2021 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Equinox comes in four trims — L, LS, LT, and Premier — and offers eight exterior paint options. Each of the first three trims rides on standard 17-inch wheels, while the Premier trim adds 18-inch wheels. There are several packages available, starting with 19-inch wheels and a chrome grille. You can opt for roof rails, or a power liftgate if you're interested in the higher trims.

After eliminating the turbodiesel option in 2020, Chevrolet maintains the same engine options for 2021. The Equinox comes standard with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that combines with a six-speed automatic transmission to produce 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful option, a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, generates 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This horsepower output is one of the best in the class. Additionally, the larger engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, although all trims except the entry-level base L are available with all-wheel drive.

With the base engine using the standard front-wheel-drive layout, the 2021 Equinox gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Opt for all-wheel drive for better traction and roughly the same fuel economy numbers as the FWD. The top-rated engine will return 22 mpg in the city regardless of car layout. However, the highway mileage is slightly different: front-wheel drive averages 29 mpg, and all-wheel drive gets 28 mpg.

When properly equipped, the Equinox can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Surprisingly, the Equinox's cargo space rivals the larger Chevy Blazer, and offers enough room to carry passengers and cargo. You get about 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats, although you can fold down these seats to reveal about 64 cubic feet of cargo area. Seats come standard with cloth upholstery, but upper trims include heated seats, leather upholstery, and lumbar support.

The easy-to-use Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system comes standard in the SUV and includes a 7-inch touch-screen display, four USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Bluetooth, a six-speaker stereo as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Add the Infotainment package to the LT trim for an 8-inch touch-screen display, two extra USB ports, navigation, and a household-style power outlet.

The 2021 Equinox comes standard with almost a dozen safety features, including automatic emergency detection, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection. It's also outfitted with the Teen Driver system, which lets you set audio and speed limits for secondary drivers. Available safety features include a surround-view parking camera system, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.

Thanks to these impressive safety features, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Equinox its highest rating in all six crash tests. Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Equinox a perfect five-star safety rating for front and side crash tests.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chevrolet/equinox https://www.kbb.com/chevrolet/equinox/ https://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/chevrolet_equinox_2021 https://www.cars.com/research/chevrolet-equinox/specs/