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2019 Chevy Equinox Gets New Colors, New Tech, And A Whole Lot More

Now in its third generation, the Chevrolet Equinox is the right product at the right time: sales of the all-new, third-gen Equinox that launched for the 2018 model year, have increased for the last four months. In fact, sales jumped 40 percent to nearly 32,000 units in March, setting a new March sales record. For the 2019 model year, Chevy is giving is compact crossover a long list of updates and changes. Some of these are substantial, while others are not, but all make up for a more attractive package.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Redline Edition exterior - 2017 Chicago Auto Show 002

2019 Chevy Equinox Exterior Updates

On the outside, the 2019 Chevy Equinox gets two new colors – Pacific Blue Metallic and Kinetic Blue Metallic. Neither color replaces another one. Instead, both colors are added to the palette, becoming a total of 14 colors.

Additionally, a new Lights and Bright Package is offered on the 1LT equipment groups and includes 19″ Bright machined wheels with Sparkle Silver pockets, 19″ all-season blackwall tires, LED headlamps and LED tail lamps, chrome grille surround and molded assist steps.

There’s also a mention of a replacement to the 16″ spare wheel with another 16″ spare wheel, and it’s currently not clear what the difference between the two is.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox interior real world 001 cockpit

2019 Chevy Equinox Interior Updates

Inside, the 2019 Equinox does away with the leather-wrapped shift lever on the 1LT models as well as on the 2LT FWD model. In its place is a urethane-wrapped shift lever. The leather unit is now optional as part of the Driver Confidence Package. Additionally, the overhead sunglass storage compartment is removed as a standard feature from L and LS models.

Making up for those two de-contenting moves is the addition of multi-color driver instrumentation on LT models, replacing the monochromatic unit on the 2018 Equinox.

Additionally, several new packages joins the mix, including:

  • LPO-level Interior Enhancement Package that includes:
    • Premium carpeted floor mats
    • Embroidered front row headrests

2018 Chevrolet Equinox interior live at 2016 LA Auto Show 005

2019 Chevy Equinox In-Vehicle Technology Updates

On the technology front, the 2019 Equinox gets the High-Def (HD treatment for the Surround Vision system and the Rear Vision Camera. In addition, all variants of the infotainment system get upgraded from the Chevrolet MyLink to the Chevrolet Infotainment system.

There are also various changes to the availability of the USB port(s), as follows:

  • L, LS and LT models replace the single USB port with auxiliary jack (located in the center stack storage area) with two USB ports with auxiliary jack. On the 2018 Equinox, it was part of the Infotainment Package on LT models.
  • Premier models get two USB data ports with SD Card Reader and auxiliary jack located within front center storage bin. LT models can be configured with this feature when the Infotainment Package is selected.
  • All models get dual USB charging-only ports located in the rear of the center console as standard equipment. By comparison, on the 2018 Equinox, they were part of the Infotainment Package on LT models and were not available on L or LS models. The auxiliary 12-volt power outlet in the second row is deleted.

There are also various package changes to the 2019 Equinox, which you can view below. We hid them in the expandable toggle since there are a lot of them, and they’re not all that exciting to look at.

  • Deletion of LPO-level Protection Package, which included all-weather front and rear floor mats and rear custom molded splash guards
  • Availability of Confidence & Convenience Package as an option on the following models:
    • 2LT AWD
    • 3LT FWD
    • 3LT AWD
    • The package was standard on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and includes:
      • Rear Park Assist
      • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
      • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
      • Outside heated power-adjustable and manual-folding body-color mirrors with turn signal indicators
  • Availability of Confidence & Convenience II Package as an option on the following models:
    • 1LZ (Premier) AWD
    • 2LZ (Premier) AWD
    • The package was standard on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and includes:
      • Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
      • Forward Collision Alert
      • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
      • Following Distance Indicator
      • Safety Alert Seat
      • HD Surround Vision
      • Adaptive Cruise Control
      • Front Pedestrian Braking
      • IntelliBeam headlamps
  • Addition of new content to Driver Confidence II Package, which now includes:
    • Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
    • Forward Collision Alert
    • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
    • Following Distance Indicator
    • Safety Alert Seat
    • HD Surround Vision
    • Adaptive Cruise Control
    • Front Pedestrian Braking
    • IntelliBeam
  • Addition of new content to Infotainment Package, which now includes:
    • 8″ diagonal color touch-screen with Navigation and Chevrolet Infotainment
    • HD Rear Vision Camera
    • 2 USB ports located in front console bin
    • 2 USB data ports, including SD Card Reader and auxiliary input jack located within front center storage bin
    • 120-volt power outlet
  • Addition of new content to Infotainment II Package, which now contains the 8″ diagonal color touch-screen with Navigation and Chevrolet Infotainment, replacing the 8″ diagonal color touch-screen with Navigation and Chevrolet MyLink
  • Driver Convenience Package now includes leather-wrapped shift lever on all 1LT models and 2LT FWD model
  • Sun & Infotainment Package name changed to “Sun & Navigation Package”
  • Rear Vision Camera is no longer standard on Premier, since it’s replaced with HD Rear Vision Camera

2018 Chevrolet Equinox exterior live at 2016 LA Auto Show 004

2019 Chevy Equinox Active Safety Updates

The 2019 Equinox gains two new active safety features: adaptive full-speed cruise control with stop/go and Front Pedestrian Braking.

Both are included and only available with the Driver Confidence II Package on Premier models.

LPO-Level Changes

The 2019 Chevy Equinox sees various LPO-level changes. As we’ve mentioned previously, an LPO item is one that is produced by GM but installed by the dealer.

The LPO-level changes are as follows:

  • Chrome Package is no longer available on FWD Premier models
  • LPO-level  Cargo Package no longer includes integrated cargo liner, which remains part of Floor Liner Package
  • LPO-level all-weather floor mats are no longer available as a free flow option, but only as part of LPO-level Interior Protection Package
  • LPO-level premium carpeted floor mats is no longer available as a free flow option, but only as part of LPO-level Interior Enhancement Package
  • LPO-level all-weather floor liners is no longer available as a free flow option, but only as part of LPO-level Floor Liner Package

2019 Chevy Equinox Fleet-Specifc Updates

The 2019 Equinox also gets three fleet-specific changes.

The first is the introduction of two new fleet-specific equipment groups based on the LT equipment group – the 1XR26 FWD 2FL and the 1XY26 AWD 2FL. Additionally, remote start becomes available on 1LS models with a Fleet or Government order type.

Finally, the new Fleet Safety Package is introduced as standard on 2FL equipment groups and includes:

  • Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collison Alert
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Intellibeam headlamps

And that just about does it for what’s new for the 2019 Equinox. Use the links below to see the model’s order guide and RPO-level change list.

The updates and changes described here are specific to the U.S. market and may be different for other markets.

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Comments

  1. No Hybrid equinox with electric awd ? .. It not just sales ,its part of perception too.

    Reply
  2. It’s about time that equinox and terrain have adaptive cruise lol… they’re burning daylight to put those on

    Reply
    1. We who follow the Chevy Volt wonder why GM hasn’t decided to produce an EREV model for the Equinox since 2011, and especially now that their latest generation share the same platform.

      Reply
      1. GM has the finest hybrid technology yet refuses to use it. Volt is a confusing vehicle for many buyers: Not a ‘real’ EV yet capable of more than any hybrid.
        Volt technology should be described as Super Hybrid and made available on most of the Chevrolet line up. The Volt as a stand alone car isn’t needed when one can get an Equinox Volt or Cruze Volt.
        I agree Equinox needs a hybrid as a halo offering. Even Chrysler Pacifica is trying.

        Reply
  3. Chevrolet’s Equinox might be Cadillac’s XT4’s biggest competition given the Equinox has a $10K lower base price.

    Reply
    1. XT4 is smaller

      Reply
      1. XT4 is larger than the Equinox. Equinox is built on the D2 platform which is a compact car platform that the Chevy Cruze is built on. The XT4 shares the Malibu’s E2 platform, a midsize car. Therefore, XT4 larger than Equinox and Terrain.

        Reply
        1. Cadillacs r not made for tall people..where, thee equinox is…

          Reply
    2. Not the same client base at all.

      Reply
  4. I am extremely happy considering this vehicle was all new last year and they’re adding major content while we’re scratching our heads at the lack of updates on some models that will get refreshed…

    Reply
    1. They’re putting the content into the Equinox because it’s selling hot while sedans flounder

      Reply
      1. Still disappointed i cant get it in a dark plum purple, or deep teal…they need to allow the public to vote on the colors..the color is the only thing holding me back from buying a new equinox

        Reply
  5. Just make sure you buy the Canadian built version over the Mexican built.

    Reply
    1. As much as I dont like Mexican made goods; After all of the trouble they had with the union up there, I would only ever buy the Mexican built version.

      Sometimes, people dont know how to quit while they’re ahead.

      Reply
      1. Henry, what you call trouble most would say negotiation. I will always prefer my GM vehicles assembled by the UAW/CAW. You don’t need to go any further than the 14th floor of the GM building to see what happened to lost market share.

        Reply
    2. There are no Mexican versions of the current Equinox. Equinox is built in Ingersoll Onterio and the Terrain is built in Mexico.

      Reply
  6. Chevy/GM needs to make these Safety features standard like everyone else or at least available on all trim levels. GM is quickly falling behind the Safety, Interior materials, and lighting department.

    Reply
    1. Please give us the specs and pics of the competition. I can’t wait to see what I’ve been missing.

      Reply
  7. I did go to the NY Auto show last week. I did see the new 2019 Toyota RAV4, an it was very impressive. The new RAV4 looks more like a sport utility, with sharp styling lines and larger sport type wheels. That said, the closest vehicle GM has to compete with the new RAV4, is the new GMC Terrain, which has the more aggressive sport look with luxury options, as well.

    With competition heating up, GM needs to come up with more sportier appearance and performance options for the Equinox.

    With roads crumbling in the Northern half of the U.S., potential buyers have more interest in vehicles with rugged features.

    Reply
    1. You are another who believes that GM should produce what you like. Yet it sells as GM’s second best. Why spoil it? The buyers are mostly families that want the exact style it has now. The Toyota RAV4 sells because it is cheaper. I have a 2009 Equinox and I will only replace it with a hybrid or EREV CUV.

      Reply
      1. There is a Market for said vehicle, hence why GMC will have the upcoming Terrain AT4. Chevrolet needs a Nox version as well.
        Jeep has it’s Trailhawk versions for all their vehicles. They sell extremely well.

        Reply
        1. I am legitimately concerned about the Terrain AT4.

          I don’t trust GM to get that right. And they desperately need something other than pickup trucks to appeal to young men.

          Reply
      2. They are only 3rd or 4th best when they should be number 1. There is ample room to improve.

        Reply
  8. They are already decontenting in its second year? I wonder what else is missing besides the leather on the shift knob and the sun glasses holder? Did these things ever have a glove box light? Lights in the doors? My 2013 Impala is a rolling case of GM decontenting. It lost the exterior Impala emblems, the little GM badges, a rear seat map pocket, the glove box light and a driver’s side power seat recliner all of which were std on the 2006 and 2007 versions of this same car.

    GM also needs to re-engineer the 1.5T. It is too wimpy for these still heavy vehicles, doesn’t rev past 5200 RPM’s and makes the least amount of HP in its class. Ford gets 185 HP out of it’s older 1.5 Ecoboost 1.5T and Honda gets 192-200 out of it’s own 1.5T. The fact that many of these engines have had piston melt downs is also alarming in the Malibus.

    Reply
    1. The 1.5L motor is about 15-20hp short of where it should be.

      Reply
  9. The Equinox needs a defeat switch for the auto start/stop. Every other competitor has one.

    Without it, it will stay far off my shopping list.

    Reply
    1. Is that the feature that turns the car off while at a stop? The buick envision has that feature and you cannot disable it..so, I didnt order one of those-although it did come in dark plum purple?

      Reply
      1. Or just put it in manual mode to defeat the stop start… problem solved

        Reply
  10. With Chevy adding all this new technology to the Nox what is the cost to the vehicle . They are selling a lot of these cars and now the price will go up a couple hundred dollars for systems that should have been introduced at the start .
    Other vehicles in this segment are offering these safety systems already .
    Some of these should be stand alone options so people can choose what they want .
    That RAV-4 that was mentioned sells because of the design of the car and the quality of Toyota . Side by side the RAV4 has a much more sporty look to it which consumers are looking for now instead of a crossover that just gets lost in the crowd of the other appliances .
    It is typical GM to de-content a vehicle after it has been on the market for only one year . The sunglass holder , no big deal , but the shifter now covered in rubber instead of leather is a cheap move . It’s not a deal breaker but cheapens the feel of the iterior .

    Reply
  11. Did they get rid of stop-start?

    Reply
    1. Seems like everyone hates that…

      Reply
  12. Why remove the second row 12 volt power outlet? Now if you have kids there will be no place to plug in portable dvd players in the back of the car. They’re a livesaver if you have children. Who needs a USB outlet in the back seat? Glad to finally see some nice looking blue colors.

    Reply
  13. Does the premier 1LZ AWD still come with the Confidence & Convenience II Package like the 2018 model? I’m confused on the changes outlined above.

    Reply
  14. Why are these being built in Canada? What happened to Tennessee ? Glad I found out this is a foreign car before I turned my lease in.

    Reply
    1. it’s being built in Tennessee and Canada (Ingersol)?

      Reply
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