an HD rear vision camera, a hands-free liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. If you want yourself and your passengers to have the best listening experience possible, the Premier trim also allows for an upgraded audio system. With all of these options and features, there’s really not a driver that the 2022 Equinox won’t satisfy.
An Exceptional Model for Any Driver
As more and more drivers start to get on the roads and the world continues to grow, it’s important to put yourself in a reliable and safe vehicle. That doesn’t mean you can’t have all the extras though. The Equinox is a great vehicle with a lot of different features and options that makes it so that drivers don’t have to compromise between safety and comfort. It’s easy to see why the 2022 Equinox is moving its way to the front of the compact SUV segment. Chevy has really done it again and given its drivers a great new vehicle because the Equinox is an exceptional SUV for any individual.
