We’re a little surprised by how poorly the Chevrolet Equinox is ranked. It seems like this compact SUV could hold up a little better against rivals like the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4. Let’s see why the 2022 Chevy Equinox is falling behind. 

Is the 2022 Chevy Equinox worth buying? 

Yes, the 2022 Chevy Equinox is an excellent option to consider against rival SUVs. It offers plenty of passenger space for families, a long list of standard tech, and an agile performance for daily driving. 

However, according to U.S.News, the Equinox can’t keep up. It comes in 12th place on the list of the 14 best compact SUVs. It only outranks the GMC Terrain and the Jeep Compass. 

It falls behind the Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. The Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson are tied for first. 

These rankings are based on an average score comprised from respected critic ratings that are published online, in magazines, and newspapers. 

Each vehicle is judged based on its comfort, performance, fuel economy, safety, towing power, cargo space, and reliability rankings. Then a score of one out of 10 is assigned to each vehicle, and the Equinox earned a 7.6. This isn’t bad, but it’s behind the competition. 

What are the 2022 Equinox problems? 

The U.S.News recommends avoiding the 2022 Chevy Equinox because it has a subpar acceleration and doesn’t have the best interior quality. 

It’s powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.7 seconds. This is adequate, but you may want to give yourself extra time to pass others on the highway. 

Also, the Equinox can only tow up to 1,500 lbs, while the Toyota RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 lbs. But it does get an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and up to 31 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive may reduce these figures by one or two mpg. 

The Chevy Equinox starts at $26,300, and higher trim levels take the price up to about $31,500. While it represents an affordable option, the interior quality is a little lacking for the price. It’s primarily composed of durable materials. 

Higher quality options such as leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, and a wireless phone charging pad are only available with the higher trim levels. 

What do critics like about the 2022 Equinox? 

The 2022 Chevy Equinox provides a smooth ride over most surfaces. It feels stable and confident around sharp curves with agile handling. It’s easy to maneuver in tight city areas. 

You can access up to 29.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.9 cubes total. The seats fold flat, and you can opt for a power liftgate. The rear hatch is wide with a low liftover height, making it easy to load large items. 

While a 7.0-inch touchscreen comes standard, you can upgrade to the 8.0-inch unit. Plus, you get a Wi-fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Plus, 4G LTE is standard too. The tech is easy to use and works very quickly. 

The Equinox is only held back by a below-average acceleration speed and a slightly lacking interior quality. But it’s comfortable, spaces, and includes tons of value.