2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Price, Specs & Release Date

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review coverage requires an important clarification right away, since Chevrolet currently sells two very different vehicles under this name. This review focuses on the traditional gasoline-powered Equinox, a compact crossover that was fully redesigned for 2025 and should continue as a mature, well-refined platform by 2028. It’s worth noting separately that the all-electric Equinox EV is a distinct model built on its own architecture, and reports suggest its own next-generation redesign is targeting a late-2028 or early-2029 debut. This 2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review covers the gasoline model specifically, breaking down what buyers can expect as this recently redesigned platform matures into its fourth model year.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Overview

The 2028 Chevrolet Equinox continues on the platform Chevrolet introduced with a complete 2025 redesign, one that brought a longer wheelbase, a wider track, and styling clearly influenced by the related Blazer EV, Trax, and Traverse. Since that redesign, Chevrolet has kept changes modest, streamlining the trim lineup down to LT, RS, and Activ while discontinuing the previous LS and LTZ designations entirely.

Anyone reading a 2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review should keep the naming distinction from the Equinox EV firmly in mind, since the two models share very little beyond a badge and general size class. For a look at how another recently redesigned Chevrolet crossover has evolved a few years into its life cycle, see our 2027 Chevrolet Trailblazer Review.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Expected Price

Pricing for the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should closely track recent model years, which have remained remarkably stable since the 2025 redesign. The current lineup starts at $28,800 for the base LT trim and spans up to $35,600 for a fully equipped RS or Activ with all-wheel drive. Given how little pricing moved between the 2025 and 2026 model years, buyers should expect only a modest increase for 2028 rather than any dramatic repricing.

All-wheel drive remains available across every trim for an additional $2,000, a consistent pricing structure that’s held steady since the current generation launched. Buyers using this 2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review to budget a purchase should expect that same straightforward pricing approach to continue into this later model year.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Estimated Trim Pricing

• LT (FWD): estimated starting around $29,000 to $30,000
• LT (AWD): add approximately $2,000
• RS and Activ (FWD): estimated starting around $34,000
• RS and Activ (AWD): estimated starting around $36,000

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Release Date

The 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should follow Chevrolet’s typical annual rollout pattern, arriving at dealerships in the second half of the preceding calendar year. Since this platform isn’t due for another major redesign in the near term, buyers can expect steady, consistent availability throughout the model year, continuing the pattern established since the current generation’s 2025 debut.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Engine and Performance

The 2028 Chevrolet Equinox is expected to continue with the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s powered this generation since its redesign, producing 175 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission. Choosing the optional all-wheel-drive system swaps that CVT for an 8-speed automatic transmission and bumps torque output to 203 pound-feet, giving all-wheel-drive buyers a genuinely different, more traditional driving character.

Every 2028 Chevrolet Equinox trim should continue sharing this same 175-horsepower output regardless of configuration, a straightforward approach that simplifies shopping considerably compared to rivals offering multiple engine tiers across their lineup.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Drive Mode Selector

Since 2026, Chevrolet has made a Driver Mode Control system standard across every Equinox trim, letting drivers adjust powertrain programming to better suit different road conditions. That feature should remain standard on the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox, giving buyers a genuinely useful way to tailor throttle response and transmission behavior without needing to step up to a pricier trim.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Horsepower and Acceleration

With 175 horsepower across the entire lineup, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox delivers adequate, if unremarkable, acceleration for a compact crossover. Some reviewers have noted the engine can feel underpowered in certain situations, particularly when fully loaded or during aggressive highway merging, though most everyday driving scenarios reveal a competent, predictable powertrain rather than a genuinely sluggish one.

The all-wheel-drive configuration’s additional 19 pound-feet of torque, combined with its more traditional 8-speed automatic transmission, tends to feel slightly more responsive in real-world driving than the front-wheel-drive CVT setup, even though peak horsepower remains identical across every configuration.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Fuel Consumption

Fuel economy for the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should closely mirror recent model years, with front-wheel-drive configurations achieving approximately 27 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive models, given their added weight and different transmission, typically return modestly lower combined figures, a common trade-off for buyers who prioritize traction over outright efficiency.

Those figures remain competitive within the compact crossover segment, particularly against rivals like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50, both of which the Equinox has historically been cross-shopped against by value-conscious buyers.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Driving Experience

Behind the wheel, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should continue delivering the improved handling that reviewers praised when this generation was first redesigned in 2025. The longer wheelbase and wider track introduced with that redesign gave the Equinox a noticeably more planted, confident feel on the road compared to the outgoing generation, along with more standard active safety features than before.

The RS trim’s tech-heavy, uniquely styled interior remains roomy and genuinely pleasant, though some reviewers have noted there’s little beyond styling to elevate the Equinox to the level of true class standouts in this deeply competitive segment.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Activ Off-Road Character

Buyers wanting a more adventure-ready version of the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should continue looking toward the Activ trim, which comes standard with all-terrain tires and a uniquely tuned suspension. That combination gives the Activ genuine light off-road capability without requiring buyers to step up to a considerably larger and pricier SUV.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Exterior Design

Visually, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should carry over the styling introduced with the 2025 redesign essentially unchanged, continuing to share design language with the related Blazer EV, Trax, and Traverse. Chevrolet differentiates each trim through distinct front-end styling: the LT features a chrome crossbar and accents, the Activ adds a prominent chrome surround paired with a black grille, and the RS wears a unique black grille with black crossbar and body-color lower bumper trim.

The RS trim continues to stand out visually with standard 19-inch alloy wheels and a flat-bottom steering wheel that reinforces its sportier positioning within the lineup, while the Activ’s all-terrain tires give it an unmistakably different stance from its street-focused siblings.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Interior and Technology

Inside, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should continue offering a genuinely tech-forward cabin even at the entry-level LT trim, which includes an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, and standard heated front seats along with a heated steering wheel. That level of standard equipment has consistently made the LT one of the strongest value propositions in its class.

The RS trim adds RS-badged Evotex seating and additional sporty interior touches, while the Activ continues to lean into a more outdoor-ready aesthetic throughout the cabin. Regardless of trim, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox should remain genuinely well-equipped relative to its price point.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Safety Systems

Standard safety equipment across the entire 2028 Chevrolet Equinox lineup should continue to include forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, along with automatic emergency braking, representing genuinely strong value in terms of safety technology relative to the vehicle’s price. That comprehensive standard safety suite has remained a consistent strength of this generation since its 2025 redesign.

Buyers wanting independent, up-to-date crash-test data can check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which regularly evaluates compact crossovers including the Equinox alongside its closest rivals.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Pros and Cons

What We Like About the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox

✓ Strong standard safety technology across every trim
✓ Genuinely tech-forward cabin even at the entry-level LT
✓ Simplified, easy-to-understand three-trim lineup
✓ Activ trim offers genuine light off-road capability
✓ Consistent, stable pricing since the 2025 redesign

What Could Be Better on the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox

✗ Engine can feel underpowered in some real-world situations
✗ Little beyond styling separates it from true class standouts
✗ Easily confused with the mechanically unrelated Equinox EV
✗ All-wheel drive adds a consistent $2,000 across every trim

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Main Competitors

The 2028 Chevrolet Equinox competes in one of the most fiercely contested segments in the entire auto industry. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 remain its most direct Japanese rivals, both offering strong reliability reputations and, in RAV4’s case, a widely available hybrid option. The Mazda CX-50 brings a more engaging driving experience and upscale interior detailing, rounding out the field of vehicles Edmunds and other outlets consistently cross-shop against the Equinox.

Against this field, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox continues to distinguish itself primarily through value, offering strong standard technology and safety equipment at a price point that undercuts several key rivals, even if it doesn’t quite match the class leaders in outright driving refinement.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review: Final Verdict

As a mature, well-refined platform entering its fourth model year, the 2028 Chevrolet Equinox continues to make a solid case for itself within the compact crossover segment. The combination of strong standard safety technology, a genuinely tech-forward cabin, and consistent, predictable pricing all reinforce why this SUV remains a popular choice for value-conscious buyers.

The trade-offs are relatively minor at this point in the generation’s life cycle: the engine can feel underpowered in certain situations, and the Equinox doesn’t quite reach the top of its class in outright refinement. Even so, anyone finishing this 2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review looking for a bottom line will find a practical, well-equipped compact crossover that continues to offer genuine value in one of the industry’s most competitive segments.

2028 Chevrolet Equinox Review Images

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