Before You Buy

Chevrolet Equinox: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Compact Crossover · SUV

MSRP Range$30,795–$38,000
A gray 2026 Chevrolet Equinox crossover parked in a suburban driveway in daylight, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine1.5L turbo 4-cylinder, 175 hp
TransmissionCVT (FWD) or 8-speed automatic (AWD)
Fuel Economy26-27 mpg combined (FWD); 26 mpg combined (AWD)
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Consider
65/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • Roomy cargo space (29.8-63.5 cu ft) and a large 11.3-inch touchscreen standard across trims
  • Competitive starting price versus the RAV4/CR-V/Tucson
  • Chevy Safety Assist standard on every trim

Cons

  • RepairPal ranks it 23rd of 26 compact SUVs, with an 18% severe-repair rate — nearly double the 11% class average
  • Missed the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award after its structure showed increased injury risk on the passenger-side crash test
  • iSeeCars shows the steepest 5-year depreciation (49.6%) of any Chevrolet reviewed on this site
  • Modest 1,500-lb max tow rating even with AWD

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Unlikely

RepairPal's model-specific score (3.5/5.0) ranks the Equinox a weak 23rd of 26 compact SUVs, with an 18% severe-repair probability — well above the 11% class average. We don't have a specific high-mileage longevity claim for the Equinox.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

62/100

Approachable overall, though a first-time buyer should budget a little extra for insurance or upkeep.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Brake pads
Battery

100,000 miles

Spark plugs and turbo engine components
Higher-than-average odds of a severe repair by this mileage, per RepairPal's data

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings and shocks

200,000+ miles

No strong track record at this mileage; RepairPal's near-bottom-of-class ranking suggests budgeting for more unscheduled repairs than a RAV4/CR-V/Tucson rival

What It Actually Costs to Own

Repair costs run above the compact-SUV average, and iSeeCars shows the steepest 5-year depreciation of any Chevrolet in this research — the combination makes this one of the more expensive compact SUVs to actually own, despite a competitive sticker price.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,620
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,400
Estimated Annual Maintenance$450
Estimated Annual Repairs$537
Estimated Annual Registration$190
5-Year Depreciation~50% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine1.5L turbo 4-cylinder, 175 hp
TransmissionCVT (FWD) or 8-speed automatic (AWD)
Fuel Economy26-27 mpg combined (FWD); 26 mpg combined (AWD)
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available
Towing CapacityUp to 1,500 lbs (AWD)
Warranty3 yr/36,000 mi basic, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Chevrolet Equinox, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Equinox, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

Similar Vehicles

A white 2026 Toyota RAV4 parked at a trailhead in overcast, diffused daylight, shot from a slight low angle in a documentary style.
Buy
Compact Crossover

2026 Toyota RAV4

$31,900–$42,000

90
A silver 2026 Honda CR-V parked outside a grocery store in natural daylight, shot candidly with a shopping cart nearby.
Buy
Compact Crossover

2026 Honda CR-V

$30,920–$40,000

90
A white 2026 Hyundai Tucson crossover parked in a suburban driveway in soft morning light, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Buy
Compact Crossover

2026 Hyundai Tucson

$30,800–$43,320

84

Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (3.5/5.0), annual repair cost ($537), 23rd-of-26 compact SUV ranking, and 18% severe-repair rate: repairpal.com/reliability/chevrolet/equinox (live lookup, 2026). 2026 MSRP ($30,795-$38,000), trims, and engine/mpg/towing specs: truecar.com and ttownchevy.com 2026 Equinox pricing pages (live lookup, 2026). 2026 IIHS award miss due to passenger-side moderate-overlap crash test result: cars.com and huffineschevyplano.com 2026 Equinox safety coverage (live lookup, 2026). iSeeCars 5-year depreciation (49.6%, highest of any Chevrolet in this research): iseecars.com Equinox resale-value and Equinox-vs-Traverse/Trax comparison pages (live lookup, 2026).