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What’s new for the 2022 Chevy Equinox?

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The Chevrolet Equinox still is one of the top 20 best-selling vehicles in America, but has seen its numbers decline recently. So, an update to the 2022 Equinox might be just what this compact SUV needs to get back on track.

In 2021, Chevy sold 165,323 Equinoxes. This compared to the 270,994 units sold in 2020 shows the sharp decline year over year for the Equinox. Perhaps it’s gotten a little long in the tooth. Either way, Chevy needs a turnaround for the Equinox in this ultra-competitive and highly profitable segment.

The changes for 2022 are significant, so let’s look at the highlights of this model year.

Only one engine option

Previously, General Motors had said it would reintroduce the 2.0-liter turbo engine for the 2022 model year, but the automaker has backtracked on that statement. For 2022, the Equinox only offers the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo. As such, the 2022 Equinox produces 170 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is still the only option and, frankly, feels a little a dated, as more vehicles in this segment opt for 8-10 speed transmissions.

The Equinox is still available as both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD).

The fuel economy rating is 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway for FWD models and 25/30 MPG for AWD.

New look of the Chevy Equinox

The aesthetic changes are noticeable for the 2022 Equinox. This isn’t a redesign but a hefty refresh, including new front and rear fascias, new grille design, new LED headlamps and new LED daytime driving lights.

The RS trim gets a drastic new look with black exterior accents, 19-inch Dark Android wheels and even RS-specific elements inside including black seats with red stitching. Speaking of trims, the entry-level L trim has been discontinued.

There are some new colors for the 2022 model year too including: Blue Glow Metallic, Seaglass Blue Metallic, Iron Gray Metallic and Cherry Red Tintcoat (a premium up charge).

Updated infotainment system

Wireless connectivity is the way all vehicles are going, and Equinox jumps on board by offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In the previous model years, your smart phone had to be wired-in for CarPlay or Auto, but now it integrates through Bluetooth.

A 7-inch color touchscreen is standard on LS, LT and RS trims, and an 8-inch screen is part of the Premier trim. As part of GM’s subscription services there’s an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot (3GB or 1-month data trial, whichever occurs first) with a built-in Amazon Alexa capability system.

Driver-assist features

New for 2022 on the Equinox is a hands-free parking system available on certain trims. The Equinox, like so many other modern vehicles, is loaded with plenty of driver assistance features. For 2022, the Equinox has numerous iterations of these sensor-based systems including:

  • Distance following indicator
  • Forward collision alert
  • Front pedestrian braking
  • Lane Keep Assist with lane departure warning
  • Automatic Intellibeam high beams
  • Rear vision camera (HD version of this available on Premier trim)

The bottom line on 2022 Chevy Equinox

The Equinox slid from a top-10 best-selling vehicle to barely inside the top 20 last year. There were essentially no model year changes from 2020 to 2021, so that may explain it. Today’s consumers expect/want changes and excitement. For 2022, Chevy seems to have infused just enough of that into the Equinox.

Let’s see if it helps the sales or if the Equinox continues its tail spin.

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Jimmy Dinsmore

Jimmy is News Editor for PickupTruckTalk with an expertise in new vehicles. He is also a Ford Mustang historian having authored the book Mustang by Design (available on Amazon). His second book, about the history of Ford's F-Series truck comes out next year.

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