Used 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

There must be a way to make the 2023 Equinox more attractive. After all, compact SUVs are big sellers. Some even have all-wheel drive as standard, while others offer 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties.

Yet it seems that Chevrolet is happy enough for the Equinox, which debuted for the 2018 model year, to languish in the “just OK” backwaters of the class. Pricing is fairly reasonable, but to acquire most of the desirable convenience and safety features means buying the most expensive trim, or at least hitting the options list quite hard.

Driver appeal is hardly an attribute. The Equinox receives a boost of just five horsepower this year. Strong resale values? Honda, Toyota and Subaru have all that sewn up.

There are Chevrolet fans, folks who have grown up in families where driving a Chevy was just the choice everyone made. For those people, they’ll probably be OK with a new Equinox SUV. But plenty of rivals have more going for them.

Mechanical changes to the 2023 Equinox compact SUV include a small increase in engine output, and the brakes are upgraded with an electronic booster — not that we had any complaints about last year’s brake system.

There are really no complaints at all regarding how the Chevy Equinox drives. Everything works the way it should, even if the engine is never going to blow off many socks. And wisely, the suspension is tuned for day-to-day comfort instead of the occasional back-road blast. Maximum towing ability is 3,500 pounds.

One minor tweak for the 2023 Equinox SUV is a wrapped steering wheel, which is optional in the RS and standard in the Premier trim. Because Chevy has not mentioned “leather” in the same sentence, let’s assume this wrapping is the simulated stuff.

Cloth upholstery is employed in the LS and LT, with the RS ad Premier gaining perforated leather. A 7-inch infotainment touchscreen is another aspect of the lower trims, with an 8-inch version offered as an option, or part of the Premier trim’s standard inventory.

A new Safety and Infotainment package for the LT and RS versions brings adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera system, 8-inch infotainment display, navigation, and (for some reason) a heated steering wheel.

This is technically a 5-seater compact SUV, but that middle spot in the back row is not going to be popular with anyone. Rear legroom, however, is 39.9 inches, which is great for the class.

Cargo space isn’t so impressive, with 29.6 cubic feet opening out to 63.9 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded. But owners should still be able to squeeze in plenty of luggage or whatever else they’d like to transport.

The exterior design of the 2023 Equinox says more about this compact SUV than it probably ever intended. It’s kind of alright. Which is the score the Equinox achieves in virtually every category.

The base LS comes with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, and every version has LED headlights. A new optional Midnight Edition cosmetics package for the LS adds black exterior elements, including 18-inch alloy wheels.

The range gains some new colors this year: Radiant Red Tintcoat, Sterling Gray Metallic, and Harvest Bronze Metallic.

1. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Standard across the lineup, this means integrating a smartphone without having to first fumble around in pockets or purses.

2. User-friendly infotainment system
Chevrolet’s setup is easy and intuitive. And it comes with Wi-Fi as standard.

3. All-wheel drive
Admittedly, this is a common option across the compact SUV class — the Mazda CX-50 and Subaru Forester even have it as standard. But it isn’t just winter where the traction and grip of all-wheel drive can be appreciated.

4. OnStar
This provides things like emergency service calling, roadside assistance, and vehicle diagnostics. A 5-year subscription is included with every new Equinox SUV.

5. Hands-free tailgate operation
The wave of a foot near the sensor (under the rear bumper) will activate the tailgate’s opening. Sadly, this is included only with the top Premier trim. It’s not until RS trim that a powered tailgate becomes available.

6. Safety Alert Seat
With a vibrating seat cushion, it warns drivers of approaching hazards. Something coming from the left would set off the left side of the seat and vice versa. Exclusive to the Premier trim.

A little upgrade for the one engine in the Chevy Equinox SUV range brings a modest boost of five horsepower. Output is now 175 horsepower, going through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Torque stays at 203 lb-ft.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

Regular gasoline is acceptable. These fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2022, but there shouldn’t be any significant differences in 2023.

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
175 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
203 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/31 mpg (FWD), 25/30 mpg (AWD)