Pros:
- Spacious cabin with strong rear-seat/cargo flexibility
- Comfortable ride and good road noise isolation
- Smooth six-speed automatic transmission
Cons:
- Dated interior materials and button-heavy centre stack
- Four-cylinder engine feels underwhelming, especially with AWD
- Lacks the advanced safety and convenience tech rivals offered
In a fast-moving new-vehicle segment, even minor updates are an important way to keep a vehicle fresh in consumers’ minds. So it’s a little strange that Chevrolet waited until the 2016 model year to touch up its Equinox, a compact crossover that has now been on the market for seven years. At its 2010 introduction, the Equinox was notable for an interior among the roomiest in its class and a rear bench seat that adjusted fore and aft to favour either legroom or cargo space. Six years on, however, the Equinox no longer stands out.
Performance and Handling
- Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
- Power: 182 hp
- Torque: 172 lb-ft
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: FWD or AWD
- Available engine: 3.6L V6 (with 301 hp)
On paper, things look just fine: the Equinox starts out with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that is a good fit for the class with 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. My tester had the entry-level engine with the all-wheel drivetrain, which proved to be a fine, if unremarkable, combination. The six-speed automatic transmission is the most impressive part of the formula, with its smooth shifts and prompt responses.
“There’s a lot to like about the Equinox; we only wish there were more of it.“
The rest of the Equinox’s drive is solid: the comfortable suspension is good at controlling body motion on rough pavement, and handling is much more satisfying than the engine’s tepid straight-line performance. Good sound insulation keeps the worst of the mechanical soundtrack out of the cabin, including road noise.
Which 2016 Equinox engine is better?
There’s a 301-hp V6 available as well, but it’s thirsty compared to the turbocharged four-cylinders many competitors now offer as an upgrade, and its extra weight has a negative effect on the car’s handling balance. Fuel consumption ratings for my four-cylinder/AWD tester are 11.5/8.2 L/100 km (city/highway), or about 20/29 mpg, but I saw an average of 12.0 L/100, or about 20 mpg, in a week of city driving.
For used buyers, that makes engine choice a bit of a compromise. The 2.4L four-cylinder is the more common and sensible option if purchase price and running costs matter most, but it is not especially lively, particularly with AWD. The V6 gives the Equinox a much stronger feel and makes highway driving easier, but only makes sense if fuel economy is less of a concern and the vehicle has a strong service history.
Related – First Drive Review: Exploring Nashville in the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 2.0L Turbo
2016 Equinox Interior: Spacious, But Showing Its Age
Inside, the 2016 update brings a standard dashboard touchscreen to all trims, as well as new cloth seats in the base model and a new brown leather option in up-level versions, but the touchscreen was the only one of these that appeared in my LTZ tester.
Despite the additions, the Equinox’s interior is now one of its weak points. It’s spacious, but the materials are mostly hard plastic that feels out of place in a vehicle worth $37,000, and the collection of buttons on the centre stack both looks and feels dated.
Nicer touches include a power tailgate control logically placed on the overhead console, along with a dial that sets it to open fully or three-quarters of the way; in most vehicles with such an adjustment, it’s only accessible via layers of touchscreen menus.
Tech
If you want proof that it’s time for a brand-new Equinox design, consider the current model’s brief list of high-tech safety features. While its competitors can be had with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure prevention at similar prices, the best you’ll get here is the collection of forward collision warning, blind spot alert, rear cross-traffic warning with park assist, and lane departure warning. Also conspicuously absent, even as options, are convenience items such as intelligent keyless entry and dual-zone climate control.
Takeaway: Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox Worth It?
Pros
- Spacious cabin with strong rear-seat/cargo flexibility
- Comfortable ride and good road noise isolation
- Smooth six-speed automatic transmission
Cons
- Dated interior materials and button-heavy centre stack
- Four-cylinder engine feels underwhelming, especially with AWD
- Lacks the advanced safety and convenience tech rivals offered
The fact that the Equinox is still among the roomiest of the compact crossovers shows that this design was ahead of its time in 2010, but its lack of advanced technology options means Chevrolet has some catching up to do. There’s a lot to like about the Equinox; we only wish there were more of it.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox reliability: common problems to watch for
Used 2016 Equinox shoppers should pay close attention to maintenance history, especially on 2.4L four-cylinder models. Common concerns reported by owners include excessive oil consumption, timing chain-related issues, check engine lights, rough running, suspension wear, electrical problems, and aging six-speed automatic transmissions. None of this means every Equinox will be trouble, but a pre-purchase inspection is important; check the oil level, look for service records, listen for timing chain noise on startup, confirm smooth transmission shifts, test the AWD system if equipped, and inspect underneath for rust.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox Specs:
- Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
- Power: 182 horsepower
- Torque: 172 pound-feet
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc
- Steering: Electric power-assist rack-and-pinion
- Suspension: MacPherson strut (front); Multi-link (rear)
