Chevrolet · 2004–present

Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. It was intended to replace the North American Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also replaced the first-generation Chevrolet Captiva. An all-electric battery-powered (BEV) version called the Equinox EV was introduced in 2022 with sales starting in 2023 for the 2024 model year. It adopts a separate design and underpinnings from the internal combustion engine powered Equinox.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Chevrolet S-10 Blazer|Chevrolet Tracker

All Chevrolet Equinox data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

First generation (2005)

The Chevrolet Equinox was introduced in 2004 at the 2003 North American International Auto Show for the 2005 model year; its mechanical twin, the Pontiac Torrent, was introduced in 2005 at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show for the 2006 model year. A unique feature on the Equinox was its sliding rear bench seat dubbed "Multi-Flex". Riding on the GM Theta platform, the unibody is mechanically similar to the Saturn Vue and the Suzuki XL7. However, the Equinox and the Torrent are larger than the Vue, riding on a 112.5 in (2,858 mm) wheelbase, 5.9 in (150 mm) longer than the Vue. Front-wheel drive is standard, with optional all-wheel drive. They are not designed for off-roading unlike the truck-based Chevrolet Tahoe and TrailBlazer. For the 2006 model year, GM updated the Equinox for the first time, adding GM badges on the front doors, as well as recoloring the dashboard panel from grey to black. Heated seats became available with the cloth interior, and the rear seats now featured smaller headrests for improved rear visibility. The transmission shifter knob and HVAC controls were also updated. Outside, LS models now featured a standard body-color front bumper (instead of black), while LT models now featured body-color outside mirrors. The Equinox and Torrent received several interior and mechanical updates for 2007. The instrument cluster was redesigned with a trip computer display, replacing the Saturn-sourced unit. There were also some mechanical updates: the gear ratios of the five-speed transmission were revised for improved fuel economy, brakes now have rear vented discs instead of drums, and the fuel tank size is now 20.5 US gallons (on FWD) or 16.6 US gallons (on AWD), instead of the previous 17-US-gallon size on both models. The first-generation Equinox and Torrent wer

Second generation (2010)

The second-generation Equinox was announced by GM on December 21, 2008, and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2010 Equinox went on sale in June 2009. It is built on a stiffened version of the same "Theta" platform used in the previous model. The second-generation Equinox was built with a pair of upgraded gasoline direct injection engines, with better fuel economy claimed by GM. Earlier 2010 models had the GM badges on the front doors but were later deleted. It also features the Multi-Flex sliding rear bench seat and an optional height-programmable power liftgate. Laminated front door glass was standard on all models. Marketing of the Chevrolet Equinox resumed in Mexico in late November 2009, for the 2010 model year after a year of absence, but ceased after the 2011 model year. However, in October 2015, the Equinox was reintroduced in Mexico to replace the Captiva Sport for the 2016 model year. The second-generation Equinox is available standard with a 2.4-liter Ecotec I4 engine (produced in Tonawanda, New York, and Spring Hill, Tennessee), while a 3.0-liter V6 engine is available as an option on LT and LTZ trims. All four-cylinder models come with a fuel economy mode, which alters the drivetrain's behavior for improved fuel economy and is engaged by pressing the "eco" button on the front center console. Four-cylinder models have electric power steering, while V6 models have the more conventional hydraulic power steering. Both powertrains are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and an optional all-wheel-drive system, with front-wheel drive being standard. This generation of Equinox was assembled in three plants: Ingersoll and Oshawa (both in Ontario), and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The latter two plants only produced models w

Third generation (2018)

Chevrolet unveiled the third-generation Equinox on September 22, 2016. Gasoline-powered variants of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox went on sale in early 2017, while diesel-powered variants arrived in fall 2017. This generation was developed as a smaller vehicle to align itself with other vehicles in the compact crossover SUV segment, with its former role occupied by the new Chevrolet Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also introduced a new AWD system from GKN Driveline, allowing the driver to disengage the driveshaft to reduce friction and rotational inertia when AWD is not needed by the push of a button, replacing the fully-automatic system of previous generations. Other new features that were standard on all models included a start-stop system, passive entry, active grille shutters, electronic parking brake, second-row HVAC, and umbrella storage in the front door panels. The infotainment system features a seven-inch (on L/LS/LT/RS) or eight-inch diagonal (on LT/RS/Premier) touch-screen, both coming standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. New safety features introduced on the third-generation Equinox include a surround-view camera, forward collision warning, low-speed automatic braking, and a Safety Alert Seat, as well as a standard Rear Seat Alert system, a feature first introduced on the 2017 GMC Acadia. While the Equinox no longer features a sliding rear seat, the rear seats can be folded by disengaging the latches on the top of the rear seats, or additionally on LT and higher trims, by using the levers on the right side of the cargo area. All models now featured tempered front door glass and rear solid disc brakes. For 2019, the infotainment systems were upgraded with all models now featuring two USB ports on the center stack, while the second-row 12

Fourth generation (2025)

Chevrolet unveiled the fourth-generation Equinox on January 23, 2024, for the 2025 model year. The model adopts a new electrical architecture and a new platform spun off the existing D2XX platform, called the VSS-S. It also carries over the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine used by the outgoing Equinox. Trim levels are reduced from four to three, which are LT, RS, and ACTIV, with each trim having its unique front fascia. The fourth-generation Equinox is built at the San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico (alongside the GMC Terrain) and sales commenced in mid-2024. It is sold alongside the battery-electric powered Equinox EV. The Equinox shares similar exterior styling from the Traverse, with its front fascia and shark-fin style C-pillar. It features all-LED lighting and for the first time, it is available with 20-inch alloy wheels. The Activ model features 17-inch machine-finished alloy wheels in all-terrain tires, an available white-colored roof option for a dual-tone exterior color, blacked badging, a unique front fascia with vertical grille inserts and gray metallic accents, a Maple Sugar and Black interior theme, and ACTIV logo stitched on front seat headrests. The interior has an 11-inch configurable Driver Information Center and an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen system (30% larger screen compared to the previous model) that features Google built-in connected services; it has a similar screen layout to the Trax. The gear selector for the automatic transmission is now located on the steering wheel column which allows the drive mode selection dial to be placed in the center console, and the physical headlight controls were omitted to reduce microchip usage. The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine is carried over from its predecessor, wi

Equinox EV

The battery-electric version of the Equinox was introduced in January 2022 in a set of artist impression images at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and went on sale in 2024 for the 2024 model year. It received a completely separate design and underpinnings to the ICE-powered Equinox. The vehicle is equipped with GM Ultium batteries shared with other GM battery electric vehicles.

Fuel cell version

The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicle uses hydrogen for fuel with water as its only exhaust. The Equinox Fuel Cell uses the fourth-generation hydrogen technology found in the Chevrolet Sequel concept, which was unveiled in September 2009. The fuel cell is designed for only 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of driving, but is engineered to be operable in sub-freezing temperatures throughout its life. GM states that the Equinox Fuel Cell is about 500 pounds (230 kg) heavier than the original Equinox and has one inch shorter ground clearance. To reduce weight, it has aluminum doors and a carbon fiber hood. It uses headlights from the Pontiac Torrent. A dashboard mounted screen calculates the fuel savings to that of a gasoline-powered Equinox. It also includes a kilowatt meter and a fuel cell energy display. The fuel cell has four vapor outlets that replace the exhaust pipe. Three carbon-fiber fuel tanks store up to a maximum of 9.25 pounds (4.2 kg) of gaseous hydrogen at 10,000 psi (70 MPa), and give the Equinox a range of 200 miles (320 km). The Equinox Fuel Cell is certified by the EPA as a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV). GM built 115 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles and deployed them in 2007–2008 in several target areas including New York and California as part of a comprehensive plan dubbed "Project Driveway". The Equinox Fuel Cell includes safety features such as ABS, traction control system, and GM's OnStar telematics service, which offers drivers advice on operating the vehicles as well as information on nearby hydrogen filling stations. The vehicle complies with all 2007 federal safety standards. Performance. Motor Trend assessed the vehicle's performance as nearly the same as the 3.6-liter gasoline-powered equivalent, while bemoaning the dearth of high-pressure hydrogen

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Chevrolet Equinox

Manufacturer

General Motors

aka

Pontiac Torrent (2005–2009), GMC Terrain (2010–present), Holden Equinox (2017–2020)

Production

2004–present

Model years

2005–present

Class

Mid-size crossover SUV (2004–2017), Compact crossover SUV (2018–present)

Body style

5-door SUV

Layout

Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive / all-wheel-drive

Predecessor

Chevrolet Tracker, Chevrolet S-10 Blazer

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1071199CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_EquinoxCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1372067132 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2025_Chevrolet_Equinox,_front_12.10.24.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Kevauto · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.chevrolet.com/suvs/equinoxLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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