Let’s Explore the Fantastic Third-Generation Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox has been a popular SUV since it first hit the road for the 2005 model year, delivering impressive performance and gorgeous styling for two decades. If you’re looking for a used Chevy Equinox for sale near Colonie, that can seem like an overwhelming number of options to consider and choose from, but it’s not that bad. We suggest that you focus on recent models rather than everything that’s been available; in particular, the third generation for the Equinox is a perfect place to start. This generation ran from the 2018 model year through 2024, giving you enough variety to make it easy to find what you’re looking for without so many options that things become overwhelming. The model year and trim level you look at can have a big impact on the features you find, and there have been plenty of options available throughout the third generation, so let’s take a closer look at some highlights and things to note about each of those years.

The 2018 Chevy Equinox: All-New and Redesigned

Kicking things off, we have the start of the third-generation Equinox, which the rest of the years we’ll look at alter slightly or are built upon. Chevy redesigned the Equinox for 2018, and it became a bit smaller, landing beautifully in the compact SUV segment. It launches with three different engines you can find on pre-owned models, starting with a standard 1.5L turbo I-4 that provides 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. For boosted performance, there’s a 2.0L turbo engine that delivers 252 hp; remarkably, a 1.6L turbo-diesel engine can also be found on 2018 models that gets an impressive 39 MPG of estimated highway fuel efficiency, with up to 577 miles per tank when doing highway driving.

Four different trim levels can be found with 2018 models, and the features you get change quite a bit in some cases. The starting L model features halogen headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, black-capped side mirrors, and 17-inch wheels. Inside, the L has single-zone climate control, a four-way driver’s seat and front-passenger seat, a monochromatic Driver Information Center display, a seven-inch Chevy MyLink Infotainment system, and a six-speaker sound system. The LS trim has many of the same standard features, while the LT has body-color side mirrors and many more available options like the 2.0L and diesel engines, dual-zone automatic climate controls, and more.

If you’re looking for the nicest features the 2018 Equinox has to offer, then you’ll want to find a Premier model. The Premier has LED headlamps, a power hands-free rear liftgate, and chrome side mirrors for added style. Dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and 18-inch wheels are all standard on the Premier. You’ll also find an eight-inch Chevy MyLink Infotainment system in every Premier model, along with a multi-color Driver Information Center display—select models will have a seven-speaker Bose sound system. Perhaps most notably, many driver assistance features like a Forward Collision Alert, Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, and a Surround Vision camera system are only available for the Premier trim of the 2018 Equinox.

The 2019 Chevy Equinox: A Few Changes to Note

Chevy made very few changes for the 2019 Equinox, which makes sense since they had just launched an all-new model. Mostly, some new convenience and appearance packages were added, particularly for the LT and LS trims, so you can find somewhat nicer features on those trim levels for the 2019 model year. The Premier also gained a couple more available safety systems: Adaptive Cruise Control and Pedestrian Detection for the collision warning tech. We should note that this was the last year the diesel engine was available since it didn’t prove as popular as Chevy had hoped; if it’s something you’re interested in, then you should focus on 2018 and 2019 models.

The 2020 Chevy Equinox: Improved Standard Safety Tech

The big news for the 2020 Equinox is that many of the advanced safety features that had previously only been available for the Premier trim are not just more widely offered but actually become standard on all Equinox models. This includes the Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, and the Lane Keep Assist system. All of these features have become part of the Chevy Safety Assist suite, which is now standard on many Chevy models, and 2020 marked that for Equinox. Adaptive Cruise Control is more widely available on 2020 models, while a new Midnight Edition for the LT trim features blacked-out details to create a gorgeous SUV that looks great while driving around Colonie. This is also the last model year that the 2.0L turbocharged engine was available.

The 2021 Chevy Equinox: Another Year for Minor Changes

Much like the 2019 model, changes for the 2021 Equinox are very minimal. The LT trim gains a new Leather Package with Jet Black perforated leather-appointed seating, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated power-adjustable auto-dimming side mirrors. Other than that, features are mostly the same, with Chevy Safety Assist still standard on all models. The Equinox gets a big update for the following year, so Chevy didn’t do much for the 2021 model, though we should note that the 2.0L engine was no longer available starting with this year.

The 2022 Chevy Equinox: Updated and Refreshed

The 2022 Equinox is refreshed with a number of upgrades and new features, making it a great one to look for. On the outside, Chevy gives the Equinox a facelift with new front and rear fascias, including new grille designs up front, new LED headlamps, and new LED daytime driving lights. You’ll find a new RS trim for the 2022 Equinox, featuring a black exterior with Dark Android 19-inch wheels paired with a black interior featuring red stitching. The Premier model gets an update with a black grille featuring chrome inserts, newly available 19-inch wheels, and a more stylish and refined interior. New safety tech includes available options like Front and Rear Park Assist with Automatic Parking Assist, creating a stylish and sophisticated SUV worth looking for when exploring used options.

The 2023 Chevy Equinox: Improved Performance and New Options

Following the big update of the previous model year, changes are generally minimal for the 2023 Equinox, though a few things are worth noting. For starters, the 1.5L engine that’s standard on this SUV gets a performance boost for 2023, now providing 175 hp to get you around Colonie each day. E-boost electronic power-assisted brakes are also added for 2023 to provide a more rewarding overall driving experience, plus you’ll find some new exterior colors like Radiant Red Tintcoat and Sterling Gray Metallic starting with this year.

The 2024 Chevy Equinox: A Great End to a Fantastic Generation

A new, fourth-generation Equinox launches with the 2025 model year, so Chevy didn’t change much for 2024. If you like what was previously available, then you can look at both 2023 and 2024 models, knowing that you’ll generally find the same sorts of features and options. A couple of new colors were added for 2024: Riptide Blue and Lakeshore Blue, both of which look gorgeous. One other addition is an updated Driver Confidence II package with Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert for the LS trim, so keep that in mind if you want enhanced safety tech.

Find the Perfect Used Equinox for Getting Around Colonie

As you can see, the third generation of the Chevy Equinox has been a remarkable one, creating a beautifully designed and well-appointed compact SUV that’s perfect for a wide range of drivers. Depending on what you’re looking for, the model year you find can have a big impact on whether you can get certain features. If you want the diesel engine, for example, then look for 2018 or 2019 models, while the 2.0L turbocharged engine remains available through the 2020 model year.

At the same time, going with an Equinox from 2020 or later means you are sure to find the Chevy Safety Assist suite of driver-assistance features no matter what trim you’re looking at. All of these details can still be a bit tricky to keep track of, which is why our friendly salespeople are ready to show you all of the pre-owned Equinox models we have here at DePaula Chevrolet and help you find everything you’ve been looking for.