4 Star Reviews for 2013 Chevrolet Equinox

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.24/5 Average
50 Total Reviews
This Year's Model Updates:

For the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, a 3.6-liter V6 replaces the previous 3.0-liter V6 as the optional engine. There are also a few new available features, including a revised touchscreen interface, smartphone app integration (Chevy's MyLink), a rear-seat entertainment system, a power passenger seat and a remote garage door opener.

Pros:
  • Quiet cabin with lots of storage bins
  • Premium look inside and out
  • Spacious and adjustable backseat
  • Comfortable highway ride.
Cons:
  • Not quite as much cargo space as chief rivals
  • Poor rear visibility.
  • Numb and uncommunicative steering

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 50.00
  • Of Some Concern - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    I have the 2013 Chevy 2LT Equinox with 301 HP V6. Fwd, Leather,black on black, Tow Package, everything power. I only lack AWD, which I havent needed in our somewhat snowy and icy winters Central Indiana. And Navigation. I also dont have the Economy Button people speak of here. Ive had the car brand new off the lot $31k. Ive had a couple of concerns. 2 days ago my power breaks locked my back wheels while driving. I had to have an expensive tow, but the work was under warranty. I havent hit the basic 3 yrs 38k miles yet, Im at 2 yrs 27100 miles. If I had been out on the interstate I think I may have had a bad crash, idk, dont wanna find out. The dealership fixed the problem promptly. I think perhaps this should be a recall that is fixed for everyone. Also, my license plate light on one side has lost the outer covering somehow in the car wash I beleive. The rear window doesnt clean easily. Seems to smear. No matter how clean I try and make it. Although its garage kept, I cannot make that rear window look brand new again. I baby my car, and I absolutely love it otherwise. I avg 18 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. I am average height and weight 5 11 180 lbs and the seating is extremely comfortable. The floor mats look well aged after going through just two winters, should have purchased winter floor mats sooner. I use both the fwd collision alert and the lane departure warning, and I love these options. I have the upgraded 18 inch wheels. I guess Im here to boast about how much I love my car.... But, that being said, Im concerned about this recent parking break issue. I think thats dangerous. The dealer said no worries, and blew off further conversation, but Im a bit I settled on the issue and may contact Chevrolet directly.

  • Happy after almost 3 years and 20k miles - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    Have been happy overall with my leased 2013 Equinox LTZ. Gas mileage in city (LA stop & go? traffic) consistently 20 mpg freeway high 20s...low 30s in ECO mode. Only issue thus far has been occasional hiccups in radio/nav system (occasionally doesnt turn on with car often starts in radio mode rather than usb/iPod where it was when turned off). In terms of design, really like sliding back seat...lots of rear seat leg room when not hauling cargo. Cargo space is a bit narrow, but has been adequate for my needs. Rear seats fold flat (as long as headrests retracted), creating good space when needed. Not thrilled with plastic door panels...very cheap looking. Absolutely HATED front collision sensor, and turned both it and the lane indicator OFF shortly after purchase...front collision sensor would apply brakes when accelerating to pass, and also on "twisty road"...apparently it thought I was headed for the cars parked on the opposite side of the street so applied brakes...very irritating and potentially dangerous. Fit and finish have been great. Absolutely no repairs required outside of routine oil changes/tire rotations. Tires and brakes still ok at 20k miles.

  • Been a Good Car so far but not Perfect - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    Bought the Equinox new 3 years ago and have not had any troubles in 24,000 miles. I knew the 2.4L wouldnt routinely achieve the EPA fuel mileage numbers at typical highway speeds (and Im frustrated at both Chevy and the EPA for unrealistic numbers) but a quick glance at the data on Fuelly.com shows its nearly impossible to achieve the highway number (only 3 fill-ups out of 418 got 32 MPG) which is just wrong from a consumer standpoint. I have measured 29.5 MPG on a 500-mile highway run in ECO mode running 65-70 MPH. I dont know how the 4-cylinder will hold up either so I might opt for the 6-cylinder if I had it to do over again. I thought the 2.4L had reasonable power during my test drive but after 3 years of driving, it feels somewhat underpowered. On the plus side, its quiet and we have not had any squeaks or rattles. It has run flawlessly with no returns to the dealer for any reason other than oil changes. I think the Equinox looks pretty decent and handles well. Brakes and HID headlights are great. Good amount of room in the back seat. Side airbags are good to have. Here are my observations on the negative side: 1. The center stack is angled away from the driver so reaching the main knob on the upper right of the radio requires the driver to lean forward away from the seat and Im 6 ft tall with relatively long arms. This is terrible ergonomic design and is very frustrating over time. That control isnt accessible on the steering wheel so they force you to lean way forward to use it. Extremely bad. 2. I find the seats too firm. The firm seats bother my sciatic nerve and I start having numbness. I had to go buy a seat cushion to alleviate this problem. 3. The Equinox cargo room is much smaller than it should be for a vehicle of this length. The Equinox is the same length as our Buick Rendezvous but the Rendezvous has 3 rows of seating and offers two or three times more cargo space. According to Edmunds specs, the two vehicles only differ in width by 1 inch so Im just puzzled how the Equinox is so much smaller in the back. It just strikes me that the Equinox is trying to be a small fuel-efficient SUV but it doesnt excel at either end of the spectrum. It doesnt achieve the EPA numbers but also isnt big enough to handle big family trips because of the small cargo area. The cargo area is also narrow enough that you cant put golf clubs back there. 4. As noted above, Im not sold on the 2.4L engine. It doesnt achieve the sticker ratings and Im uncertain how well it will hold up over time. Im not sure were saving enough fuel to be worth feeling this underpowered. Some people have reported 5. The 6-speed transmission is good at keeping the engine revs low for better fuel economy and I like the manual shift control but it is the worst-shifting new-car transmission I have ever owned. I dont consider it a severe problem but more of a constant annoyance. Its just not nearly as smooth as it should be. The car hesitates momentarily at every shift with first-to-second and second-to-third being the worst. So, the bottom line for me is that it is a mixed bag. The car has been completely reliable which is ultimately what matters the most to me but I do have a few concerns as noted above.

  • My first new vehicle - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    Ive had my Equinox for over a year now and here are my pros and cons. Pros: -I havent gotten stuck once during the first winter season with my all seasons. I cant wait to drive it with winter tires. -I like the sliding backseat feature. My parents wont ride shotgun because they like the room in the back! -Fairly good on gas and very decent on the highways when on eco mode -Smooth ride, especially on highways -Blind spot mirrors are very helpful Cons: -Wish the backseats would fold flat, it gives it a weird angle when folded. -Very narrow space from behind -Some of the interior gives it a cheap look and easily scratches and dents from normal wear -Steering is sluggish

  • 1ST YEAR REVIEW - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    My gf bought a 2013 Equinox just over 1 year ago & we have enjoyed it as our daily commuter. We enjoy the cargo space as we have filled it up, probably too much, several times over the past year with room to spare. The Chevy MyLink system is good & bluetooth calling & entertainment system works well. My gfs favorite feature are the heated seats. They get very warm very quickly which she enjoys for her back. Driving is not very exciting due to lack of steering feel & you can feel the base 182 hps lack of power in some situations, though it always gets the job done. We are always comfortable & you have lots of personal space which is great, especially for those trips with several passengers.

  • A couple things need improvement - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    Overall good car. 2 things I think need improvement. One is the front seat construction. The plastic side piece comes way up the cushion so that when I get out it squishes my thigh and hurts unless I snake sideways and slip out of the car, but that gives me a panty wedgy every time. Secondly and most important is the vibrating rear view mirror. They have replaced the mirror but to no avail. After driving 2 more new cars on the lot we discovered the same issue. Must be a poor design. Bad. It actually deters me from looking in my rear as often as Id like.

  • Pleasantly suprised - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    I went to the dealership wanting a Traverse and left with this car instead. I love my new car and I look forward to the savings on gas milage. The eco button is awesome and the hands free calling are just a few of the things I like about this car. The leg room for the second row is awesome. I couldnt believe how much space is back there. Even though it doesnt have a third row, the space is great for me and my family of 4.

  • Undecided on how I feel about the purchase - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    I hate how the steering wheel covers up the ac vents, could have designed it better. I have a 2013 with 13k miles, the black granite color. I have had to take it in once already because the paint has bubbled and now I’m taking it in again for the same paint bubbles, just in a different location. My equinox is a 4cy and I only get, at most 25 mpg and the dealer cannot explain why, I drive on open road, not much stop and go traffic. Just recently my brakes have started making a horrible sound. I have had to take it in multiple times for the electronics, all to do with the radio / navigation. I really liked the design of the car, for the most part.

  • Good overall value - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    I purchased this equinox after owning the same car from 2010. Both are 4 cylinder AWD models. I have seen some posts involving engine issues but both my 2010 (50K miles) and my 2013 (12K miles) are both great cars. I get about 29 MPG on both combined driving and neither car is experiencing any engine issues or any other issues at all. My wife is a very aggressive driver and her 2010 still is running original brakes and tires. She never gets 50K on any of her vehicles so this has really impressed me about the car. I have the oil changed by the dealer when the OLM reaches between 30-40% which is still around 6K to 7K intervals. Just had both OLM upgrades and will post the new intervals

  • performance - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
    By -

    very poor rear visibility, wish I had known!

Chevrolet Equinox Reviews By Year:
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