The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox is close in price to the slightly older 2021 model, but you’ll get some upgrades on the exterior in the process. The biggest difference is the addition to the park assist feature for the 2022 version.
The Chevrolet Equinox gives you a bit of everything in a compact SUV. It’s somewhere in the middle for features and performance, but it has high safety ratings and is more affordable than some competitors. You can get a good SUV for a good price.
The question then is how much has changed between the 2021 and 2022 Chevrolet Equinox models and whether you want to pick one over the other. Believe it or not, your preference may come down to how you feel about parking!
Let’s look at price, fuel economy, safety, and noticeable differences between the two years. We’ll go over the specs you need to help you pick between the 2021 and 2022 versions, which is definitely a better option than flipping a coin to decide.
2021 Chevrolet Equinox vs. 2022 Chevrolet Equinox: what’s the difference?
The Equinox is middle of the road for its size as a compact SUV, just a bit smaller than the Blazer
. Its main competition comes from vehicles like the Toyota RAV4
and Honda CR-V
. You get a lot for your money, and while it doesn’t quite smash the competition, the Equinox is a good all-around vehicle So, did a year and the slight increase in cost make that much difference? Yes, mostly in the form of an exterior refresher and upgraded technology. But let’s look at the fine print to better understand what’s what.
Pricing
Pricing remains pretty consistent across trims
, with a small increase for the LS and Premier, while the LT is the same. The biggest change is cutting the L trim and adding the RS trim from 2021 to 2022. | | |
|---|
| | |
| | |
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| $31,995 (new trim option) | |
Chevrolet Equinox Premier | | |
General specs
Both versions use a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 hp, and the engine is about average—it does its job but doesn’t offer much of a challenge to other compact SUVs for power. The models are pretty much identical for nearly the same price, so you don’t end up spending a lot of extra for nothing
The main difference is the updated front design of the 2022, as well as new park assist and automatic parking assist options, which can be a welcome addition to help with a daily task, especially if you live in a city.
| | |
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| 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (170 hp) | 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (170 hp) |
| | |
| Standard All-wheel drive (AWD) or Front Wheel Drive (FWD) – RS, LT, LS, Premier | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Standard or All-wheel drive (AWD) – LT, LS, Premier |
| | |
Fuel economy
Since the basic specs are the same between the 2021 and 2022 Equinox models, the fuel economy is also the same. Your driving habits affect how much fuel efficiency you can expect for your specific vehicle, but here are the EPA-estimated mileage ratings:
Since the average fuel economy combined is 24 mpg, the Equinox has better than average fuel efficiency, which can save you on gas money. You can also use a few tricks to up your mpg even more
. Safety ratings
Both the 2022 and 2021 Chevrolet Equinox have five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and both are 2022 Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS gave both models the same safety ratings, including nearly all “good” ratings
The only real “poor” rating came from the seat belt reminder rating on both vehicles, but the 2021 got slightly lower ratings for the headlights. Most of the ratings, however, were at the highest level, “good,” and both years performed well overall.
Both the 2022 and 2021 models have many safety features, including automatic braking for both possible collisions and pedestrians, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and indicators to help with safely driving behind another vehicle. Both use IntelliBeam headlamps, which automatically turn on based on lighting conditions.
The main difference is that the 2022 model upgraded the hands-free park assist option, which uses ultrasound to help detect objects to the side, front, and rear of your SUV, then steers the vehicle while you help with either braking or acceleration. The 2021 model only has rear park assist, so it’s much more limited. Since fender benders can happen while parking, this gives you a less stressful and safer option for parking.
Styling and interior changes
Again, there isn’t much difference between the interior spaces, and the nearly identical price tag reflects this minimal change. The interior is serviceable but about average. You can expect the Equinox’s interior to have basics such as:
Cloth seats (leather optional on Premier)
Power Driver Seat (Optional)
Standard 7.0-inch touchscreen (8.0-inch unit available)
Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment interface
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Bluetooth phone and audio streaming
Standard 4G LTE onboard Wi-Fi
Smart Device Integration (Optional)
The Premier
trim gives the most options and higher-end interior, such as leather seats, but that’s also why it’s the priciest trim. You can add some tech features, such as an entertainment system, but other features, like the wireless connection, are standard. Special edition
The Premier trim includes a Redline Edition, which is being reintroduced into the lineup. Beyond the more upscale features of the Premier, the Redline focuses on the looks as its wow factor.
The Redline Edition includes a black interior, while you can choose from unique exterior colors, including Iridescent Peal Tricoat, Silver Ice Metallic, Mosaic Black Metallic, or Iron Gray Metallic options. The Redline also offers red or black accessories throughout the SUV, including a black grille, 19-inch black wheels with red accents and black center caps, and more
If you want to up your style factor while getting the most luxurious trim in the Equinox lineup, consider the Redline Edition. Keep in mind that the upgrades are purely for looks—you still get the same engine and other specs, so you’ll want to decide if the extra cost is worth the major style upgrade.
2021 Chevrolet Equinox vs. 2022 Chevrolet Equinox: which should you buy?
OK, so which option should you buy? Considering the 2022 and 2021 Chevrolet Equinox are nearly the same for pretty much the same price, look for the 2022 version. It makes sense to shave a year off the vehicle’s life since you’ll be looking at a newer model without the extra expense, unless you find a used 2021 Equinox for significantly less.
The biggest change that makes the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox worth buying is the added features to the park assist. While the older 2021 has rear park assist, only the newer 2022 model includes the updated front and side park assist. Let’s face it, it’s hard to go a day without needing to park your vehicle, so you’ll find plenty of use for the improvements.
The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offers you pretty much the same thing as the 2021 model, you get a few bonus features with little to no added cost, so it just makes sense (or is that cents?) to look more closely at a 2022 model.
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