Overview & Reviews

Part of a growing segment of plus-sized small crossover SUVs, the Chevrolet Equinox splits the difference between compact and midsize utility vehicles and offers roomy accommodations in a five-passenger layout. Like other vehicles in its class, the Equinox emphasizes style, amenities and day-to-day practicality over more traditional SUV attributes. In short, the Chevy Equinox is a fine choice for commuting to work or transporting pets, but it's not suited for towing, or anything more rugged than a gravel road.

Although the Equinox has always had a roomy interior and an easy-driving nature, the plain styling and low-quality interior materials in earlier models are none too impressive by today's standards. Later versions of this Chevrolet crossover have made big strides in quality and are available with more desirable features and engine choices.

User Reviews:

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  It was a good choice to buy the Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Marge in Ohio - April 26 - 2:40 am

  After checking several other SUVs I decided to purchase the Equinox and Im very satisfied with its performance.

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  Nice looks but poor quality - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kdethrow - April 22 - 8:16 pm

  I bought this truck in April and since then it has been in the shop 4 times. The first issue was the right front shock broke within 2 weeks of owner ship. Then the interior ceiling was falling in. Also, my hatch back light wont turn on. The most recent thing was my check engine light was on. The cause was the silver gas intake pipe wasnt centered and there for when the gas cap was on it did not create a tight seal causing gas fumes to leak. It is a beautiful vehicle but it has no quality to it. Also the blind spots are incredible. It is hard to pass on the interstate because you have to take your eyes off the road to turn around and look to see if it is clear behind you.

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  love my SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By busylizzy - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Im a mother of 2 and my kids and diaper bag ,car seat toys and groceries all fit well.

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  great - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By pedro_89 - April 21 - 2:00 am

  very happy with purchase.

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  great and fun to druve! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By TParker - April 21 - 2:00 am

  this car is a mini suv, but thinks its big... the styling is different and more sporty than most mini suvs. i love driving it!

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  NOX Needs Work, but still nice - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By NOX Wife - April 11 - 11:53 pm

  My husband got our Nox as a free employee car. We like it, but I wouldnt buy this if it wasn;t free. The seats are not comfy and the silver color on the dash comes off easily- looks very cheap. It drives nicely enough, but I feel like the windshield is too far away. The power plug for cell phone is under the cupholder (duh!) and all that dead space under the console is really hard to keep clean. This vehicle looks great, but we wish it had better gas mileage. Great storage in the trunk and back seat. I will be buying a Honda CRV soon... nuff said.

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  05 Equinox Review - thumbs down - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rick - April 9 - 1:20 pm

  Poor mileage but plenty of power, small gas tank, small cramped interior, emergency brake handle hits cup holder, bumps are very rough, pcv valve riveted in, front seats are small, interior has too much plastic, awkward center console, window buttons very confusing, pinch fingers on shift button

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  Gotta love it! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Maggie - April 9 - 12:23 pm

  Did a lot of research on crossovers before deciding on the Equinox. Love the ride, features, love the comfort, the room is sufficient for my family of 5 (that includes my dog). Great car and great value. Looks really good, too. I really love it. Ive had it for about a month and it has 2K miles on it so far. In eco mode on the highway, I see the gas mileage really work in my favor. Helps that I can see how many miles I have left before I run out of gas! No more minivan for me.

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  Rate this vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carole Shull - April 4 - 10:56 pm

  This is my first 4 door car. I have always had sport cars. It has been a delight to have room to carry so much. The size is good for women, not hard to handle or to get into. The only trouble so far has been a recall for a hose to be replaced on the cooling system. A water leak from my sun roof was coming into my lights above the mirror on the dash. That was corrected when the hose was fixed. I told other people about how much fun it is to drive. A close friend of mine got one because she liked mine so much. My husband was not crazy about getting it & giving up a sports car, but now thinks it has been his favorite one to drive. The first time I saw Equionx was on ithe nternet, and I did research before test driving it.

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  Pile of garbage. - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tom Lamothe - March 31 - 9:47 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for about 18 months. It was purchased off of my parent who bought the vehicle new. In the first 3 years of them owning the vehicle, they had to have several things repairs: Drivers seat, fuel pump/timing chain and some other minor issues. When I bought the car off of them, it was as if a self-destruct button was pushed. Immediately we found rust on the bottom of the rear doors (at 38,000 miles). This was repaired by the dealership under warranty. Shortly after I noticed that the vehicle was losing oil quite rapidly and seemed down on power. After (no lie) 12 visits to dealerships (one of which I refused to deal with any further as they wanted me to drop the vehicle off for the entire day for an oil consumption test), to monitor the oil level, they finally agreed to rebuild the engine (45,000 miles) as well as fix a transmission leak. Upon vehicle inspection, they also "discovered" that the AC condenser was leaking and needed to be replaced and that the rear brakes were "metal on metal" and needed to be replaced. All told there was over $7,000 worth of work done. $700 to replace the condensor. I refused brake replacement, another story, but it turned out that there was more than half of the braking material left and no need whatsover to replace the pads or rotors as we were quoted. one year later and we are back at it. At 58,000 miles, the rear differential is now leaking. The vehicle is still under the mileage for the powertrain warranty but past the time limit by 4 months. This repair was quoted at 600-700 dollars to replace an axle seal. This vehicle is now being traded in as I cannot deal with the sheer level of crap that is the 2011 Equinox. To summarize, 2011 Equinox with a 2.4 L engine only having 58,000 miles has had the following major issues: 1. Burning over 2 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. (Engine rebuilt) 2. Fuel pump and timing chain replaced. 3. Rust repair 4. Transmission leak repair 5. AC condensor leak 6. Seat issue recall repair 7. Rear differential leaking. The other minor issues I have had include random electrical gremlins that cause the auto headlights to come on randomly in direct sunlight, slipping serpentine belt that causes dimming of interior lights on occasion. On the surface this is a great vehicle. The interior is spacious and comfortable, the outside is relatively unobjectionable, It has several higher end features like Satellite radio, heated seats, etc. but the build quality is abysmal. I would not recommend this vehicle to my worst enemy.