If you’re about to buy a Chevrolet Equinox, you’re on the right track to getting a long-lasting, high-performing vehicle. The car is a fan favorite, and if you’ve finalized this beauty after all your research, you did a commendable job!
However, the job is not done yet! After choosing the brand and the model, it is equally important to choose the right year for that car! Elite brands like Chevrolet constantly integrate consumer feedback into their products and improve their cars.
Therefore, this article will give you deep insight into Chevy Equinox best years in complete detail.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight into it!
The Chevy Equinox — Over the Years
Although the initial make was a solid car, Chevy still improved the design, added more trims, and made constant electronic and segmental updates every year.
The table below covers all major updates we saw in the Chevy Equinox over the years.
| Year | Major Update from the Previous Year |
| 2005 | The 2005 Chevy Equinox comes with a conventional V6 engine, a broad wheelbase that provides lots of interior space, rear seats that can be adjusted fore and aft, and optional side curtain airbags. |
| 2009 | The 2009 model comes with classic satellite radio and side curtain airbags, whereas Bluetooth is now available as an option. |
| 2015 | Little has changed for the 2015 model. However, a new trim level and 4G LTE connection with a WiFi hotspot is introduced within the vehicle. |
| 2016 | The 2016 Equinox comes with updated headlights, and the dashboard now has a storage shelf.A touch screen with a rearview camera and a blind spot monitor has also been introduced. |
| 2017 | For 2017, Chevrolet has initiated the Midnight and Sport Package for specific trim levels. |
| 2018 | The Equinox was entirely modified in 2018, including introducing a new fuel-efficient engine. |
| 2019 | The 2019 model features new infotainment 3 touchscreen and adaptive cruise control. |
| 2020 | The diesel engine is eliminated from the vehicle, and new safety equipment is introduced. Different options and packages are also altered. |
| 2021 | The optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is inaccessible this year. |
| 2022 | The exterior styling for the vehicle is updated, and a sporty-looking RS trim is introduced this year. |
| 2023 | The latest 2023 model has five more horsepower, and midnight and sports packages are now available as an option. |
The 8 Chevy Equinox Years to Buy
A lot goes into selecting the right car—performance, reliability, and value for money. Therefore, we’ve compiled all the relevant data into bite-sized tables below so that you may skim through all the important details before making a decision!
All data included in the tables below are based on owner reviews and reports from Consumer Reports’ Official review of the models.
#1 Chevy Equinox 2021
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 4/5 | Users reported no issues with the car’s reliability even after taking it on long drives. Regular maintenance kept it in good shape. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 4/5 | The car was appreciated for its near-perfect interior, flawless electronics, and smooth handling. |
| Braking | 4/5 | The braking distance was short, and no tough jerks were experienced. |
| Engine Cooling | 5/5 | Engine cooling was spot on. The car cooled down a few minutes after the ride, and no overheating issues were reported mid-drive. |
| Engine Performance | 5/5 | The 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine was praised for its acceleration and powerful uptake. |
| Transmission | 5/5 | Shifting gears were super smooth, and users praised Chevy in this department. |
| Fuel Economy | 4/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $1,955 |
| Safety | 4/5 | Standard FCW and AEBABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#2 Chevy Equinox 2023
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 4/5 | Users reported no issues with the car’s reliability even after taking it on long drives. Regular maintenance kept it in good shape. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 4/5 | The car was appreciated for its near-perfect interior, flawless electronics, and smooth handling. |
| Braking | 4/5 | The braking distance was short, and no tough jerks were experienced. |
| Engine Cooling | 4/5 | Engine cooling was spot on. No overheating issues were reported mid-drive. |
| Engine Performance | 5/5 | The 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine was praised for its acceleration and powerful uptake. |
| Transmission | 4/5 | Changing gears was effortless. However, there were occasional jerks experienced. |
| Fuel Economy | 4/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $1.955 |
| Safety | 4/5 | Standard FCW and AEBABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#3 Chevy Equinox 2022
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 3/5 | Some users reported issues of the car breaking down during extremely long drives due to overheating. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 4/5 | The braking distance was short, and no tough jerks were experienced. |
| Engine Cooling | 4/5 | Engine cooling was spot on, other than some mid-drive overheating issues reported. |
| Engine Performance | 4/5 | Featuring the 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine, the car had decent acceleration. However, a few misses were reported. |
| Transmission | 4/5 | Changing gears was effortless. However, there were occasional jerks experienced. |
| Fuel Economy | 4/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $1.955 |
| Safety | 4/5 | Standard FCW and AEBABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#4 Chevy Equinox 2020
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 3/5 | Some users reported issues of the car breaking down during extremely long drives due to exhaust issues. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 4/5 | The braking distance was short, and no tough jerks were experienced. |
| Engine Cooling | 5/5 | Engine cooling was spot on. The car cooled down in just a few minutes after the ride, and no overheating issues were reported mid-drive. |
| Engine Performance | 5/5 | The 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine was praised for its acceleration and powerful uptake. |
| Transmission | 5/5 | Shifting gears were super smooth, and users praised Chevy in this department. |
| Fuel Economy | 4/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $1.955 |
| Safety | 4/5 | Standard FCW and AEBABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#5 Chevy Equinox 2019
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 4/5 | Users reported no issues with the car’s reliability even after taking it on long drives. Regular maintenance kept it in good shape. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 4/5 | The braking distance was short, and no tough jerks were experienced. |
| Engine Cooling | 5/5 | Engine cooling was spot on. The car cooled down in a few minutes after the ride, and no overheating issues were reported mid-drive. |
| Engine Performance | 4/5 | Featuring the 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine, the car had decent acceleration. However, a few misses were reported. |
| Transmission | 5/5 | Shifting gears was super smooth and users praised Chevy in this department. |
| Fuel Economy | 4/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $1.955 |
| Safety | 3/5 | ABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#6 Chevy Equinox 2017
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 5/5 | This was the most-reliable model out of all. Not a single breakdown was reported. Users drove the car for several thousand miles without any complaints. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 3/5 | The braking distance was a tad longer than expected. |
| Engine Cooling | 5/5 | Engine cooling was spot on. The car cooled down in a few minutes after the ride, and no overheating issues were reported mid-drive. |
| Engine Performance | 5/5 | The 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engines were praised for their acceleration and powerful uptake. |
| Transmission | 5/5 | Shifting gears was super smooth and users praised Chevy in this department. |
| Fuel Economy | 3/5 | Mileage: 18 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $2,705 |
| Safety | 3/5 | ABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#7 Chevy Equinox 2016
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 3/5 | Some users reported issues of the car breaking down during extremely long drives due to overheating. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 3/5 | The braking distance was a tad longer than expected. |
| Engine Cooling | 3/5 | Engine cooling was average, and a few overheating issues were reported. |
| Engine Performance | 3/5 | Featuring the 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine, the car had weak acceleration, and a few misses were reported as well. |
| Transmission | 4/5 | Changing gears was effortless. However, there were occasional jerks experienced. |
| Fuel Economy | 3/5 | Mileage: 18 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $2,705 |
| Safety | 3/5 | ABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
#8 Chevy Equinox 2009
| Characteristics | Rating | Description |
| Reliability | 3/5 | Some users reported issues of the car breaking down during extremely long drives due to overheating. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 3/5 | Electronics in the car weren’t as great. Plus, the handling wasn’t as smooth as users anticipated. |
| Braking | 3/5 | The braking distance was a tad longer than expected. |
| Engine Cooling | 3/5 | Engine cooling was average, and a few overheating issues were reported. |
| Engine Performance | 4/5 | Featuring the 1.5L turbo four-cylinder/2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine, the car had decent acceleration. However, a few misses were reported. |
| Transmission | 4/5 | Changing gears was effortless. However, there were occasional jerks experienced. |
| Fuel Economy | 3/5 | Mileage: 25 mpgEstimated annual fuel price: $2,705 |
| Safety | 3/5 | ABSStandard ESCAirbags and Head protection |
The Takeaway
Chevrolet has raised the bar with the Equinox, and if you’ve made up your mind to buy this car, you’re in for a ride! As long as you get the Chevy Equinox best years, the car will give you no trouble for a very long time.
However, taking good care of the vehicle is something you should focus on.
So, pick your favorite one from the cars we’ve mentioned above based on your requirements and budget!