The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox gets 26 to 27 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Equinox FWD at 27 mpg. The electric versions are rated 96 to 108 MPGe, with a range of up to 319 miles.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Equinox ranks 35th (tied with 5 others) of 66 for combined mileage (26 mpg), 27th (tied with 3 others) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($2,400 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 40th of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (342 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Among the electric and fuel-cell models in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, its electric version ranks 12th of 23 for combined mileage (103 MPGe) and 11th (tied with 4 others) of 23 for yearly fuel cost ($750 for its cheapest version, cheapest first). The middle model of the class gets 103 MPGe and costs $750 a year.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 80 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Equinox's best version, 13 other models get the same and 141 get less. The 2026 Equinox's cheapest version costs $2,300 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 55 cost less, 5 the same and 165 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 2026 MINI Countryman | 2026 Countryman S All4 | 27 | $2,850 | 324 |
| 27 | 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander | 2026 Outlander 4WD | 27 | $2,300 | 329 |
| 27 | 2026 Subaru Outback | 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 27 | $2,300 | 330 |
| 35 | 2026 Chevrolet EquinoxThis car | 2026 Equinox AWD | 26 | $2,400 | 342 |
| 35 | 2026 Jeep Compass | 2026 Compass 4WD | 26 | $2,400 | 335 |
| 35 | 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 2026 CX-5 4WD | 26 | $2,400 | 339 |
| 35 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | 2026 GLC300 4matic | 26 | $3,000 | 337 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Equinox FWD, 4-cyl 1.5 L: 26 mpg city, 29 highway, 27 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Equinox version is $2,300 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Equinox costs $85 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Equinox costs $425 less to fuel than the Compass (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Equinox (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Equinox | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jeep Compass | 2026 Compass 4WD | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 1 lower | $100 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 2026 CX-5 4WD | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 1 lower | $100 more a year | - |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | 2026 GLC300 4matic | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 1 lower | $700 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Range mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox EV FWDElectric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | Front-wheel | 117 | 100 | 108 MPGe | $700 | - | 319 | cheapest |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger)Electric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | All-wheel | 112 | 95 | 103 MPGe | $750 | - | 307 | +$50 |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger)Electric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | All-wheel | 103 | 88 | 96 MPGe | $800 | - | 288 | +$100 |
| 2026 Equinox FWD | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-wheel | 26 | 29 | 27 | $2,300 | 329 | - | +$1,600 |
| 2026 Equinox AWD | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic 8-spd | All-wheel | 25 | 29 | 26 | $2,400 | 342 | - | +$1,700 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Equinox; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Equinox FWD puts out 329 grams per mile; across the 5 tested versions the figure runs from 0 to 342.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Equinox FWD: fuel economy score 5 (5 to 9 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (5 to 10 across versions).
Cost per 100 miles uses electricity at $0.15 per kWh (as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA). Plug-in hybrid range counts gasoline too.
| Version | Range mi | Charge at 240 V | MPGe | kWh per 100 mi | Cost per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox EV FWDElectric | 319 | 9.5 h | 108 | 31.1 | $4.67 |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger)Electric | 307 | 9.5 h | 103 | 32.6 | $4.89 |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger)Electric | 288 | 5.9 h | 96 | 35.1 | $5.27 |
Best combined figure of the Equinox gas version and electric version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best electric (MPGe) | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 26 mpg | none | 6 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 25 mpg | none | 6 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 32 mpg | none | 6 | 5 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 32 mpg | none | 6 | 5 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 28 mpg | none | 4 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 28 mpg | none | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 28 mpg | none | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 28 mpg | none | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 28 mpg | 108 MPGe | 4 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 27 mpg | 109 MPGe | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 27 mpg | 108 MPGe | 5 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 5 versions were tested then and 5 now; the best figure went from 27 to 27 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox EV FWD, Electric | 108 MPGe | 109 MPGe | -1 MPGe |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger), Electric | 103 MPGe | 103 MPGe | no change |
| 2026 Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger), Electric | 96 MPGe | 96 MPGe | no change |
| 2026 Equinox FWD, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Equinox AWD, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EV SUV BEV AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 86 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: EQUINOX, EQUINOX EV.
98 complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 34 | |
| Service Brakes | 25 | |
| Power Train | 19 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 | |
| Electrical System | 17 |
5 of the 98 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 8 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: EQUINOX, EQUINOX EV.
3 recalls are on file for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: EQUINOX, EQUINOX EV.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet ...
Fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Equinox EV vehicles. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce a sufficient change in volume between the vehicle being stopped and moving at low speeds.
Fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cadillac Optic and 2025-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles equipped with 21-inch Continental all-season tires. One or more of these tires may experience partial or full tread detachment.
Fix: Dealers will inspect all four tires and replace those manufactured during DOT week 4024, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Equinox itself is at 26 mpg.
More Chevrolet models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Equinox FWD with 27 mpg combined (26 city, 29 highway).
The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox costs between $700 and $2,400 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Equinox EV FWD at $700; the dearest is the 2026 Equinox AWD at $2,400. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Equinox AWD: 26 mpg combined (25 city, 29 highway); 2026 Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger): 103 MPGe combined (112 city, 95 highway); 2026 Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger): 96 MPGe combined (103 city, 88 highway).
The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is 35th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Subaru Outback at 27 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Jeep Compass at 26 mpg.
The 2025 model had 5 tested versions and the 2026 model has 5. The best figure went from 27 to 27 mpg (no change).
2026 Equinox EV FWD: 319 miles; 2026 Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger): 307 miles; 2026 Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger): 288 miles, by the agency's tests.
The 2026 Equinox EV FWD takes 9.5 hours for a full charge at 240 volts and uses 31.1 kWh per 100 miles, about $4.67 per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh.
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EV SUV BEV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 5. The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
98 complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Forward Collision Avoidance (34 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 3 recalls for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.