General Motors has re-engineered and re-designed the Chevrolet Equinox — its most popular crossover — for the 2018 model year. The overhaul is extensive: not only does the 2018 Equinox have an all-new design inside and out, a completely new powertrain, and new technologies, but it also makes the jump to GM’s new D2 platform from the Theta platform used by its predecessor. That change enables the ‘nox to finally become a true compact crossover, rather than straddling the compact and midsize spaces, which was the case for the outgoing, second-gen model. But just how much smaller is the cabin of the new Equinox compared to its predecessor? We set out to find out in this installment of the GM Authority Dimensional Brief.
For the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, becoming smaller on the outside has translated to slightly less front and rear headroom, front and rear legroom, and front hip room compared to the old model. Also down slightly are metrics for cargo volume, both with the second row seats upright and folded. However, front and rear shoulder room and rear hip room are up on the new Equinox.
The key word here is slightly: the changes in interior dimensions are insubstantial in terms of gaining or losing space. So, despite being notably smaller on the outside, the new, 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is nearly as spacious as the model it replaces, thanks to the new vehicle using available interior room more efficiently than its predecessor. And that is a pretty admirable accomplishment for Chevrolet and General Motors.
We’ve included interior dimension comparison tables (in both imperial and metric) for your perusal below.
Measurement | 2018 Chevrolet Equinox (Preliminary) | 2010-2017 Chevrolet Equinox | + / – 2018 Equinox |
---|---|---|---|
Seating capacity (front/rear): | 2 / 3 | 2/3 | Equal |
Front headroom (in): | 40.0 | 40.9 | -0.90 |
Rear headroom (in): | 38.5 | 39.2 | -0.70 |
Front legroom (in): | 40.9 | 41.2 | -0.30 |
Rear legroom (in): | 39.7 | 39.9 | -0.20 |
Front shoulder room (in): | 57.2 | 55.8 | +1.4 |
Rear shoulder room (in): | 55.5 | 55.3 | +.2 |
Front hip room (in): | 54.2 | 54.6 | -0.40 |
Rear hip room (in): | 51.7 | 51.1 | +.6 |
Max cargo volume behind rear seats (cu ft): | 29.9 | 31.5 | -1.6 |
Max cargo volume with rear seats folded (cu ft): | 63.5 | 63.7 | -0.20 |
Measurement | 2018 Chevrolet Equinox (Preliminary) | 2010-2017 Chevrolet Equinox | + / – 2018 Equinox |
---|---|---|---|
Seating capacity (front/rear): | 2 / 3 | 2/3 | Equal |
Front headroom (mm): | 1015 | 1039 | -24 |
Rear headroom (mm): | 977 | 996 | -19 |
Front legroom (mm): | 1040 | 1046 | -6 |
Rear legroom (mm): | 1008 | 1013 | -5 |
Front shoulder room (mm): | 1452 | 1417 | +35 |
Rear shoulder room (mm): | 1410 | 1405 | +5 |
Front hip room (mm): | 1377 | 1387 | -10 |
Rear hip room (mm): | 1314 | 1298 | +16 |
Max cargo volume behind rear seats (L): | 846 | 892 | -46 |
Max cargo volume with rear seats folded (L): | 1798 | 1804 | -6 |
About The Numbers
- Imperial measurements in inches (length) and cub feet (volume)
- Metric measurements in millimeters (length) and liters (volume)
- Interior measurements for both models without sunroof
- Measurements for 2018 Chevy Equinox are preliminary
Comments
So it would be about the same compare to the Envision?
These numbers are where this will really count.
From the looks it is very close and even the smaller package has nearly the same interior room.
This is a reflection on how well this one is packaged and how my present one had some hard point issues that hurt packaging.
I too own an Equinox and now looking at these numbers I’m very impressed with what Chevy was able to do with this new vehicle. Top half or shoulder room being up to 1.4″ more will actually make this new Equinox feel more specious than older model.
Pretty close. I was concerned about rear legroom because the sliding rear seat has been eliminated. Also, though the cargo space is a bit smaller, it appears that it may be more practical. I cannot get golf clubs in my 2012 Equinox without lowering half of the rear seat. With the wheel wells moved forward, it appears that they will now fit crosswise in the rear of the compartment. My other complaints, the old fashioned foot actuated parking brake and the hard plastic window sill where your elbow rests, also appear to be eliminated. I’m guessing the new Terrain will be virtually identical. I was thinking of upgrading to the ’18 and will have to see it in person. Hopefully it is still as comfortable as my current model.
Current gen owner and sat in the 18 at the Detroit auto show.
Noticeably smaller and tighter in the cabin on the 18. my legs felt cramped and I did not have the same side-to-side room. rear seat appears to be much smaller side to side. i can currently get a car seat and two adults in the back, just by appearance I don’t see how it’s possible in the 18, comfortably. rear seat leg room appears to be the same, but i did not adjust the passenger front to truly test.
time will tell when the current lease runs out and i take the wifey to view the new one and actually have the family sit in it. i really hope i don’t have to go up to a traverse. if that was the case i would consider the pacifica instead. very impressed with that vehicle and i hate vans!
Interesting because I am 6’3″ and I do not put my driver’s seat anywhere near full back on my 2012 Equinox. Since the 2018 has only .3 inches less front legroom, I assumed I would still have plenty of room. And the specs show that the rear seat actually has more hip room.
when i said legs i probably should have been more clear. i meant my leg/hip area feels very confined while sitting in the front passenger seat. i don’t have the same “spread” distance that I currently have and i hate that! that’s not currently an issue in my 16. as for front to back room, i don’t think that is going to be an issue. there is plenty of room still by appearance for folks to be comfortable in both the front and back. current gen has a ton of room in these areas so if it’s only 3″ than I don’t see it being a problem.
Hips and shoulders are my deal man. same reason i refuse to get into a colorado. i feel like a sardine back there. my shoulders are cramped into the glass and my head is tilted towards the middle of the vehicle.
making the equinox smaller could be a mistake if it truly is smaller in the cabin. I have more “room” in my $hitbox trax than i felt i had in the new equinox. i like the equinox and it’s new design, so i hope it was just an illusion when i was at the show.
I too have sat in the new 2018 Equinox and find the seats smaller in width, and thus uncomfortable. I find the leather seats in the Premier a bit better than the LT with cloth. I have ordered one but am concerned about my long drives from Michigan to Dallas to see my son’s. Maybe it will end up more for just local travel / short trips.
I hope you find the Premier seats comfortable for travel. I have driven my 2012 on 5 separate 3000-mile round trips and found it very comfortable. I am thinking about ordering a 2018 Premier once the 2.0 engine comes out. I keep waiting to read a road test of the 2018. Please keep us updated when you get yours.
I find the 2017 and earlier seats to be WIDER and thus much more comfortable than the seats in the new body style 2018 Equinox. Once you have a chance to sit in them you will see what I mean. They simply are not as wide as the previous Equinox model years. I am sure I too would be fine with my 1200 drive from Michigan to Dallas in the 2017 and earlier seats like your current model.
when i said legs i probably should have been more clear. i meant my leg/hip area feels very confined while sitting in the front passenger seat. i don’t have the same “spread” distance that I currently have and i hate that! that’s not currently an issue in my 16. as for front to back room, i don’t think that is going to be an issue. there is plenty of room still by appearance for folks to be comfortable in both the front and back. current gen has a ton of room in these areas so if it’s only 3″ than I don’t see it being a problem.
Hips and shoulders are my deal man. same reason i refuse to get into a colorado. i feel like a sardine back there. my shoulders are cramped into the glass and my head is tilted towards the middle of the vehicle.
making the equinox smaller could be a mistake if it truly is smaller in the cabin. I have more “room” in my trax than i felt i had in the new equinox. i like the equinox and it’s new design, so i hope it was just an illusion when i was at the show.
People getting bigger – cars getting smaller. Seems like a disconnect there somewhere
Uggg. Hankook tires. I thought GM had moved away from low end tires that feel fine on the test drive but make the car awful, loud, and vibrate, after a year of ownership. Had low end tires on everything new from GM in the 1990s/2000s. On the other hand, our 2016 Equinox came with nice Michelins and they have made it a pleasure to drive on road trips, giving it nearly Buick levels of quiet.
I’m just here glad the equinox is finally getting rear air vents. People have no idea that if you don’t have tints and addition of black interior makes it really hot inside the car
I don’t like the fact that they are downsizing the Equinox, if I wanted a smaller vehicle I would get a Trax. Deal breaker for me . I ruled out the Escape for the same reason.
The Trax is way smaller than the new equinox. If you compare the interior dimensions of the new “downsized” Equinox to the 2017 model, you will see they are very close to what they were before. A couple are even larger. So, while smaller on the outside, the 2018 model should be quicker, more fuel efficient, and easier to park.
I’m actually surprised up to this date people did like the tweeter sized second gen though
I have had a 2005, 2010 and a 2015….. I think eliminating the adjustable sliding rear seat is the biggest drawback to the 2018 and might drive me to something different and also the 1.6 less cu ft of cargo with the seats up is substantial….
My lease on my 2014 Equinox was up in June. Got in the 2018 Equinox at the dealer in April. My first question to the salesman was “What did they do to this thing?” It’s like they shrunk the interior. Felt cramped immediately like in the Escape or Rogue. It was an instant feeling. Not the same feeling after test driving everything in 2014. The Equinox then by far was the best for comfort and ride. Bought a 2017 Santa Fe Sport instead. The deal on the Santa Fe was nearly $90 less a month (lease) than the Equinox. Very comfortable. But, I will give you this, the ride is not quite as smooth as the 2014 Equinox (minimally). Sorry GM, but I think you missed the boat on this one.
Interesting comment. I test drove two 2018 Equinox Preniers (one with the 2.0 turbo) with plans to replace my 2012 Equinox LTZ V6. I’m 6’3″, 260 pounds. The new Equinox did feel a bit tighter inside than my 2012, but not uncomfortably so. Legroom was fine. I thought the ride on the 2018 was smoother and quieter than my 2012 and the 2.0 turbo was very peppy. I would have ordered a Premier but ran across a good deal on a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali in the interim. I preferred a V6, which the Equinox didn’t offer, and the Acadia interior was much roomier and the cargo space was much larger when the third row seats were down. Also the Acadia has a much larger fuel tank which I prefer for traveling. At least for now, GMC doesn’t use the start-stop technology. I am not a fan of start-stop, especially when I can’t disable the feature. Owners have told me that they are getting about 28mpg highway with their 2017 Acadias. With a 22 gallon tank that should give me great travel range. So far I am enjoying the Acadia and, with recent downsizing, it’s external dimensions are not much larger than my old Equinox.
The seats on my 2012 were so much more comfortable than my 2018 driving from Florida to Ohio the back of my legs hurt for 2 days after the trip..seats are definitely smaller. I don’t like the stop an start feature. I liked the back seat on the 2012 a lot better cuz it moved forward an backwards . There is some nice features on the 2018 but wish I had my 2012 back it didn’t have the power but it was roomier an the seats were a lot more comfortable. To me they should have left it alone.
What are the actual measurements of the 2017 cargo area from the back of the second row seat to the hatchback and between the wheelbase in inches?
ILL stick with my 2017 Terrain. Like the square bold look better and it is roomier than the new model.