The redesigned Equinox has the looks, comfort, and technology to compete with popular compact SUVs. At $41,400 as tested, its driving compromises matter just as much.
If you dismissed the Chevrolet Equinox a few years ago, it may be time to look again. The 2026 Equinox ACTIV has a tougher stance, an inviting cabin, and the convenience features many compact SUV buyers want. I came away thinking Chevy has made this a legitimate shopping option alongside the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, and Mazda CX-5.
I also came away with three reservations. The engine runs out of enthusiasm quickly, the all-terrain tires make more noise than I would like, and the lane-keep assist felt too aggressive for my taste. None of those concerns erase what Chevy got right. At the tested price of $41,400, though, buyers should experience them before signing the paperwork.
Why this Equinox works
Compact SUV shoppers have plenty of choices, including vehicles that lead with comfort, convenience and technology. The Equinox no longer looks or feels like it is relying on a familiar name alone. The ACTIV adds a rugged appearance, 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires and distinctive interior materials. Chevrolet lists an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, an 11-inch driver display, and more than 15 standard safety and driver-assistance features across the 2026 Equinox lineup.
Daryl Killian
The question is not whether Chevy has added enough equipment to get your attention. It has. The question is whether you still like the vehicle after a proper test drive.
Exterior: The rugged look works
This Equinox looks good. The broad front end and more upright shape give it a stronger presence than I expected from a compact SUV. The ACTIV’s all-terrain tires complete the look without turning it into a cartoon version of an off-road vehicle.
Daryl Killian
There is a trade-off. On pavement, I heard more tire noise than I wanted and found the ride firmer than the appearance of those substantial tires might suggest. I wouldn't buy the ACTIV if I expect to spend weekends climbing trails. I would buy it because I like how it looks, then make sure I can live with how its tires sound and feel every day.
Daryl Killian
Interior and technology: Chevy’s strongest argument
The cabin is where this Equinox surprised me most. The seating felt comfortable, the design was attractive, and the screens give the vehicle a contemporary feel. The panoramic roof brings light into the interior and makes it feel more open.
Daryl Killian
My test vehicle also had Convenience Package III and the Safety and Technology Package. Together with the panoramic roof, those three additions were listed at $3,410 in the window-sticker information reviewed for this vehicle. The convenience equipment includes features such as ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and driver memory settings. The safety and technology equipment adds useful visibility tools, including a surround-view camera and rear camera mirror.
Those features help explain why this Equinox reached $41,400. They also make it easier to understand why a buyer considering well-equipped versions of the major compact SUV rivals should give Chevy another look.
Biggest surprise: The safety feature I wanted to switch off
I appreciate that the Equinox offers a broad selection of driver-assistance features. I didn't appreciate how lane-keep assist behaved during my drive. Its steering intervention felt far too aggressive for my liking.
What frustrated me more was finding the control to disable it. I had to work through too many infotainment steps for a feature that changes how the steering feels. Once I turned it off, I enjoyed driving the Equinox more.
Daryl Killian
Daryl Killian
That is my experience with this vehicle, not a claim that the system will behave the same way for every driver. Try it during your own test drive. Learn where the control is before you leave the dealership, and decide whether you are comfortable with the system both on and off.
Powertrain and the drive: Plenty of sound, not enough response
Every gas-powered 2026 Equinox uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine rated at 175 horsepower. The AWD version pairs it with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Daryl Killian
From a stop, mine gave a brief impression of strength. That feeling faded quickly. Ask for more acceleration, and the engine makes itself heard without delivering the response I wanted. It gets through ordinary driving, but merging and passing did not feel effortless.
Most people do not buy a compact SUV to race. They do expect it to move confidently with passengers and luggage aboard. If you regularly enter fast-moving highways or drive through hilly areas, make those situations part of your test drive. A quiet loop around the dealership will not tell you enough.
Fuel economy and practicality
The previously reviewed sticker information listed this AWD Equinox at 26 mpg combined. That is an estimate, not a fuel-economy result I measured during my test. Check the exact city and highway figures against the original sticker before publication.
The Equinox seats five and has a folding second row. Chevrolet lists up to 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and a maximum towing figure of 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. That gives buyers useful flexibility for luggage, groceries, and the occasional bulky purchase, although folding the seats trades passenger room for cargo room.
I did not conduct an off-road capability test. The ACTIV styling and tires may invite a detour off pavement, but appearance alone is not a reason to assume this is a dedicated trail vehicle.
Buyer Alert
Don’t judge this Equinox only by its equipment list. On your test drive, accelerate onto a highway, listen to the tires at cruising speed, and try the lane-keep assist on a road where it can operate safely. Then find the control that turns it off.
There is also a distinction worth knowing if you are shopping for an “American” vehicle. Chevrolet is an American brand, but the window-sticker information reviewed for this particular test vehicle identified Mexico as its final assembly location. Check the sticker on the exact vehicle you intend to buy if assembly location matters to you.
Dealer Secret
Ask to drive an ACTIV and an RS on the same route before choosing between their appearances. The ACTIV’s all-terrain tires were a meaningful part of my experience. A back-to-back drive is a better way to decide whether you enjoy that trade-off than assuming you can change the tires after purchase.
Also compare the complete out-the-door price, not just the advertised starting price. Based on its previously reviewed sticker information, the panoramic roof, Convenience Package III, and Safety and Technology Package added $3,410 to this test vehicle. Confirm which of those features you will use often enough to justify their cost.
How it compares
The Equinox deserves a place on the same shopping list as the CR-V, RAV4, Tucson, Sportage, Rogue and CX-5. Its case is design, comfort, everyday convenience and a generous selection of available technology. I wouldn’t declare it a winner over all six without driving comparable versions on the same day and comparing their actual transaction prices.
If powertrain refinement or a quiet highway ride sits at the top of your priorities, pay especially close attention to the Equinox’s engine and ACTIV tires. If cabin comfort, styling, and features matter more, you may find its compromises easier to accept.
Here Is Where I Would Spend My Money
I would put this Equinox on my shopping list, but I wouldn’t commit to this $41,400 ACTIV without driving an RS as well. The ACTIV’s look appeals to me. The tire noise doesn’t. I would also want to repeat a highway merge and confirm that I could live with the engine’s response.
I would consider paying for the convenience and visibility features if they fit the way I use a vehicle. I wouldn’t let an impressive equipment list talk me out of listening to the tires and feeling the steering for myself.
AUTONSIDER DECISION
Well played, Chevy. The Equinox now has the style, cabin and technology to compete seriously for compact SUV buyers. This ACTIV was comfortable, attractive and well equipped.
The weak-feeling engine, noisy tires and frustrating lane-keep assist control keep it from being an easy recommendation at $41,400. My verdict: test-drive it, not dismiss it. Then compare the ACTIV with an RS and at least two other compact SUVs before you decide.
AutoNsider Buyer’s Guide
- Vehicle tested: 2026 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV AWD
- Price as tested: $41,400, based on the previously reviewed vehicle sticker
- Engine: 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- Output: 175 horsepower
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic with AWD
- Fuel economy: 26 mpg combined, based on previously reviewed sticker information; verify the exact city and highway figures before publication
- Seating: Five
- Maximum cargo volume: 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded
- Maximum towing: Up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped
- Best for: Buyers who want distinctive styling, a comfortable cabin, and substantial convenience technology
- Look elsewhere if: Strong acceleration, a quiet ride, or easy access to every driver-assistance control is essential
- Trim to compare before buying: RS, particularly if the ACTIV tire noise concerns you
- Competitors to drive: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX-5
AutoNsider scorecard: Design and interior comfort are strengths. Technology is a strength, but usability is a major concern. Powertrain response and tire noise are weaknesses. Practicality is a strength on paper. Value depends on whether the added features outweigh the driving compromises for you. I have not assigned numerical scores that were not recorded during the test.
One for the Road
The smartest compact SUV purchase is not necessarily the one with the longest feature list. It is the one whose everyday compromises you understand and can live with. The Equinox gives Chevy shoppers a lot more to like than I expected. Take the longer test drive anyway. That is where you find out whether it is the right SUV for you.
2026 Chevy Equinox ACTIV
Daryl Killian
