First Impressions

The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover continues their tradition of standing out from the competition. A bit beefier than rivals, it won our 2011 small SUV shootout, and placed 2nd in 2015. All while retaining its spot as Chevrolet’s top non-pickup seller. 

Updated design elements shared with other Chevys reduce wind resistance by 10 percent. This Equinox is also 400-pounds leaner, now 4-point-7 inches shorter outside, but adding 3-and-a-half more cubic feet of space inside. 

It makes a good impression up front with the latest family grille, slim projector-beam headlights, and LED daytime runners. At the rear, taillights are now horizontal. There’s also a larger hatch top spoiler to improve aerodynamics.

No more V6, Chevrolet is offering all turbocharged I4s on the new Equinox. There are 3 to choose from, and one of them is a first time diesel. 

Front wheel drive is standard, but switchable all-wheel drive is available. We tested the Equinox along some winding mountain roads in North Carolina.

ZACH MASKELL: “The folks at Chevy told us they were working towards a sportier vehicle and it’s evident that that’s what we have here. We have a stiffer chassis, stiffer suspension, the brakes along with the steering, everything feels a lot tighter, but it didn’t sacrifice any of the nice drivability that we want out of a crossover.“

JOHN DAVIS: Infotainment is displayed on a 7-or-8-inch screen. The list of available active safety features has grown, and now includes Safety Alert Seat, Lane Keep Assist, and Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking. New “kneeling” rear seats fold to create a flat floor.

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is on sale now; with prices starting under $24,000.