Shopping Chevrolet’s Best-Selling SUV: Your Used Equinox Guide

Whether it’s the lunchtime rush or the scramble of commuters trying to get home from work in the evening, Indianapolis demands a lot from its local drivers. Can anything make navigating traffic easier or less stressful in such a bustling metropolis? Although eliminating traffic is impossible, we have a better solution that puts you in the driver’s seat of a value-packed and versatile SUV. Our dealership is your destination for the best-selling Chevy Equinox for sale in Indianapolis. 

As Chevrolet’s best-selling SUV, the Equinox has an outstanding reputation and offers broad appeal to local drivers. Its compact footprint heightens its agility on congested or narrow city streets, while its engaging powertrain guarantees plenty of power without compromising efficiency. So, what should you know when shopping for a used Equinox to ensure you get the most from your SUV and the best from Chevrolet? Here are three key areas to consider: size, performance, and technology.

#1 – It’s Part of Two Classes: Midsize or Compact

Vehicles fall into three main categories–cars, trucks, and SUVs. However, these classes are further divided into segments like midsize trucks, full-size trucks, compact crossovers, midsize crossovers, and full-size SUVs. So, why is this significant when shopping for a used Equinox? 

Chevrolet introduced the Equinox in 2005 as a midsize crossover, but industry trends and modifications to the Chevy lineup marked a shift for the Equinox in 2018. The SUV joined the compact crossover class when Chevrolet introduced the third-generation Equinox. Because of this, the Equinox’s interior capacities differ depending on the year model. But is this difference significant? 

As midsize crossovers, first and second-generation Equinox models are slightly larger. For example, the 2017 Equinox sits on a 112.5-inch wheelbase and measures 187.8 inches long, 72.5 inches wide, and 66.3 inches tall. This translates to a total passenger volume of 99.7 cu.ft., with 40.9 inches of headroom and 41.2 inches of legroom in the front row. The second row offers 39.2 inches of headroom and 39.9 inches of legroom, with 31.5 cu.ft. of cargo space behind. With the second row folded, the 2017 Equinox has a total cargo capacity of 63.7 cu.ft. 

The third-generation Equinox, 2018 or newer models, are slightly smaller because they’re part of the compact segment. Chevrolet trimmed the Equinox’s wheelbase to 107.3 inches, its length to 183.1 inches, and its height to 65.4 inches. As a result, the interior capacities are slightly smaller, with a total passenger volume of 90 cu.ft. While headroom in the front row and legroom in the second row are comparable, legroom in the front row drops to 40.9 inches, and headroom in the second row is 38.5 inches. Likewise, the cargo capacity behind the second row is smaller at 29.9 cu.ft., with a total capacity of 63.9 cu.ft. 

Key Takeaway: Depending on your budget, most Indy drivers are drawn to third-generation Equinox models built since 2018. The Equinox’s compact footprint might mean a slightly smaller cabin, but the SUV’s interior design and tech-savvy features more than make up for it. Moreover, you enjoy nearly the same cargo space behind the front row. 

#2 – Performance: Confident, Engaging, and Efficient 

How long is your weekday commute? Indianapolis drivers have an average commute of 25.4 minutes, which means most of us spend over an hour in our vehicles every day just traveling between home and work. Fortunately, an SUV like the Equinox can maximize your time in the driver’s seat by offering an engaging driving demeanor and all-season confidence without negatively impacting efficiency. 

This combination has been integral to the Equinox’s appeal since its debut, with used models giving our customers outstanding performance at a fraction of the new car sticker price. For example, the third-generation Equinox relies on an engaging 1.5L turbocharged engine with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. The combination produces 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, with the Equinox’s output increasing to 175 hp in 2023.  Suffice it to say that the Equinox is an engaging and responsive ride.

Chevrolet heightens the SUV’s confident driving demeanor with its all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which delivers all-season confidence and makes navigating slushy and snowy winters far less stressful. Most notably, opting for an AWD Equinox doesn’t dramatically impact your spending at the pump. For example, the FWD Equinox averages around 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, even after the 2023 bump in horsepower. The AWD Equinox consistently offers an EPA-estimated average of 25 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. 

Key Takeaway: The third-generation Equinox relies on a 1.5L turbocharged inline-four, but the Equinox’s second-generation powertrain lineup includes a 2.0L turbo. The larger 2.0L offers more horsepower, but this might come at a cost. A second-generation Equinox built before 2018 is older and might not have the technologies and features you want in a modern SUV. You should consider what you value more in a used Equinox, between better technologies and superior horsepower, but your choice nets you a fantastic vehicle regardless.

#3 – Technologies: Connectivity, Safety, and Driver-Assist 

Technology is an essential factor when shopping for a used Equinox. Why? As a driver, you want the latest technologies but not necessarily the mile-high price tag that comes with them. Fortunately, the Equinox’s frequent updates include new technologies that heighten the SUV’s appeal and value on the used lot. The key is to know when Chevrolet introduced those updates to ensure you get the most for your money. 

When it debuted in 2018, the third-generation Equinox introduced more connectivity, safety, and driver-assist features. For example, models built since 2018 feature a seven-inch or eight-inch display, depending on the trim. The display is home to the Chevrolet infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Chevrolet added Amazon Alexa capability and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in 2022, with wireless phone charging becoming a standard feature on the Equinox Premier in 2024. 

The Equinox’s progression of connectivity features makes shopping for a used model exciting because you’re enjoying modern technologies at a fraction of the cost. The same applies to the Equinox’s extensive suite of safety and driver-assist tools. By 2020, Chevrolet standardized more safety technologies via the Chevy Safety Assist suite. This suite equips the Equinox with Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, a Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, and IntelliBeam headlights. Together, these tools provide comprehensive coverage and instill confidence in even the most congested Indianapolis conditions. 

For drivers looking for additional safety features, shop for a top-tier trim like the Premier, which Chevrolet equips with an HD Surround Vision Camera. This luxury-appointed trim also sees the addition of Automatic Parking Assist and Front and Rear Park Assist for 2022. By 2024, these features become part of the Driver Confidence II Package that adds Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, enhancing the value of the 2024 model on the used lot. 

Reaping the Rewards with the Equinox 

Whether you spend most of your time navigating traffic along I-65 or maneuvering through congested downtown streets, driving in Indianapolis isn’t for the faint of heart. The city is the pure definition of hustle and bustle, but an SUV like the Equinox can help manage the chaos by making your time behind the wheel more comfortable, connected, and engaging. 

Shopping for a used Equinox offers a long list of benefits, especially if you know what year models provide the most value. Third-generation Equinox models built since 2018 are undeniably the most popular on our lot because of their modern design, advanced technologies, and engaging powertrains. The combination is impossible to ignore, especially for drivers who genuinely want to see their hard-earned money work for them and go further without compromise.