2026 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV: A Gorgeous SUV Begging for a Hybrid
The Chevrolet Equinox is the bowtie brand’s second best-selling vehicle, trailing only the Silverado full-size pickup truck in GM’s sales charts. With off-road-flavored trims more popular than ever, the ACTIV fills that gap in the lineup for Chevy’s best-selling SUV. But is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV merely cosplaying as an off-roader, or can it really go up against the segment sales leader Toyota RAV4 and its new Woodland trim, or the Honda CR-V TrailSport?
I have a bit of history here. The last Equinox I owned was a 2011, and this generation is a big leap forward in design and materials. A huge thank you to Chevrolet for loaning us this ACTIV AWD to test on our home turf in East Texas. Here is everything I loved about it, and the one big thing I didn’t.
A Small Turbo Four That Needs a Hybrid Assist
Interestingly enough, you can get the ACTIV with front-wheel drive (FWD), which pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). However, our tester is the all-wheel-drive (AWD) model, which sends power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder making a mere 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque.
For perspective, my 2011 Equinox had a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Surprisingly, this newer, smaller turbo engine actually makes less horsepower and only a few more lb-ft of torque than my four-cylinder from over a decade ago. Additionally, towing is rated at a modest 1,500 pounds when properly equipped, so think a personal watercraft or a small U-Haul trailer.
This SUV would benefit greatly from a hybrid powertrain. General Motors and Hyundai have entered into a partnership, and I would love to see the turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid from the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage end up under the hood of the Equinox. Unfortunately, the only Chevy-branded hybrid you can buy new is the Corvette, and I think that is a travesty for a brand with this many family haulers.
Chasing 60 MPH in the Equinox ACTIV
There is no sport mode, so to test 0 to 60 I found a straight stretch of road, held the brake with my left foot, stood on the accelerator, and dropped the brake. In AWD, the Equinox ACTIV hit 60 MPH in 9.09 seconds. At first, it was punchy up to 30 MPH, but it really ran out of steam in the higher gears.
I assumed the all-terrain tires were hurting traction, so I ran it again in two-wheel drive. Wheel slippage turned out to be a big problem, and the time got worse at 9.52 seconds. Finally, a third run in AWD without brake torquing, slightly downhill, was the slowest yet at 9.79 seconds thanks to a lot of turbo lag. On level ground with AWD engaged, 9.09 seconds was the best we could do.
As a result, you feel that in everyday driving, too. In normal stop-and-go traffic, it feels heavy and sluggish, like it doesn’t want to do what you are asking it to do. We averaged just over 20 MPG in mixed driving with a lot of idling in the heat, which is below the EPA’s 26 MPG combined rating.
Dark Chrome, a White Roof, and the Best-Looking Equinox
The ACTIV’s styling sets it apart from the rest of the Equinox lineup, which includes the LT and the on-road-focused RS. Up front, you get a lot of dark chrome, a blacked-out grille and bowtie, and an ACTIV nameplate. I think the ACTIV is the best-looking Equinox inside and out, with the RS trailing right behind it.
The LED running lights and turn signals sit up high, with the LED headlights and fog lights down below. That divorced look started with the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Everybody made fun of it then (we owned a Cherokee Trailhawk for seven years), but it works, and plenty of brands have adopted it.
The ACTIV also gets a white roof and white mirror caps. However, I don’t particularly love it against this silver paint; something with more contrast would work better for me. On the other hand, I do appreciate the blacked-out badging all the way around, with the Equinox name down low on the doors. Out back, a shark fin design on the C-pillar separates the roof from the body, a styling cue that started on the Traverse.
All-Terrain Tires That Never Quiet Down
I have been calling the ACTIV the off-road-focused Equinox, and that is mostly due to the wheel and tire package. You get rugged-looking 17-inch wheels wrapped in General Grabber all-terrain tires (235/65R17) with real tread and sidewall biters. In addition, Chevy gives the ACTIV a uniquely tuned suspension.
The problem is that these tires will most likely spend 99% of their time on the road, and they are very noisy, especially on the coarse pavement here in East Texas. On top of that, they add a lot of weight the vehicle has to turn every time you take off. For that reason, the tires would be one of the first things I swap out.
Push-Button AWD and Why I Skipped Barnwell
One of the reasons I didn’t make the hour-long drive to Barnwell Mountain is that you have to engage AWD with a button. There is no slip detection and no automatic mode. It is either two-wheel drive or AWD. If you are cruising in two-wheel drive to save fuel and hit a slippery spot, you had better remember to push the button. That is a shortcoming for me, especially since Chevy builds such a robust 4WD system for its body-on-frame vehicles.
Another reason is that my good friend Ryan with Driving Sports TV already took one of these out to his personal property and got it stuck. He can afford to do that. Out at Barnwell by myself, getting stuck just ain’t an option. The ACTIV does have off-road, snow and ice, and normal drive modes, plus a 360-degree camera system with views of the front and rear tires that would be great on a trail.
The Nicest Cabin in the Segment, With a Creak
Open the door and you get what I think is the nicest interior in the Equinox lineup. In comparison, the RS is equally nice but very dark. Instead, the ACTIV adds Maple Sugar (khaki) accents that really liven things up. You get textured Evotex on the doors, sueded microfiber and cloth on the seats, contrasting piping, and ACTIV embossed on the front headrests. Best of all, the seats look very premium and are very comfortable, with two-person memory, heated and ventilated front seats, and two-way lumbar.
Screens, Visibility, and a Few Demerits
The thick-rimmed steering wheel Chevy is putting in most of its vehicles feels very premium, and it is coming to the 2027 Silverado too. You get an 11-inch driver display, an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rear camera mirror. There is no head-up display. Instead, a warning light flashes red if you get too close to the vehicle ahead, and GM’s Safety Alert Seat vibrates to warn you.
My favorite thing about this dash compared to the RAV4 is how easy it is to see over. The dash is low, and visibility is great all the way around. The turbine-style air vents borrowed from the Blazer EV and Camaro look great, and you still get physical climate controls, two USB-C ports, a wireless charger, a pass-through storage area, and a deep center console. The dedicated remote start button on the key fob is also a huge win on a hot Texas day.
Now, the demerits. There is too much gloss black around the center console, and this is still a GM interior with some questionable build quality. For instance, the center console creaks when you lean on it, which cheapens an otherwise premium experience. It is great on Instagram, but in reality there is still a little left to be desired. Similarly, the sun visors are too thin to hold a regular garage door opener, and all the lighting controls are buried in the touchscreen. Finally, the proximity key isn’t passive entry, either. You push a button on the front door handle to unlock, and there is no button on the rear doors.
A Roomy Equinox ACTIV Back Seat
The back seat gets all the same materials, and I actually think the rear doors are an upgrade with rubberized storage instead of gloss black. At 5-foot-10, I have plenty of room sitting behind myself, even with the huge panoramic sunroof overhead. There are rear air vents on the back of the center console (when Tucker was rear-facing, we would have preferred ceiling vents), three-stage heated outboard seats, two USB-C ports, and a very flat floor for a vehicle with a driveshaft running to the rear wheels.
Unlike some Chevy SUVs, the center seat gets an adjustable headrest, and the center seat belt anchors low and inboard instead of digging into your passenger like it does in the Tucson and Sportage. The rear doors could open a little wider for installing a child safety seat, and the seats don’t recline, but they are comfortable enough for a road trip across Texas. Overall, three adults would be tight, but three kids would be no problem.
Hands-Free Liftgate and Cargo Space
The hands-free liftgate borrows a trick from Hyundai and Kia. Walk up with the key, it beeps three times, and it opens. No kicking under the bumper. Better yet, Chevy one-upped them, because it works with the vehicle running. Behind the rear seat, you get 29.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 63.5 cubic feet with the 60/40 seats folded via latches on the seat shoulders. That is less than its main rivals. Still, on Labor Day, our family of three fit two executive office chairs in the back.
A false load floor lifts out for more vertical space, with a temporary spare underneath. However, keep in mind it won’t match those all-terrain tires if you get a flat on a trail.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV Specs and Pricing
Powertrain
- 1.5L Turbocharged DOHC 4-Cylinder Engine
- 175 Horsepower
- 203 Lb-ft of Torque (AWD)
- Direct Injection With Automatic Stop/Start Technology
- 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
Performance
- 0 to 60 MPH: 9.09 Seconds (GT: Garage Talk Tested, AWD)
Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Push-Button AWD Engagement
Suspension and Chassis
- ACTIV Uniquely Tuned Suspension
- Active Noise Cancellation
Wheels and Tires
- 17-Inch Dark Android Machined-Face Aluminum Wheels
- All-Terrain Tires
- 17-Inch Steel Spare Wheel
Towing
- Up to 1,500 Pounds (AWD, When Properly Equipped)
Exterior
- LED Headlamps and LED Tail Lamps
- Front Fog Lamps (Safety and Technology Package)
- Autosense Power Liftgate
- Outside Heated Mirrors
- Rain-Sensing Wipers With Heated Wiper Park
- Roof Rails
- Rear Deep-Tinted Windows
- Panoramic Sunroof (As Equipped)
Interior and Seating
- Evotex and Sueded Microfiber Seating Surfaces
- Seating for 5 With 60/40 Split-Folding Second Row
- Heated Front Bucket Seats
- Ventilated Front Seats (Convenience Package III)
- 8-Way Power Driver Seat With 2-Way Lumbar
- 8-Way Power Front Passenger Seat (Convenience Package III)
- 2-Way Power Lumbar Front Passenger Seat (Convenience Package III)
- Driver Seat Memory Settings (Convenience Package III)
- Heated Outboard Rear Seats (Convenience Package III)
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- 29.8 Cubic Feet of Cargo Behind the Rear Seat
- 63.5 Cubic Feet of Cargo With the Rear Seat Folded
Technology
- 11-Inch Diagonal Driver Information Center
- 11.3-Inch Diagonal LCD Display With Google Built-In
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- SiriusXM Audio With Trial
- 8 Years of OnStar Basics
- Wireless Charging
- USB Ports
- Universal Home Remote
- Express Up/Down Driver Window, All Express Down
- Pass-Through Console
- Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
- Remote Start and Keyless Open and Start
Driver Assistance and Safety
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking
- Forward Collision Alert
- Following Distance Indicator
- IntelliBeam Auto High Beam
- Enhanced Lane Keep Assist With Lane Departure Warning
- Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Blind Zone Steering Assist
- Rear Cross Traffic Braking
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- Rear Park Assist
- Safety Alert Seat
- HD Surround Vision (Safety and Technology Package)
- Rear Pedestrian Alert (Safety and Technology Package)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (Safety and Technology Package)
- Rear Camera Mirror With Washer (Safety and Technology Package)
Fuel Economy
- EPA Estimated 25 City/29 Highway/26 Combined MPG
- Observed: Just Over 20 MPG
- Regular Unleaded Fuel
- 15.6-Gallon Fuel Tank (AWD)
Warranty
- 3-Year/36,000-Mile Basic New Vehicle Limited Warranty
- 5-Year/60,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
- 3-Year/36,000-Mile Sheet Metal Warranty
- 6-Year/100,000-Mile Rust-Through Warranty
- 5-Year/60,000-Mile Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
- First Scheduled Maintenance Visit
Pricing and Colors
- Exterior Color: Sterling Gray Metallic With Summit White Roof (Two-Tone)
- Interior Color: Maple Sugar
- Starting MSRP: $35,600 (ACTIV AWD)
- Panoramic Sunroof: $1,495
- Convenience Package III: $950
- Safety and Technology Package: $945
- Summit White Roof: Included
- Destination Charge: $1,995
- Price as Tested: $40,985 (Includes Destination)
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV
Living with the Equinox ACTIV is a bit of a love-hate relationship. I love the design, the materials, the colors, the steering wheel, the easy-to-read gauges, and being able to see out of it (novel idea, I know). You get in and think you made the right decision. But then you lean on the center console and it creaks, and the light turns green and you are begging for more power.
Keep in mind the AWD model gets slightly more torque and a better transmission than the FWD version, so this is the best this powertrain gets. Even so, I would still buy an ACTIV over an RS, then swap in quieter on-road tires like the ones Chevy puts on the appearance-focused Trax ACTIV. Some aftermarket tires and maybe a tune could fix most of my gripes. On the other hand, you can’t fix sight lines with aftermarket parts, and the Equinox nails those. At $40,985 as tested, the Chevrolet Equinox is a good powertrain away from taking on the RAV4 Woodland and CR-V TrailSport. Holli’s family review is coming soon, including how a child safety seat fits in the back.
Want more reviews like this? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get the latest automotive news delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning.
