2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Equinox is the facelift year of the third generation (2018–2024), but the powertrain carried over. Only the 1.5L turbo four was offered, since the 2.0T was dropped after 2020 and the diesel after 2019. That output is low for the compact SUV class.

Peak torque arrives early, but 203 lb-ft is modest next to turbocharged rivals.

This is slow for the compact SUV segment. Only one instrumented test of the 2022 model was found.

The small turbo four is reasonably smooth around town. Reviewers say it runs out of breath and gets buzzy when merging or passing with a load aboard, and the auto stop/start is somewhat abrupt.

The conventional 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly but is sometimes slow to kick down. It has fewer ratios than rivals' 8/9-speed automatics or well-tuned CVTs.

With the 2.0T gone, the 2022 Equinox is rated for 1,500 lbs whatever the drivetrain. That is light-duty towing only.

FWD is standard and AWD is optional across the range (LS, LT, RS, Premier). The system is basic on-demand AWD with a driver-selectable AWD/FWD disconnect, and it has no torque vectoring or terrain modes.

This is a pavement-oriented crossover with about 7.9 in of ground clearance. It has no off-road trim, no skid plates and no terrain management.

There is a single powertrain (1.5T with a 6-speed automatic) and no hybrid or plug-in option. Rivals such as the RAV4, CR-V and Escape offer hybrids.

This is competitive for a non-hybrid compact SUV. It is scored on the FWD volume 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.

A 14.9-gal tank at 28 MPG combined gives 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 on every trim; there is no premium requirement.

2022 was the mid-cycle refresh year of the third-generation Equinox (2018–2024). It holds a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, with 5 stars frontal and side and the 4-star rollover typical of compact crossovers.

Good in all six original crash tests: both small overlaps, original moderate overlap, original side, roof and head restraints. The 2018 structure falls short on IIHS's newer protocols, though: Poor in the updated moderate overlap and Marginal in the updated side test. It won no 2022 award.

Chevy Safety Assist became standard on every Equinox with the 2022 refresh: AEB, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator and IntelliBeam. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts are optional on the volume LT, and adaptive cruise is limited to the Premier. Rivals from Toyota and Honda give every trim adaptive cruise.

The standard AEB rated Superior in IIHS's vehicle-to-vehicle test: it avoided a collision at 12 mph and cut impact speed by 22 mph at 25 mph. Daytime pedestrian AEB rated Advanced. No nighttime pedestrian rating is published, and the later, tougher vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 test (applied to 2023-on) rated this system Poor.

Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert give warnings only, with no steering or braking intervention. They are optional on the volume LT and standard only on RS and Premier. In 2022 the chip shortage also limited how many cars actually got blind-spot alert.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is standard, but it only nudges the car back at the lane line. No trim can keep the car centered in its lane. That puts it behind the centering systems in the CR-V, RAV4 and Tucson.

Adaptive cruise is optional on the top Premier trim only. The volume LS/LT trims get conventional cruise, and no trim has highway assist. Most rivals make full-speed adaptive cruise standard.

No hands-free option is offered for 2022. Super Cruise did not reach the Equinox until the 2025 redesign.

The 2022 refresh brought new headlamps, and IIHS published no rating for them in 2022. The later rating for the same refreshed lights (2023) was Poor. Standard IntelliBeam auto high beams help a little.

The upright seating position gives good forward and side views. Thick D-pillars and a small rear window leave rear-quarter blind zones. A rear camera is standard, but the HD Surround Vision 360° camera comes only on upper trims.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Acceptable. The rear seat has room for rear-facing seats, but three across is tight.

Every 2022 Equinox is a two-row, five-seat crossover. The third generation (2018–2024) never offered a third row.

Front headroom is generous for the compact class on the volume LT without a sunroof.

Front legroom is adequate but on the short side for the class. Taller drivers may find the seat track limiting next to the CR-V and RAV4.

Second-row headroom is competitive for the class, and adults fit comfortably.

Rear legroom is a genuine strength and near the top of the compact SUV class. Capital One's reviewer called the cabin 'remarkably roomy inside'.

There is no third row. The 2022 Equinox is a strict two-row, five-seat SUV.

Cargo space behind the rear seat trails class leaders such as the CR-V (~39 cu ft) and RAV4 (~37 cu ft). Capital One's reviewer flagged it as falling short of competitors.

Maximum cargo space is modest for the segment, though the 60/40 seat folds nearly flat.

Everyday storage is typical: a console bin, door pockets, a tray ahead of the shifter and an underfloor cargo tray. Remote rear-seat release levers come on LT and up. Nothing is innovative.

The front seats are reasonably supportive and the rear bench is roomy. Base cloth seats are flat, and the LS seat is manual, with leather and power adjustment reserved for upper trims.

The ride is compliant on the volume LT's 17/18-inch wheels. The new 2022 RS on 19s is noticeably firmer but well controlled.

The cabin is relatively quiet at highway cruise, but the 1.5T gets loud under hard acceleration. Noise is average for the class.

Heated front seats and dual-zone climate come on RS/Premier or by LT package. Ventilated seats and a heated wheel are Premier-only. Chip-shortage builds from mid-November 2021 to late February 2022 shipped without heated/ventilated seats until retrofitted.

The refreshed 2022 Equinox (third generation, MY2022 facelift) started around $27,000 delivered, among the lowest entry prices in the compact SUV class and below the CR-V and RAV4.

The LT is the volume trim and AWD the common configuration. At about $29,700 delivered it undercuts comparably equipped CR-V and RAV4 trims by several thousand dollars.

Routine service on the 1.5T and 6-speed automatic is inexpensive, and GM parts are plentiful. Repair estimates for this generation's turbo engine (reported oil consumption and coolant issues) put the total in the middle of the pack.

Resale is the Equinox's weak point. It keeps roughly half its value after five years, well below the CR-V and RAV4, because of heavy fleet volumes and steady incentives. The 2022's early depreciation was cushioned by the post-pandemic used-car spike.

GM's 3-year/36,000-mile basic coverage is the segment floor. It matches Honda and Toyota and is half of Hyundai/Kia's term.

5-year/60,000-mile 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 12 months, 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.

$29,695 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48% retained, or about $14,254) leaves about $15,441 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,600 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,041 in total.

2022 is the facelift year of the 2018-2024 third generation: new front and rear styling, with the mature 1.5T/6-speed drivetrain carried over. Consumer Reports gives it an average 3/5 for predicted reliability, while J.D. Power rates it 85/100 'Great' and named it a Quality Award winner. Those mixed signals put it in the middle of the average band.

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

Five Equinox recalls cover MY2022, more than the 2023 car. One is a fuel-pump module that can under-supply fuel and cause a stall, so it is drivability-relevant. The rest are seat-structure, LATCH-bar and tire issues. None is a fire or engine-failure campaign, but the count and the stall risk put it at the low end of typical.

The 2022 Equinox has one drivetrain: the 1.5L turbo LSY four with GM's 6-speed automatic, after the 2.0T and diesel were dropped following 2020. The 6-speed is well proven. The LSY has a mixed record, with oil-consumption and turbo-actuator bulletins but no systemic failures.

The 2022 refresh changed the exterior and trim levels but left the cabin largely as it was: heavy on hard plastics and behind the CX-5, CR-V and Tucson for perceived quality.

A well-sorted late-cycle build, with a J.D. Power Quality Award backing its initial quality. It is held back by two separate seat-structure recalls (a loose pivot bolt and the seat cushion frame) plus the LATCH powder-coat escape in this model year.

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

The Equinox is a high-volume seller whose LSY engine, 6-speed and D2XX platform parts are shared with the Terrain, Malibu and others. Parts are cheap and abundant, independents and the aftermarket support it well, and repair costs are typical for a compact SUV.

The volume LT uses the 7-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 screen, which is at the bottom of the class. The 8-inch Infotainment 3 Plus unit is standard on Premier and optional on LT/RS.

Infotainment 3 is simple and reasonably responsive, and it keeps physical climate and volume controls. The small screen and dated graphics trail newer rivals.

New for the 2022 refresh, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, including the base LS.

Built-in navigation and enhanced natural voice recognition come only with the 8-inch Infotainment 3 Plus (Premier or LT/RS option). The volume 7-inch system relies on phone projection.

The base six-speaker system is ordinary. The available seven-speaker Bose is a modest upgrade. Some chip-shortage builds shipped with non-functioning rear speakers.

Every trim keeps analog gauges flanking a small driver information display (color 4.2-inch on LT and up). No full-digital cluster is offered.

The legacy GM electrical architecture predates the Vehicle Intelligence Platform. OTA is limited to minor infotainment/app updates, with no feature-adding vehicle updates.

myChevrolet offers remote lock/unlock, locate and remote start on equipped vehicles, plus a 4G LTE hotspot. Most functions need a Connected Access/OnStar plan after the trial, and there is no digital key.

Front USB-A/USB-C ports are standard. Rear charge-only USB and wireless charging come with packages or upper trims, and a 120V outlet is on upper trims.

Keyless entry and push-button start are standard. Remote start is standard on RS/Premier and optional on LT, and a hands-free liftgate is on Premier. There is no phone-as-key.

A rear camera and Rear Park Assist are on the volume LT, and RS adds front/rear sensors. HD Surround Vision and automatic parking assist are Premier-only.

No head-up display is offered on any 2022 Equinox trim.

Generous 39.9-in rear legroom and wide rear doors make car seats easy to fit, and IIHS rates LATCH Acceptable. The 29.9 cu ft cargo hold takes a stroller but little else.

It has an NHTSA 5-star overall rating, and Chevy Safety Assist plus Rear Seat Reminder are standard. But IIHS rates the updated moderate overlap Poor and updated side Marginal, and blind-spot alerts and adaptive cruise cost extra on the volume LT.

The roomy rear seat and compliant ride help, but rear amenities are thin: rear USB and heated rear seats need packages. Luggage space with five aboard trails class leaders.

The ride is comfortable and the controls light. Turbo lag the reviewer had to 'surf' and abrupt stop/start detract in traffic.

28 MPG combined on regular fuel (FWD) is competitive for a non-hybrid. Hybrid rivals commute far cheaper, and no hybrid Equinox is offered.

It has a compact footprint, a reasonable turning circle on LS/LT and standard rear park assist. Thick rear pillars hurt visibility, surround view is Premier-only, and the low front bumper scrapes curbs.

A 1,500-lb tow rating, a 170-hp engine that strains under load and modest cargo volume make it unsuited to real work.

It is a common rental-fleet vehicle with a simple 1.5T/6AT powertrain, but it is not built for abuse or sustained heavy loads.

Roof rails, a dealer hitch and cargo tie-downs cover basic needs. There is no meaningful onboard power and no upfit ecosystem.

It is comfortable and relatively quiet at cruise, with ~417 miles of range. Adaptive cruise is Premier-only and there is no lane centering, so ADAS does little to reduce fatigue.

Available AWD and ~7.9 in of clearance handle gravel and snow roads. The 1,500-lb tow limit, lack of terrain modes and a modest engine cap its outdoor utility.

The 60/40 seat folds nearly flat with remote releases on LT and up, and roof rails and a hitch are available. Overall volume is small for the class.

It handles securely, with decent grip and nicely controlled body roll. It is tuned for comfort and trails the CX-5 and Tucson for composure.

The steering is light and accurate with good on-center feel on the highway, but it transmits little feedback.

Reviewers report no issues with braking performance or pedal modulation. No instrumented 70–0 distance was retrieved in this run.

The 1.5T/6-speed is smooth in light driving, but pronounced turbo lag, reluctant kickdowns and abrupt stop/start detract. With the 2.0T dropped for 2022, there is no stronger option.

It is quiet at cruise but buzzy and strained under hard acceleration and on grades.

The volume LT's turning circle is about average for compact SUVs. The new RS on 19-inch wheels turns considerably wider.

The upright seating gives good forward sightlines, and the physical climate controls are simple. Limited front legroom (40.9 in), a manual seat on LS and thick rear pillars are minor drawbacks.

It is appliance-like, with a weak, laggy engine and numb steering. The new RS is a cosmetic package on the same 1.5T.

The 2022 facelift made Chevy Safety Assist standard on every trim: AEB with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, forward collision alert, following-distance indicator and IntelliBeam headlights. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a 7-in screen are also standard. The LS is otherwise sparse (cloth seats, few comfort features), and blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise cost extra or are limited to upper trims.

An entry price of about $27,000 and a volume LT AWD under $30,000 make it inexpensive to buy. That is offset by the weakest powertrain in the class (175 hp 1.5T only, no hybrid), dated interior materials and below-average resale, so it is fair value rather than a bargain.

There are four trims (LS, LT, the new RS, Premier), each in FWD or AWD, with option packages and an evenly spaced price ladder. With the 2.0T gone since 2021, a single engine and no hybrid option narrow the choice compared with the RAV4, CR-V and Escape.

US sales rose 28% to 212,072 in 2022, despite chip-shortage constraints across the industry. The Equinox briefly passed the CR-V for second in the segment in Q2 2022, making it a top-tier seller behind the RAV4.

Chevrolet is a familiar mainstream brand with a broad dealer network, but its crossovers lack the resale reputation and loyal following of Toyota, Honda or Subaru. A heavy rental-fleet presence also softens the Equinox's image.

The 2022 model year sold into the chip-shortage seller's market. Inventory was tight, incentives were thin across the industry, and dealer markups were common, so deals were modest and occasional. They were still more available on the Equinox than on the RAV4 or CR-V.

2022 was the fifth model year of a generation that launched for 2018, but it was the mid-cycle refresh year, bringing new front and rear styling, the RS trim and standard safety tech. The underlying platform and powertrain were aging, and the redesign arrived for 2025.

Reviewers rated it a comfortable, roomy but forgettable compact SUV. They criticized the underpowered 1.5T (the only engine since the 2.0T was dropped) and the plain interior, it generally ranked in the lower half of class comparisons, and it won no major awards for 2022.