2020 Chevy Equinox – Lexington, KY

Driving the Equinox

There are a few performance configuration options for the 2020 Equinox. To begin with, the base engine is a 1.5-liter turbo with a 6-speed automatic transmission that produces 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. This is solid power for a base model, and it is extremely efficient. With FWD, this engine gets 26 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG combined. With AWD, the efficiency changes slightly with 25 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and 27 MPG combined. 

The other engine is a 2.0-liter turbo, which is equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission to produce 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This is a much more powerful option than the standard engine, but it still does not lose the efficiency factor. The FWD models get 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. And the AWD models get 22 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined. With these two options, drivers have the choice between greater power and greater efficiency, which is extremely important in the car-buying process; drivers should get what they want. 

Additionally, it can be important to look at towing capabilities. It is important to note that the 2.0-liter engine can tow a bit more than the 1.5-liter, at a maximum of 3,500 pounds. While this is not ideal for major hauling ventures, it is definitely useful, especially since this is merely a small SUV. Further, the 1.5-liter only tows 1,500 pounds. This is quite a big difference from the larger engine. However, if you will not be hauling anything at all, it is not worth worrying about. It is good to know, though, if you do plan on towing trailers with heavy items. All of that said, the 1,500-pound and 3,500-pound limits will be sufficient for most drivers and this versatile vehicle has the ability to fit many drivers' needs. 

Equinox Safety

Every Equinox trim comes with at least some driver assistance features. Some of the features you may see are lane-keep assist with departure warning, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, OnStar, following distance indicator, and automatic emergency braking. Plus, all trims of the Equinox come with a Teen Driver feature, which allows you to add limits to speed and music volume, among other things, to ensure your teen is driving safely, even when you are not in the car. This is an amazing feature line-up for base-level vehicles.

There are a few safety features that are only available on the higher trims, though. These include lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and the safety alert seat. The latter means that the seat will vibrate to warn you of potential crashes. This is only available with the Premier. Overall, the safety features are great, even in the base trim. 

Additional Safety Package

But if all of those features are not enough, there is a Roadside Safety Package that can be added to the Equinox as well. This includes a first aid kit and a highway safety kit. The first-aid kit includes bandages, gauze, scissors, sanitation wipes, and more. The Roadside Safety Package includes all the basics you will need if you break down or come across someone else who is broken down. 

In all, between the standard equipment, the upgradable features, and the additional optional safety package, it is clear that the Equinox is a very safe vehicle. 

Inside the Equinox

One of the first things people want to know when they think about a vehicle's interior is: What color is the cloth? Oddly enough, many people have a very specific taste when it comes to interior car color. Luckily, the Equinox has quite a few options to fit everyone's liking. The L trim and LS get Ash Gray cloth interior, which is basic, yet appealing. Once you move up to the LT, though, you can choose from Ash Gray cloth, Jet Black cloth, and Jet Black perforated leather. The final Premier edition comes in the same colors, but only in leather options. 

Beyond color and cloth, there are multiple interior add-on options, which multiply with each trim level. Some are included in trims, while you are charged for others. Some of these add-ons include cargo nets, cargo mats, a tablet holder, a heated steering wheel, infotainment DVD player systems, and an HD radio. You can also add a navigation infotainment system if you prefer that over the regular one. Both are 8 inches and include HD touchscreens, and in the Premium trim, you can get either one for the same price. 

Further, there are a couple of interior packages to add other features. The first is the Infotainment II Package, which includes the navigational infotainment system, an HD Radio, and a Bose 7-speaker audio system. But more importantly, there’s an option called the Interior Enhancement Package, which adds embroidered front-row headrests that read “Equinox,” and premium carpeted floor mats. Overall, you can customize your interior to be as plain or as luxurious as you would like; Chevy is always looking out for every type of buyer.

The Outside Looks

The Equinox’s exterior is rather luxurious for a smaller model. The base-level L only comes with two color options, which are Summit White and Silver Ice Metallic. This is pretty basic, but that is to be expected, given how affordable that it is. Thankfully though, other trims come with more colors to pick from if the exterior is extra important to you. These colors include Nightfall Gray, Mosaic Black, Chocolate, and Midnight Blue. Then there are Premium color options that cost around $400 extra dollars, including Cayenne Orange, Cajun Red, and Iridescent Pearl. Having these options allows you to give the Equinox the personality you want it to have. 

Similar to colors, the exterior add-ons differ according to trim, but you can get several different customization choices. For example, there is an option for a black grille with your choice of black or chrome trim, an illuminated black bowtie emblem which sits on the front grille, and molded assist steps. The illuminated black bowtie really does light up, giving your grille a fun appearance during nighttime hours and adding to the luxurious look of the SUV. 

Further, you can pick from several wheel types if you’re building an LT or a Premier. These include 18-inch or 19-inch bright machined aluminum wheels with Sparkle Silver pockets, 19-inch Gloss Black aluminum wheels with red stripes, or 19-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with Gloss Black painted pockets. No matter what you want the exterior to look like, the Equinox can be made to your liking; it is a versatile and customizable vehicle, making it a great buy.