SUVs & crossovers · Buyer's guide

Used Chevrolet Equinox:
what to buy and what to skip

The Equinox is one of the best-value used crossovers in America precisely because its reputation is worse than its current reality. The 2010–2017 cars with the 2.4-litre Ecotec have a serious oil consumption and timing chain problem that drove resale into the floor. The 2018 redesign moved to turbocharged engines and fixed it. If you know which is which, there is a lot of car available here for very little money.

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Best years to buy

Generations where the known problems were already fixed and the price hasn't caught up yet.

2018–2022

The third generation. The 1.5-litre turbo is adequate and reliable, the interior is a big step up, and the 2.4 Ecotec's problems are gone. This is the Equinox to buy.

2016–2017

If you need a second-generation car, these are the best of them — but only with the 3.6-litre V6, which avoids the four-cylinder's oil consumption entirely.

Years to avoid

Not "these are bad cars" — these are specific years with a specific, documented failure that costs real money.

2010–2013

Peak 2.4-litre Ecotec oil consumption and timing chain stretch. GM settled a class action over this. Cars from these years are cheap because they consume oil, not because they're bargains.

2018

First year of the third generation had a run of 1.5T issues and a diesel option that was discontinued almost immediately — parts and service for the diesel are now awkward.

Common Chevrolet Equinox problems

The failures that actually show up, and roughly what each one costs to put right.

01 Excessive oil consumption (2010–2017 2.4L Ecotec)

Piston ring and PCV design let oil past. A quart per 1,000–2,000 miles is typical and it can run the engine dry between changes if nobody checks. GM's repair is a piston and ring replacement at $3,000–4,500 — more than many of these cars are worth.

02 Timing chain stretch (2010–2015 2.4L)

Often a downstream consequence of the oil consumption. Symptom is a rattle on start-up and a check-engine light for camshaft correlation. $1,200–2,000 to repair.

03 A/C condenser and compressor failures (2018–2021)

Common enough on the third generation to be worth testing specifically. $900–1,600 for a condenser, more if the compressor is involved.

04 Transmission shift quality (2018+ 9-speed)

Hesitation and hunting at low speed. Usually a calibration issue addressed by a TCM update, not a mechanical failure. Ask whether the software is current.

What a used Chevrolet Equinox costs in 2026

Private-party asking prices for average-mileage, clean-title cars. Dealer retail runs roughly 15–25% higher.

Years	Typical price	What you're getting
2010–2015	$4,500–9,500	Genuinely cheap transport if the engine has been sorted — check the oil obsessively. Otherwise avoid.
2016–2017	$8,500–14,000	The V6 cars are the pick. Four-cylinder cars still carry the consumption risk.
2018–2022	$14,000–26,000	Good value against a RAV4 or CR-V of the same year — you'll typically save $3,000–5,000 for a comparable vehicle.

What to check before you buy

Model-specific. Bring this list to the test drive.

On any 2.4-litre car, check the oil level cold before the test drive and ask when it was last topped up, not last changed.
Cold-start it and listen for a chain rattle in the first few seconds.
Scan for camshaft position correlation codes — a cheap OBD reader tells you what the dashboard won't.
Test the air conditioning thoroughly on third-generation cars.
Drive it in stop-and-go traffic to feel the nine-speed's low-speed manners.

Chevrolet Equinox questions

Why are used Chevy Equinoxes so cheap?

Mainly because of the 2.4-litre Ecotec oil consumption problem on 2010–2017 models, which generated a class action and destroyed resale values across the whole model line. The 2018-and-later cars don't share that engine and are much better, but they inherited the reputation — which is exactly why they're good value.

What are the best years for a used Chevy Equinox?

2018–2022 with the 1.5-litre turbo, or 2016–2017 with the 3.6-litre V6. Avoid the 2.4-litre four-cylinder from 2010–2017 unless the pistons and rings have been replaced and you have paperwork proving it.

How do I check for the Equinox oil consumption problem?

Check the oil level on a cold engine before you drive it — sellers often top it up right before a viewing, so also ask how often they add oil between changes. A rattle on cold start and a camshaft correlation code both point at chain stretch, which usually follows the consumption.

Is the Equinox reliable now?

The third-generation cars from 2018 onward have been broadly average — no catastrophic engine problems, some A/C and transmission calibration complaints. They aren't as durable as a RAV4 or CR-V, but they're several thousand dollars cheaper used, which is a legitimate trade to make.