2026 Chevrolet Equinox: What's New

I'll admit I wrote the old Equinox off. For years it was the SUV I'd mention only after the RAV4, CR-V, and Tucson, the one rental-fleet shoppers ended up in without really choosing it. The 2025 redesign changed my tune — Chevy gave it a boxier, more rugged look cribbed from the Tahoe and suddenly the thing had a personality. For 2026 it's a carryover with a few standard-equipment bumps, and, more to the point, it's still one of the most heavily discounted compact SUVs you can walk into. That last part is why it keeps ending up on my short list now.

What changed for 2026

• More standard tech — the larger 11.3-inch infotainment screen and 11-inch digital gauge cluster are now standard on more trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the board.
• Activ trim upgrades — the off-road-leaning Activ gains standard all-terrain-look tires and extra skid protection. It's the one I'd pick.
• Chevy Safety Assist stays standard: automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping, following-distance indicator.
• New paint and wheel options on the RS and Activ.
• The powertrain carries over: a 1.5-liter turbo four (175 hp) with front- or all-wheel drive.

Don't confuse this with the all-electric Equinox EV — that's a separate vehicle on its own platform with 300-plus miles of range. I pit it against its closest rival in Equinox EV vs Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Equinox trim and pricing

Pricing is essentially flat versus 2025, destination included.

Trim	Engine	Est. MSRP
LT	1.5L turbo, 175 hp	$30,000
RS	1.5L turbo, 175 hp	$32,500
Activ	1.5L turbo, 175 hp	$33,500
LT AWD	1.5L turbo, 175 hp	$32,000
RS AWD	1.5L turbo, 175 hp	$34,500

EPA combined lands around 28 mpg front-drive — fine for the class, but a clear step behind the hybrids, and I won't pretend otherwise.

How it fits in the market

The Equinox plays one card, and plays it hard: price. It undercuts the RAV4 and CR-V on sticker, finally looks like something you'd choose on purpose, and it's built in North America, which insulates it from the import tariffs squeezing some rivals. What it doesn't have is a hybrid, and in a class where the RAV4 went hybrid-only and the CR-V offers one, that's the hole in its game. Chevy's answer is to make the gas Equinox cheap enough that you stop caring — and right now, they're succeeding.

Current incentives

This is where the Equinox earns its spot in June 2026. High dealer inventory has produced some of the segment's best programs I've seen all year: 0% APR for 48 months on most trims, or a lease near $269 a month. Stack that against a $30,000 sticker and a well-equipped Equinox becomes one of the cheapest ways into a new compact SUV, full stop. I keep the full list current in compact SUV deals for June 2026.

Want the same rugged Chevy look in a pickup? I covered what's new with the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado too.