2020 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2020 Equinox is a carry-over third-generation (2018–2024) model. The diesel was dropped after 2019, and 2020 is the last year of the optional 252-hp 2.0T. The volume LS/LT trims use the 170-hp 1.5T, which is low for the class.

The torque arrives early, but the peak is modest for the segment. The 2.0T's 260 lb-ft is available only on upper trims.

The 1.5T is slow for the segment. The 2018–2021 1.5T/6AT drivetrain is unchanged, so its instrumented times carry across. The 2.0T is notably quick but is not the volume configuration.

The 1.5T is smooth enough around town but strains and gets buzzy when merging or passing with a load aboard, and the stop/start restart is somewhat abrupt. The optional 2.0T is far more muscular.

The 1.5T's 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly but can be slow to kick down. The 2.0T's 9-speed is generally well behaved.

The item measures max capacity in any configuration, and the 2.0T is rated for 3,500 lbs. Volume 1.5T models are limited to 1,500 lbs.

FWD is standard and AWD is optional on the LS, LT and Premier trims (not the base L). It is a basic on-demand system with a driver-selectable FWD/AWD disconnect and no torque vectoring or terrain modes.

A pavement-oriented crossover with about 7.9 in of ground clearance and no off-road trim, skid plates or terrain management.

There are two gas turbo fours (1.5T/6AT and 2.0T/9AT), down from three after the 1.6L diesel was dropped. There is no hybrid or plug-in option, while the RAV4, CR-V and Escape offer hybrids.

This is competitive for a non-hybrid compact SUV. It is scored on the volume 1.5T FWD; AWD and the 2.0T are lower.

This is the EPA city figure for the volume 1.5T FWD.

This is the EPA highway figure for the volume 1.5T FWD.

The 14.9-gal tank and 28 MPG combined give a mid-pack total range for the segment.

This is the EPA annual fuel cost for the volume 1.5T FWD on regular gasoline at standard assumptions (15k mi/yr).

The volume 1.5T runs on regular unleaded. The optional 2.0T is listed by EPA on premium (GM recommends it), so requirements vary across trims.

The 2020 Equinox is a carry-over year of the third generation (2018–2024). NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal and side and the 4-star rollover typical of compact crossovers.

The 2020 Equinox earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but only with the LT's HID headlights. It rated Good in both small-overlap tests, moderate overlap, the original side test, roof strength and head restraints. IIHS's later updated side test rates the 2018 structure Marginal, which keeps it below a clean TSP score.

2020 is the year Chevy Safety Assist became standard on every Equinox trim. It includes forward collision alert, AEB, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator and IntelliBeam. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert are still optional on the volume LT, and adaptive cruise is limited to the Premier, behind CR-V and RAV4 rivals that fit adaptive cruise as standard.

The standard system earned IIHS's top Superior rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and Advanced for daytime pedestrian detection. No nighttime pedestrian result is published, and AEB operates only below about 50 mph.

Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert warn the driver but never steer or brake. They are not standard on L/LS and are a package option on the volume LT, with standard fitment only on Premier.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is newly standard on every trim for 2020. It only nudges the car back at the lane line, and no trim offers lane centering, leaving it behind the centering systems in the RAV4 and CR-V.

Adaptive cruise control is available only on the top Premier trim, as an option package. The volume LS/LT get conventional cruise, and there is no highway-assist function, a clear deficit against rivals that fit full-speed ACC on every trim.

The 2020 Equinox has no hands-free option. Super Cruise did not reach the Equinox until the 2025 redesign.

The volume LT's HID projectors rate Acceptable, while the L/LS halogens and the Premier's LEDs rate only Marginal. IntelliBeam auto high beams are standard from 2020 and help a little.

Forward and side views are good from an upright seating position, but thick D-pillars and a small rear window leave rear-quarter blind zones. A rear camera is standard, and the HD Surround Vision camera is limited to the Premier.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Acceptable, with two full LATCH positions and a tether-only center seat. The rear seat is roomy enough for rear-facing seats, but three across is tight.

The 2020 Equinox is a carry-over year of the 2018–2024 third generation, a two-row compact crossover that seats five on every trim.

Generous front headroom for the class without the optional panoramic sunroof.

Front legroom is short for the segment, consistent with reviewer remarks about a snug driver's footwell.

Good second-row headroom for a compact SUV.

Near the top of the compact class for rear legroom, with a reclining rear seatback; the rear seat is the Equinox's strongest packaging point.

No third row is offered on any 2020 Equinox; it is strictly a two-row, five-seat SUV.

Cargo space behind the rear seats is middling for the class and trails the CR-V and RAV4.

Maximum cargo trails key rivals such as the CR-V (75.8 cu ft).

Competitive everyday storage: console bin, door pockets, an underfloor cargo tray, flat-folding 60/40 rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat. Nothing class-leading, and a 120V outlet is limited to upper trims.

Front seats are supportive enough for longer drives and the reclining rear bench is comfortable, but reviewers flag front-seat comfort and limited adjustment on cloth LS/LT seats.

Reviewers describe a firm, connected ride that is rarely harsh — composed most of the time without leading the segment.

Reviews of the 2018–2021 Equinox describe a reasonably hushed highway cabin, though the volume 1.5T grows coarse under hard acceleration.

Heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated wheel are available, but only via packages on LT and on Premier; dual-zone automatic climate is Premier content. Key features sit on mid trims and up.

The 2020 Equinox (third generation, pre-facelift) opens just under $25,000 delivered through the stripped L trim, one of the lowest entry prices in the compact SUV class.

The LT 1.5T is the volume trim, and AWD is the common configuration. At about $30,300 delivered it undercuts comparable CR-V and RAV4 trims.

Routine service on the 1.5T and 6-speed automatic is inexpensive, but repair exposure on this generation's turbo engines (oil consumption, coolant leaks) pushes the projected total to mid-pack.

Resale is the Equinox's weak point. The 2020 model year kept about 48% at age five, against the mid-60s for the CR-V and RAV4. Heavy fleet volume and incentives weigh on used values.

GM's 3/36 basic coverage is the segment floor. It matches Honda and Toyota and is half of Hyundai/Kia's term.

5/60 powertrain coverage is the class minimum, well short of Hyundai/Kia's 10 yr / 100,000 mi.

Chevrolet Complete Care, new for MY2020, covers one maintenance visit in the first year, plus 5 yr / 60,000 mi roadside assistance and courtesy transportation and an OnStar/Connected Services trial. That is a short included-maintenance period, behind ToyotaCare's 2 yr / 25,000 mi.

$30,295 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48% retained, or about $14,542) leaves about $15,753 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,600 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,353 in total.

2020 is the third model year of the 2018-2024 third generation and a carry-over year (the 1.6L diesel was dropped), so the design was settled. J.D. Power rates its Quality & Reliability 86/100 'Great' and Consumer Reports-cited data gives it a 4/5 predicted reliability. Against that, owner-report aggregators score it only around 70/100, citing stop-start, transmission and infotainment complaints. The mixed signals keep it mid-band.

Chevrolet sits in the lower-middle of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings and near industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That is mid-pack, well short of Toyota, Honda and Lexus.

Four recalls cover MY2020. The rear-caliper lubricant campaign (brake drag) and the AWD fuel-tank seam leak are safety-relevant, but both are tiny campaigns. The start/stop accumulator endcap recall touches the transmission, and the LATCH powder-coat recall is broad but low-severity. That is typical recall activity, alongside the generation's 1.5T oil-consumption and turbo TSB history.

The volume 2020 Equinox runs the 1.5L turbo LSY four with GM's 6-speed automatic; the 2.0T with a 9-speed was optional. The 6-speed is a well-proven GM unit, but the LSY has a mixed record of oil-consumption and turbo-actuator bulletins, and this year carries the accumulator-endcap transmission recall.

This is the pre-facelift cabin, heavy on hard plastics. Reviewers consistently placed it behind the CX-5, CR-V and RAV4 for perceived quality. It is serviceable but plain for the money.

A settled mid-cycle build with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints, and J.D. Power's 86/100 quality score supports solid initial quality. The caliper-lubricant, fuel-tank seam and LATCH powder-coat recalls all point to assembly and supplier lapses, which tempers the score.

Chevrolet has the largest single-brand mainstream dealer network in the US (roughly 2,800-3,000 franchised stores), with dense rural coverage and generally solid service satisfaction.

The Equinox is one of the best-selling compact SUVs in the US, sharing its LSY engine, 6-speed automatic and D2XX platform parts with the Terrain, Malibu and others. Parts are cheap, abundant and well supported by independents and the aftermarket.

The volume LS/LT use the 7-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 screen; the 8-inch screen is standard only on Premier. Small by 2020 standards.

Chevrolet's Infotainment 3 system is consistently praised for ease of use and quick responses, with physical climate controls retained; held back by small screens.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, but wired only — wireless projection reached the Equinox with the 2022 refresh.

Native navigation comes only with the 8-inch system (Premier, LT option); basic voice commands are present, and most owners will rely on phone projection.

Base six-speaker audio is adequate; a seven-speaker Bose system is available on Premier only.

Analog gauges flank a driver-information screen (color on LT and up); no full-digital cluster is offered.

The 2020 Equinox predates GM's Vehicle Intelligence Platform; its Infotainment 3 system has limited over-the-air capability and no feature-adding whole-vehicle updates.

The myChevrolet app offers remote lock/unlock, locate and remote start (where equipped) via OnStar, with many functions subscription-gated; no phone-as-key.

Front and rear USB ports are standard, but wireless charging is a Premier-only feature and a 120V outlet is limited to upper trims.

Push-button start is standard; remote start is optional on LT and standard on Premier, and a hands-free liftgate is available on upper trims. No phone-as-key.

A rear camera is standard; rear park assist is Premier content and the HD Surround Vision 360 camera is Premier-only, so the volume LT typically has only the rear camera.

No head-up display is offered on any 2020 Equinox trim.

Roomy rear legroom (39.9 in), wide-opening rear doors and a flat rear floor make car-seat duty easy, though IIHS LATCH is only Acceptable and cargo space trails rivals for strollers.

NHTSA 5-star overall, an IIHS Top Safety Pick (LT HID headlights) and newly standard Chevy Safety Assist for 2020, but blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts are optional on the LT and adaptive cruise is Premier-only.

Reclining rear seat with generous legroom and rear vents/USB help, but no rear climate zone, mid-pack luggage space with seats up and adaptive cruise limited to the Premier.

Agreeable and easy to drive in traffic, but the non-defeatable auto stop/start (fixed only for 2022) and the 6-speed's hesitant downshifts are daily annoyances on the volume 1.5T.

28 MPG combined on regular fuel is average for a non-hybrid compact SUV; no hybrid is offered, so it trails RAV4/CR-V/Escape hybrids.

Compact footprint and a 37.4-ft turning circle are city-friendly, but thick D-pillars limit rear visibility and the 360 camera is Premier-only.

The volume 1.5T tows only 1,500 lbs, but 2020 is the last year of the optional 2.0T rated for 3,500 lbs; modest cargo volume keeps it light-duty either way.

A common fleet/rental vehicle, but the small turbo engine under load and middling reliability reports make it unproven for hard use.

Cargo tie-downs, roof rails on most trims and a factory trailering package with the 2.0T, but no onboard power beyond an upper-trim 120V outlet and little upfit ecosystem.

Composed ride and supportive seats with about 417 miles of range on the 14.9-gal tank, but no adaptive cruise below Premier and no lane centering limit fatigue reduction.

Available AWD and roof rails handle gravel roads and bike racks, and the 2.0T's 3,500-lb rating can pull a small camper, but ~7.9 in of clearance and no rugged trim limit adventure use.

60/40 flat-folding rear seat plus a fold-flat front passenger seat for long items and underfloor storage, but 63.9 cu ft max trails the CR-V and RAV4.

Reviewers credit balanced ride and handling that is capable on a twisty road, though it is not as athletic as the Mazda CX-5. Secure but not class-leading.

Accurate and direct steering, but light and short on feedback.

Adequate stopping power with a conventional pedal feel; no 2020-specific instrumented braking figures were retrieved.

The volume 170-hp 1.5T is adequate in town but strains when pushed, the 6-speed can hesitate on downshifts, and auto stop/start cannot be switched off. The optional 2.0T/9AT is far more responsive but is not the volume configuration.

Inoffensive at cruise, but the small turbo four grows buzzy under hard acceleration and stop/start restarts are noticeable.

Tight turning diameter for a compact SUV aids maneuverability.

Logical controls with physical climate knobs and a commanding view, but rear-quarter visibility is poor and front legroom (40.9 in) is short.

The volume 1.5T makes the Equinox a competent appliance, but 2020 still offers the 252-hp 2.0T, which is quicker than almost every rival and lifts the nameplate's character.

For 2020 Chevy Safety Assist became standard on every trim: AEB with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator and auto high beams. It joins a standard 7-in touchscreen with CarPlay/Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and a rear camera, which brings it to parity with the RAV4 and CR-V. Adaptive cruise and blind-spot monitoring remain upper-trim extras, and the L and LS are basic cloth-seat trims.

It has a low sticker price ($24,995–$36,895 delivered), newly standard active safety tech, and an optional 252-hp 2.0T with a 9-speed automatic (LT/Premier) that few rivals match at the price. Heavy 2020 incentives make it cheap to buy, but a dated interior and weak resale keep it at fair-to-good value rather than a bargain.

There are four trims (L, LS, LT, Premier) with FWD/AWD on all but the L, and a choice of 1.5T or 2.0T engines on the LT and Premier. That gives a broad price ladder, though there is no hybrid (the 1.6L diesel was gone after 2019).

It was GM's best-selling crossover, coming off a record 346,048 sales in 2019, and still sold 270,994 in pandemic-hit 2020. That made it third in the compact SUV segment behind the RAV4 and CR-V.

Chevrolet is a familiar mainstream brand with a vast dealer network, but its crossovers lack the resale reputation and loyalty of Toyota, Honda or Subaru. Heavy rental-fleet presence softens the Equinox's image.

In 2020 Chevrolet discounted the Equinox heavily. It offered up to 15% cash back in the July 2020 Open Road event, plus the COVID-era 84-month financing program, before the 2021 chip shortage dried up inventory.

2020 was the third model year of a generation launched for 2018. Chevy Safety Assist was newly standard, but the design was otherwise unchanged and the mid-cycle facelift was approaching (delayed to MY2022).

Reviewers rated it a comfortable, quiet but forgettable compact SUV. The available 2.0T earned praise, but the base 1.5T was criticized as underpowered and the cabin as plain. It generally ranked in the lower half of class comparisons and won no major 2020 awards.