2026 Chevy Equinox: A Full Redesign for Chevy’s Best-Selling SUV

The Chevrolet Equinox is one of the best-selling vehicles in America, not just among SUVs, but across all vehicle categories, and the current generation that launched for 2025 represents the most comprehensive update the Equinox has received since its introduction. The 2026 Equinox continues this redesigned generation with a streamlined three-trim lineup, a standard 11.3-inch touchscreen across every configuration, updated exterior styling that is cleaner and more modern than the outgoing generation, and the new ACTIV trim that brings off-road-inspired hardware to the Equinox lineup for the first time.

At Starling Chevrolet in St. Cloud, the 2026 Equinox is our most popular compact crossover. For Osceola County families who need a practical, fuel-efficient, well-equipped daily driver that handles school pickups, I-4 commutes, and weekend trips without drama, the Equinox delivers. This guide covers the three 2026 trims, the gas versus EV distinction that confuses many buyers, the 1.5L turbocharged engine’s real-world performance, the technology that comes standard, and which trim makes the most sense for Central Florida drivers.

Gas Equinox vs. Equinox EV: Two Different Vehicles

Chevrolet sells two vehicles with Equinox in the name for 2026, and they are meaningfully different in ways that buyers searching for either can accidentally find the other. The gas-powered Equinox, the subject of this guide, is a compact crossover SUV with a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and a starting price of approximately $28,800. The Equinox EV is a fully electric vehicle on a different platform, with a starting price above $34,000 and EPA-estimated range up to 319 miles.

They share a name, a general size class, and the Chevrolet family of technology and safety features, but they are not the same vehicle. The Equinox EV is reviewed separately. This guide covers the gas Equinox, the LT, ACTIV, and RS trims powered by the 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder. If you are researching the electric version, ask our team at Starling Chevrolet GMC for the separate Equinox EV guide. If you are researching the gas version with interest in its engine, fuel economy, towing, or trim content, you are in the right place.

2026 Equinox Trims: LT, RS, and the New ACTIV

The 2026 Equinox arrives with a simplified three-trim lineup: LT, ACTIV, and RS. The previous generation’s LS base trim is gone, and LTZ no longer applies to the gas Equinox. This simplification means the entry LT is better equipped than a base trim typically is, and the three trims serve three distinct buyer personalities rather than being a feature ladder where each step adds a predictable list of content.

Every 2026 Equinox trim shares the same 1.5L turbocharged engine, the same 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google Built-In, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and Chevrolet’s full Safety Assist suite. The distinctions between trims are in appearance character, lifestyle orientation, and specific content additions rather than in technology access or fundamental comfort.

What Makes the ACTIV Trim Different

The ACTIV is the most genuinely new element of the 2026 Equinox lineup, a trim that did not exist in the previous generation and that addresses a buyer profile the Equinox previously had no answer for. The ACTIV adds all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, dark wheel arch cladding, a unique suspension tune calibrated for occasional off-road and unpaved surface use, and the rugged styling elements, rocker protection, elevated ride character, that signal adventure capability without committing to the full off-road package that the Blazer Trail Boss or Canyon AT4 represents. Inside, the ACTIV gets unique interior accents appropriate to its outdoor character.

For St. Cloud and Osceola County drivers whose weekends involve the unpaved access roads around Lake Kissimmee State Park, the shell rock paths through rural Osceola County, or the occasional sandy approach that Central Florida’s outdoor recreation involves, the ACTIV’s all-terrain tires and suspension tune provide meaningful confidence over the LT’s standard all-season setup. Edmunds’ test drive of the ACTIV confirmed the all-terrain tires’ effect on road noise and handling feel relative to the standard Equinox, noting that the capability comes with the typical all-terrain tire trade-off of slightly more noise at highway speed. The ACTIV is not an off-road truck. It is a compact crossover that handles light unpaved surfaces more confidently than a standard crossover, at a lower price than any dedicated off-road trim from any competitor in this size class.

Pricing Starting at $28,800

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox LT starts at approximately $28,800 including destination, confirmed by Edmunds as the entry price for the FWD configuration. The ACTIV and RS both start at approximately $33,600. All-wheel drive adds approximately $2,000 across all three trims on FWD-standard configurations. The LT FWD at $28,800 is the most competitive price in the mainstream compact crossover segment for the content level it provides: 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In standard, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, heated front seats standard, heated steering wheel standard, and the full Safety Assist suite as standard equipment. Competitors who offer comparable standard content typically start $1,000 to $3,000 higher.

1.5L Turbo Engine, Fuel Economy, and Towing

Every 2026 Equinox uses a single powertrain: the 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 175 horsepower. The engine pairs with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) on FWD models and an 8-speed automatic on AWD models, a transmission change that meaningfully affects the driving character between drivetrain configurations. There is no V6 option, no diesel, and no hybrid in the gas Equinox lineup. Chevrolet made a deliberate decision to simplify the Equinox to a single engine and let the Equinox EV serve buyers who want electric efficiency.

The 175 horsepower figure sounds modest, but in the context of a vehicle that weighs approximately 3,300 lbs and is used primarily for suburban driving, highway commuting, and light recreational use, it is adequate rather than insufficient. The turbocharged engine’s torque delivery, 183 lb-ft in FWD configuration, 203 lb-ft in AWD, provides the low-RPM response that makes city and highway driving confident even if the engine does not inspire enthusiasm. Independent reviewers including Edmunds and CarGurus consistently describe the Equinox’s powertrain as competent and appropriate rather than exciting, which is an accurate description of a vehicle built for value and practicality rather than driver engagement.

Towing capacity is 800 lbs in FWD configuration and 2,000 lbs with AWD. For St. Cloud and Kissimmee families who occasionally tow a small utility trailer, a personal watercraft trailer for a single jet ski, or light recreational equipment, the AWD Equinox’s 2,000 lb ceiling covers those needs. For buyers who regularly tow a boat or trailer above 2,000 lbs, the Equinox is not the right vehicle regardless of trim, step up to the Traverse or Silverado for meaningful towing capability. Fuel economy is 26 MPG city and 29 MPG highway for FWD, and 25 MPG city and 29 MPG highway for AWD, competitive within the compact crossover segment and representing approximately $1,900 per year in fuel at 15,000 miles and Florida gas prices.

Interior Redesign and Google Built-In Tech

The interior is where the current-generation Equinox most clearly separates itself from the outgoing model. The previous generation’s interior was functional but dated, a smaller screen, less storage, and a layout that felt designed around physical controls that the current generation has replaced with more intuitive digital interfaces. The 2026 Equinox’s interior is a significant upgrade: cleaner design, more storage throughout the cabin, better material quality at every trim level, and the technology integration that buyers now expect.

The dual-screen architecture, 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen paired with an 11-inch digital driver information cluster, is standard on every 2026 Equinox trim. This is not a configuration that requires buying a technology package or stepping to a higher trim. Every Equinox buyer receives these screens as a baseline. For Central Florida families who use the vehicle for carpools and road trips where rear passengers use the space and the driver navigates with the infotainment system, this standard content baseline is genuinely useful from day one of ownership.

11.3-Inch Screen and Wireless Apple CarPlay

The 11.3-inch touchscreen runs Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system with Google Built-In compatibility, providing native Google Maps navigation with EV-aware routing (useful when paired with an Equinox EV but also providing real-time traffic intelligence for the gas Equinox), Google Assistant voice commands that respond to natural language rather than specific command phrases, and Google Play app access. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard on every 2026 Equinox trim, enabling phone integration without cable management. The wireless implementation means the connection is available from the moment the driver enters the vehicle without reaching for a cable.

Every 2026 Equinox also includes Chevrolet’s Safety Assist standard safety technology suite: automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring with steering assist, adaptive cruise control with automatic following distance management, and rear park assist. This complete safety suite as standard equipment, not available-only, not package-required, is one of the Equinox’s clearest value advantages over competitors who restrict adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring to higher trims or add-on packages.

Which 2026 Equinox Trim Fits Florida Drivers

The right Equinox trim depends on three factors: whether you need AWD, what aesthetic character appeals to you, and whether the ACTIV’s off-road styling and tires match your use case. All three trims provide the same engine, the same technology, and the same safety features, the choice is about appearance, lifestyle positioning, and specific content additions rather than fundamental capability differences.

For most Central Florida families: the LT AWD at approximately $30,800 delivers the complete Equinox technology and comfort package at the most competitive price, with AWD for Florida’s afternoon storm conditions and the wet boat ramps and sandy access areas that Osceola County outdoor recreation involves. Buyers who want the ACTIV should understand that its all-terrain tires are the primary functional differentiator, the suspension tune contributes to unpaved confidence but the tires are what make the real difference in light off-road conditions. Buyers who want the RS are making an appearance choice, it is a handsome, sporty-looking compact crossover, but its 19-inch wheel and tire package produces the stopping distances and handling that Edmunds noted as the least impressive of the three trims. The RS is best for buyers who prioritize visual character; the LT and ACTIV are better balanced for driving dynamics and value.

The one scenario where the RS is the clear answer: buyers who want the Equinox’s sporty street presence and are comparing it to the Blazer RS or similar sport-appearance compact crossovers. The RS at $33,600 competes visually with sport trim alternatives at higher prices and delivers the full Equinox technology package alongside its sport styling.

See the 2026 Equinox at Starling Chevrolet St. Cloud

At Starling Chevrolet GMC in St. Cloud, we carry the 2026 Equinox across all three trims in multiple colors and AWD configurations. The most useful step in the Equinox decision, particularly the LT versus ACTIV decision, is driving both back to back. The ACTIV’s all-terrain tires are immediately felt in how the vehicle handles road surface transitions, and the ACTIV-specific interior accents versus the LT’s cleaner standard interior are easier to evaluate in person than in a brochure comparison.

We can also compare the gas Equinox directly against the Equinox EV for buyers who are weighing both options. At 1001 E Highway 192 in St. Cloud, our team will set up a same-day comparison if that is the decision you are working through. Contact us or visit directly to schedule your test drive.

Conclusion

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox continues the redesigned generation that launched for 2025 with the three-trim lineup that most clearly defines what the Equinox is and is not: a practical, well-equipped, technology-forward compact crossover at an accessible price, with a new ACTIV trim that adds the outdoor capability that previous Equinox generations never offered. The 11.3-inch standard screen with Google Built-In and wireless CarPlay across all trims, the complete Safety Assist suite as standard, and the three-personality trim structure covering everyday value, adventure, and sport character give the 2026 Equinox a stronger case than the outgoing generation made at any equivalent trim level. Starting at $28,800 for the LT FWD, it remains Chevrolet’s most important vehicle for most buyers.

Visit Starling Chevrolet at 1001 E Highway 192 in St. Cloud to test drive the 2026 Equinox.