2021 Chevrolet Equinox

The Equinox is available in the L, LS, LT, and Premier trim levels for the 2021 model year. The upper trims feature a power liftgate option, and all models except the base offer deep-tinted glass. Depending on trim level, the SUV comes standard with 17- or 18-inch wheels, although several variants include 19-inch wheels.

After dropping the turbodiesel engine in 2020, the Equinox now comes with two engine options. The standard 1.5-turbocharged engine, paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, produces 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The other powertrain is a 2.0-liter engine that supplies 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This optional engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Further, front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, but all trims bar the L are available with all-wheel drive.

The Equinox returns decent fuel economy numbers. It gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with the base engine in front-wheel-drive layout. Opting for all-wheel drive lowers those numbers slightly to 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. With the optional turbocharged engine, the SUV averages 22 mpg in the city with either all-wheel or front-wheel drive. This powertrain also delivers 29 mpg on the highway when equipped with front-wheel drive or 28 mpg with the all-wheel-drive system. Also, when properly equipped, the Equinox can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.

Every 2021 Equinox gets about 30 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which increases to about 64 cubic feet when you fold down these seats. For entertainment, the Equinox comes standard with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system featuring a 7-inch touch-screen display. You also gain four USB ports, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Available technology upgrades include an 8-inch touch-screen display, satellite and HD radio, extra USB ports, wireless device charging, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Equinox is one of the safest cars to hit the market in 2020, offering almost a dozen standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and forward-collision warning. It also gains two full sets of LATCH connectors in its rear outboard seats and an upper tether for the rear middle seat. Thanks to these impressive safety features, the Equinox received a ringing safety endorsement from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA gave the SUV a five-star overall safety rating and five stars for the side and front crash tests. Similarly, the IIHS awarded the SUV the highest rating in all their crash tests.