2021 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Equinox is a third-generation (2018–2024) model with only the 1.5L turbo four, because the 252-hp 2.0T was dropped after 2020 and the diesel after 2019. 2021 is the last pre-refresh year. At 170 hp, output is low for the compact SUV class.

A broad, early torque plateau, but the peak figure is modest against turbocharged rivals.

This is slow for the segment. The commonly cited 8.9 s is used, and MotorTrend's instrumented 8.7 s corroborates it.

The small turbo four is smooth enough around town, but reviewers note it gets strained and buzzy when merging or passing with a load aboard. The auto stop/start restart is somewhat abrupt.

The conventional 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly but can be slow to kick down. It has fewer ratios than the 8/9-speed or well-tuned CVT rivals.

With the 3,500-lb-rated 2.0T discontinued for 2021, every Equinox is limited to 1,500 lbs, which is light-duty only.

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.

For 2021 there is a single powertrain (1.5T with a 6-speed automatic) after the 2.0T and diesel were 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 FWD configuration; AWD drops to 27 MPG.

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

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

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 on regular gasoline at standard assumptions (15k mi/yr).

It runs on regular unleaded across all trims and has no premium requirement.

The 2021 Equinox is the last pre-facelift 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 2021 Equinox earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but only with the LT's HID headlights. It rated Good in every crash test of its year: both small overlaps, the original moderate overlap, the original side test, roof strength and head restraints. IIHS's later updated protocols expose the aging 2018 structure, rating it Poor in moderate overlap with a rear occupant and Marginal in the updated side test, so it sits below a clean TSP score.

Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every 2021 Equinox from the L up. 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 optional on the volume LT, and adaptive cruise is limited to the Premier. CR-V and RAV4 rivals give every trim 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 standard on every trim. It only nudges the car back at the lane line, and no trim offers lane centering. That leaves it behind the centering systems in the RAV4, CR-V and Tucson.

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 2021 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 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.

Two-row compact crossover; every 2021 trim seats five.

Generous front headroom for the class without the sunroof; Cars.com notes the panoramic moonroof cuts into it.

Front legroom is on the short side for the segment, matching reviewer complaints about a tight driver's area.

Good second-row headroom for a compact SUV.

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

No third row is offered on any 2021 Equinox; this is a strictly 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; KBB contrasts it with the CR-V's 75.8 cu ft.

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

KBB calls the front seats supportive on long trips and the reclining rear bench comfortable, but Cars.com experts flag front seat comfort as a weakness; base LS/LT seats are cloth with limited adjustment.

The ride is soft and comfortable per KBB and 'firm, controlled' per Cars.com experts — composed most of the time without leading the segment.

Reviews of the 2018–2021 Equinox describe a reasonably hushed highway cabin, though the 1.5T grows coarse under hard acceleration; no standout acoustic measures on the volume trim.

Heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated wheel are available, but only via packages on LT and on Premier; remote start is optional on LT and standard on Premier. Key features sit on mid trims and up.

The 2021 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 is the volume trim, and AWD is the common configuration. At about $30,400 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 engine (oil consumption, coolant leaks) pushes the projected total to mid-pack.

Resale is the Equinox's weak point. It keeps roughly 48% after five years, against the mid-60s for the CR-V and RAV4. Heavy fleet volume and incentives weigh on used values. 2021 values were temporarily inflated by the 2021–22 used-car spike.

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 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.

$30,395 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48% retained, or about $14,590) leaves about $15,805 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,600 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,405 in total.

2021 is the fourth model year of the 2018-2024 third generation and the last before the 2022 facelift, so it is a mature design. J.D. Power rates its Quality & Reliability 92/100 'Great', but Consumer Reports-type owner data flags stop-start, transmission and infotainment-screen reboot complaints for this year. Those mixed signals keep it in the middle of the average 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 MY2021. The fuel-pump-module stall recall is powertrain-related, and the Hankook tire tread-separation recall is safety-critical. The other two are LATCH anchor-bar powder coating and a small seat-belt fastener campaign. That is more severe than the 2023 car's record but not systemic, and the generation also carries the 1.5T's oil-consumption and turbo TSB history.

The volume 2021 Equinox runs the 1.5L turbo LSY four with GM's 6-speed automatic. The 6-speed is a well-proven GM unit, but the LSY has a mixed record of oil-consumption and turbo-actuator bulletins. Owner complaints about stop-start and the fuel-pump stall recall pull it slightly below the 2023 car.

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, and owners also flag interior quality. It is serviceable but plain for the money.

A well-sorted mid-cycle build with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints. J.D. Power's 92/100 quality score supports solid initial quality, tempered by the LATCH powder-coat and seat-belt bolt recalls, which point to assembly and supplier lapses.

Chevrolet has the largest single-brand mainstream dealer network in the US (roughly 2,800-3,000 franchised stores) with dense rural coverage. J.D. Power rates the 2021 Equinox dealership experience 84/100.

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 LT uses the 7-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 screen; the 8-inch screen is reserved for upper configurations. Small by 2021 standards.

Reviewers consistently praise the Chevy infotainment 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 was not offered on the 2021 Equinox.

Native navigation is optional (LT/Premier with 8-inch screen) and basic voice commands are present; 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 with a center driver-information screen; LT upgrades it to a color display, but no full-digital cluster is offered.

The 2021 Equinox predates GM's Vehicle Intelligence Platform; its Infotainment 3 system has limited over-the-air capability and no feature-adding whole-vehicle updates.

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

Four USB ports (front and rear) standard, wireless charging available on upper trims, 120V outlet on Premier; ports are a mix of USB-A and USB-C.

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.

Rear camera is standard; rear park assist and HD Surround Vision 360 camera are Premier-only or packaged, so the volume LT typically has only the rear camera.

No head-up display is offered on any 2021 Equinox trim.

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

NHTSA 5-star overall and Chevy Safety Assist (AEB, lane keep, following-distance indicator) on the trims families buy, but blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts are optional on LT and adaptive cruise is Premier-only; IIHS updated side test Marginal.

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

Car and Driver calls it agreeable and easy to drive, but the non-defeatable auto stop/start (fixed for 2022) and hesitant downshifts are daily annoyances.

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

Compact footprint and a 37.4-ft turning circle are city-friendly, but reviewers cite rear visibility; the 360 camera is limited to the top trim.

Only 1,500 lbs of towing with the sole 1.5T for 2021 (the 3,500-lb 2.0T was dropped) and modest cargo volume — light-duty only.

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 dealer hitch accessories, but no onboard power beyond a Premier 120V outlet and little upfit ecosystem.

Comfortable ride and supportive seats with ~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, but ~7.9 in of clearance, a 1,500-lb tow limit and no rugged trim limit adventure use.

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

Car and Driver says it handles competently; KBB and Cars.com note it is not as athletic as the CX-5 and list handling as a weakness. Secure but unremarkable.

Accurate and direct steering per Car and Driver, but typically light and short on feedback.

Adequate stopping power with a conventional pedal feel; no 2021-specific instrumented braking figures were retrieved, so this reflects 2018–2021 reviews describing unremarkable brakes.

The 170-hp 1.5T is adequate in town but strains when pushed, the 6-speed can hesitate on downshifts, and the auto stop/start cannot be switched off in 2021.

Inoffensive at cruise but the small turbo four grows buzzy under hard acceleration; 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 Cars.com flags visibility and front-seat comfort, and front legroom (40.9 in) is short.

With the 2.0T dropped for 2021, the only engine is the leisurely 1.5T; the Equinox is a competent appliance with little character.

Every 2021 Equinox comes with a 7-in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and a rear-view camera. Automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist, however, are standard only from LT up (part of an LS package, absent on the L). Rivals like the RAV4 and CR-V made those standard on every trim, and adaptive cruise is limited to the Premier.

A low sticker price ($24,995–$34,295 delivered) and routine incentives make it cheap to buy. On the other side, 2021 dropped the optional 2.0T, leaving only a 170-hp 1.5T. Add a dated interior, missing standard safety tech on lower trims and weak resale, and the value is fair rather than a bargain.

There are four trims (L, LS, LT, Premier) and FWD/AWD on all but the L, so the price ladder is broad. But 2021 offers a single engine with no hybrid, and the 2.0T was removed, which narrows the choice compared with the RAV4, CR-V and Escape.

It was still a top-five compact SUV, but 2021 US sales fell 39% to 165,323 as GM's chip shortage starved production. That leaves it far behind the RAV4, CR-V and Rogue for the year, after a strong 270,994 in 2020.

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.

Early in the 2021 model year, Chevrolet offered cash allowances and low-APR financing. Once the chip shortage hit in mid-2021, inventory collapsed and discounts largely disappeared, with many dealers selling at or above MSRP.

2021 was the fourth model year of a generation launched for 2018 and a placeholder year. The planned refresh was pushed to 2022 by the pandemic, and the 2.0T was dropped, so 2021 buyers got the pre-facelift design with an imminent refresh.

Reviewers rated it a comfortable, quiet but forgettable compact SUV. They consistently criticized the underpowered 1.5T (more so with the 2.0T gone) and a plain cabin. It generally ranked in the lower half of class comparisons and won no major 2021 awards.