The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox is a five-passenger crossover that has a lot of appealing attributes, including more standard features than ever. It’s spacious, delivers a smooth and comfortable ride quality, and can be ordered with a fairly powerful engine. New this model year, the Chevy Equinox includes some new active safety features as standard, and its packages have been slightly revised in terms of their featured content. J.D. Power & Associates ranked the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox as the best compact SUV in initial and long-term quality. It can even tow up to 3,500 pounds when it’s properly equipped – considerably more than most compact crossovers.
Trims and Powertrain
The 2020 Chevy Equinox is made in four trim levels: L, LS, LT, and Premier. Each comes standard with a 170 horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, but there’s an upgraded powertrain consisting of a 252 horsepower (260 lb.-ft. of torque) turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission that’s available on all trims. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional on all trims except the L.
Comfort and Convenience
The L comes with automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, a rearview camera, and keyless entry and ignition. The LS has an optional Convenience Package, which will add a power-adjustable driver’s seat and rear privacy glass. With the LT, the power-adjustable seat is standard, but this trim’s optional Confidence and Convenience Package will add a power liftgate, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated front seats. At the top of the heap, the Premier makes those features from the package standard in addition to LED headlights and taillights, a hands-free liftgate, memory functions for the driver’s seat, and a wireless smartphone charger. Buyers of this trim can add the Confidence and Convenience Package II to get a 360-degree parking camera, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
Safety
The 2020 Chevy Equinox was awarded a five-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The standard active safety features found on the L and LS include automatic high beams, forward collision warning, front pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, a following distance indicator, and lane departure warning and mitigation. The Confidence and Convenience Package for the LT will add blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and lane change alert. The Premier trim upgrades its rearview camera to a high-definition version and adds the features from the aforementioned Confidence and Convenience Package; this trim is also eligible for HD Surround Vision (a bird’s-eye-view monitor) and adaptive cruise control.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The L and LS both get a good array of technology features, such as a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free capability, OnStar services with 4G LTE connectivity, and a six-speaker audio system. The LT provides satellite radio, although there’s an available Infotainment Package that contains Chevy Infotainment 3 Plus, integrated navigation, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, and a 120-volt power outlet. Those features are included on the Premier (except for the navigation), though with the Infotainment II Package, the navigation will be added back on top of a premium 7-speaker Bose audio system and HD radio. There’s also an available rear-seat entertainment system that can be ordered for all trims other than the L.