2019 Chevrolet Equinox
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $25,925–$34,385 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
With an overall Carivo score of 7.3/10, the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox earns a Good rating among the suvs we've scored. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 8.3/10, while Performance at 6.5/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability comes in at 7.0/10 in our assessment — above the middle of the pack for this class, though not flawless. On safety it earns 8.3/10: respectable, if not class-leading — several competitors bundle more driver-assist tech as standard. Check your trim's official ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance at 6.5/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Technology scores 6.8/10 — the infotainment and driver-assist features feel dated against current-generation rivals. This is worth weighing if you prioritize connected features or modern safety tech.
Priced from $25,925–$34,385, 25 MPG, seating 5, the Chevrolet Equinox sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. Value lands at 7.8/10 — you get what you pay for, no more and no less, with a few rivals offering slightly better per-dollar returns. At 7 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Bottom line: There's a case for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, but it needs the right buyer. Its technology and performance scores trail the class, and several higher-rated rivals sell for similar money — comparison-shop before committing.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #1384 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 44% of the segment. Its 7.3/10 overall score is 0.1 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $25,925 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 28%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $35k →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$10,500 ($2,100/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 4 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Smart-money pick: the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox scores 7.2/10 — within striking distance of the 2019's 7.3 — and starts roughly $2,500 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.7/10 | $31,415 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.7/10 | $31,415 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $30,500 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.6/10 | $29,585 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $28,670 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.5/10 | $27,755 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.4/10 | $26,840 | Read review → |
| 2019 (this review) | 7.3/10 | $25,925 | |
| 2018 | 7.3/10 | $25,010 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.3/10 | $24,095 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.2/10 | $23,180 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $22,265 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Power train / Automatic transmission 29/10/2020 · 20V668000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC… |
|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Foundation components / Disc / Caliper 30/08/2018 · 18V576000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The… |
| Fuel system, gasoline / Storage / Tank assembly 19/09/2019 · 19V667000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet. |
| Seats 07/03/2019 · 19V184000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket. |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox's reliability 7.0/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
4 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.3/10 overall, ranking #1384 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 44% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox starts at $25,925 and ranges up to $34,385 across trims (MSRP when new). At 25 MPG, expect roughly $2,100/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest Equinox years we've rated are 2016 (7.2/10), 2015 (7.2/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (7.7/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
The documented issues for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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