General Motors is doing rather well in the mainstream compact crossover segment, having delivered 446,932 combined units of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain in the 2018 calendar year (in the United States). That’s enough for a 14.4 percent market share – the highest in the segment for any single automaker. But if there eve was one obvious downside against the bread-and-butter Chevy Equinox, it would be the exterior design – which is rather bland compared to some of the newer offerings, such as the new Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue Sport. A midcycle update should help that, and that’s exactly what we have here for you today – our first look at the 2020 Chevy Equinox refresh.
We captured the prototype of the updated Equinox undergoing testing at GM’s Milford proving grounds. The tester is wearing a significant amount of camouflage not only on the front end, which is to be expected, but also around the C- and D-pillar areas. This suggests that the updates in store for the 2020 Chevy Equinox will be more extensive, and deliver updates to the front-end, rear-end, and the rear three-quarters.
This particular prototype is not wearing production headlights, but instead features a set of placeholder lights up front. What, exactly, is lurking under the camo of this 2020 Chevy Equinox tester is anyone’s guess at this point.
2019 Blazer sets the design direction of future Chevy crossovers
A prototype of the all-new, 2020 Chevy Trax captured in August 2018 features obvious Blazer design influences
It’s worth noting that the brand has been moving towards a more rugged exterior design aesthetic, especially with the 2019 Blazer. Spy shots indicate that the upcoming, 2020 Chevy Trax will follow the general design direction introduced by the Blazer. But in order for the Equinox to follow in the Blazer’s footsteps, the model will have to get a complete overhaul (redesign and re-engineering), since the current model wasn’t developed with the elements necessary for a Blazer-like design.
Outside of design-related changes, expect the 2020 Chevy Equinox refresh to bring some updates to the interior as well as to the powertrain. For instance, the 6-speed automatic transmission, which is currently mated to the base 1.5L I-4 LYX turbo-charged gasoline engine and 1.6L I-4 LH7 turbo-diesel, should be replaced by the new GM 9-speed automatic. It’s also possible that the optional turbo-charged 2.0L LTG I-4 petrol mill will be replaced by its successor, the 2.0L LSY I-4.
About Chevrolet Equinox
The Chevrolet Equinox is a compact crossover. It slots above the Chevrolet Trax and below the Chevrolet Traverse. It will also be positioned below the rumored to be the future Chevrolet Blazer. The first-generation Equinox ran from the 2005-2009 model years and was based on the first-generation Theta platform. The second-generation Equinox was offered from the 2010-2017 model years and was based on the Theta 2 platform. Both the first- and second-generation models were "tweeners", in that they straddled the compact and midsize CUV segments in size. The third-generation model was introduced for the 2018 model year. It rides on the GM D2 platform shared with the second-generation GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Volt and, unlike its two predecessors, is positioned squarely in the compact segment.
The third-generation, 2018 and newer Equinox features an all-new exterior and interior, while being slightly smaller inside and out compared to the outgoing model. It also offers an all-new engine lineup and an all-new lightweight architecture that enables a weight savings of over 400 pounds compared to the second-gen model. As a result, the new Equinox gets better fuel economy while also delivering improvements in ride, handling, packaging, and safety.
The Equinox is assembled at the following GM plants:
- GM CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada operated by GM Canada
- GM Ramos plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico operated by GM Mexico
- Wuhan II plant in Hubei, China operated by Shanghai-GM
Related News & Info
- GM news
- GM forums
- Chevrolet Equinox information
- Running GM sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
- Running Chevrolet Equinox sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
Comments
Which means the Terrain Refresh won’t be that far behind
And yet I hope you realize the GM crossovers are gonna be more reliable than the FCA offerings right?
I actually like the way the current Equinox looks. The Terrain is definitely the more BOLD offering, but I think there is something to be said about simplicity.
A refresh would be nice, but I hope they dont play the same card as the 2020 HD and make something completely butt-ugly.
So sad that GMA is still trying to sneak photos of the Mexico-made Chevy Blazer in an Equinox article. Desperation setting in as Blazer sales are not off to a stellar start?
Judging from the big announcements from Jeep and other manufacturers about huge investments in the U.S., China or Mexican made crossovers are not going to go over well and might explain why GM tries to hide that fact recently. Imagine the depreciation?
“Blazer sales are not off to a stellar start”….. well seeing as how not every dealer has even recieved their first one (yeah, I know, your local dealer has dozens just sitting there), and Chevy wont offically introduce it (advertising,promotions, incentives, etc) until April what kind of sales rate would you expect??
Actually, some have but of course promo models mostly.
I think the reader is probably indicating that pre-orders are not anywhere near the pre-launch hype. Pre-orders, actually money in deposit, are a huge indicator of a vehicles projected success or not. And with the nextgen Ford Bronco coming soon (Ford dealership are already getting deposit requests) and stiff crossover comp, the Blazer won’t be a smashing success that some want. Let’s just hope it keeps pace somewhat until heavy discounting occurs.
I am a GM dealer staff member so I do know something about sales. Oh, and the Mexico angle won’t help it for many buyers as we are seeing a an uptick in walk-ins asking us where vehicles are made. Makes sense in light of the firings, etc.
Equinox style is fine. MAKE SAFETY TECH STD.
I have no issue with the exterior design or interior design. Or the engine choices. Maybe a little more Base power.
Agreed GM needs to get on board and start offering Safety Tech as Standard as other Auto Makers are doing right now.
My biggest gripe is with the extremely cheap interior materials. It is by far the worst in the class!!!
“extremely cheap interior materials”. YES to this
Agree! I HATE black interior! I want real leather, not perforated.
I would believe those images would be testing of the 2021 Equinox. To see full camafloged pictures within just 3 months of production is not possible as contracts for final production parts need almost a year lead in time.
My guess is that the rounded front clip/grill look will be replaced with a broader squared off look. When we see what Toyota did with the RAV4 and what Volkswagen did to the Tiguan, the Equinox needs some more lines of conviction.
More meaningful wheels and flares would also look really good.
Does look like it going to be similar to the Blazer, so it will look like a smaller version. When someone can not afford the Blazer it will allow sales to step them down. What I don’t like is all manufactures are making their models look too much the same. Lexus and Nissan are about the worse offenders, Honda also have done it. It gets boring.
You are probably wrong, why would Chevrolet change the Equinox when it only has a 2 year old style and is selling so well !!! You probably took a photo of a covered up Blazer.
A quick (after three model years) MCE is common nowadays. Good idea to let early adopters and returning lessees get a different look in the same vehicle they know and like, and keep a hot vehicle hot.
I agree with new sheet metal every two or three years to keep it fresh. It is not an easy task but those in the industry get to hung up on styling queues. Take all the Chevy sedans and line them up looking at the front clip. Not much difference between them. The same old 2×4 across the grill with a oversized bow tie. The most successful cars in the past 60 years had not looked like anything from the past. I’m not talking sales numbers alone but those that cause a paradigm shift in car designs, and they usually had excellent sales numbers anyway.
Phillip – please do us all a favor and use those things on (in?) your head called eye balls.
You don’t have to be a genius to recognize that the body of the vehicle in question is 100% Equinox, and 0% Blazer.
Also, please understand that we examine the living $hit out of every spy photo before publishing them, obsessing over every detail.
With all sincerity in the world, you are wrong on this one.
I hope that Philip knows that prototype wheels look familiar to the current box with the LS/LT wheels so it’s pretty much a dead giveaway
It’s got current equinox wheels on it.
Well, I guess most of us here are GM loyalists. But I agree with a comment above about the interior of Equinox, it’s probably the cheapest in its class, what appears to be the new GM trend. We cant ignore it.
Way to lead with your best photo!
Looks like most new CUVs are dropping the hood ridge from the A pillar, finally.
You can get the interior in any color, as long as it’s black.
“Way to lead with your best photo!”
There’s a critique for everything, isn’t there?
How about the fact that GMA was the first outlet in the world to publish these photos. Have any compliments about that, Ralph?
Alex just take these hater comments as a grain of salt really. No need to really clap back at them.
Oh I’m aware that hate is strong with some of these folks.
But I find it mildly entertaining to engage them on occasion. It helps me sleep at night 🙂
This spy photo looks a lot like the Buick Envoy photo which also looks like the Trax/Encore photo. Does anyone validate this stuff?
This looks NOTHING like the Buick Envoy. It’s an Equinox fair and square.
Care to validate your eyes? 🙂
Could it be the new Envision on the current Equinox platform?
The current Envision is on the current Equinox platform
one obvious downside against the bread-and-butter Chevy Equinox, it would be the exterior design – which is rather bland compared
Captian Obvious. I especially hate the slab edges on the rear bumper, horrible
Chevrolet sold 332,621 of their Equinox in 2018 making it one of the most successful vehicles in General Motors fleet; thus, updating the Equinox inside and out as well as whatever refinements are necessary to continue the Equinox’s popularity.
Folks,
Please be advised that the dimwitted troll by the name of “G”, who also posted as “Carol” and as a few other handles, the one who continuously hated on the Blazer and brought up irrelevant political elements – has been banned indefinitely and his/her comments have been deleted. That’s the good news.
Unfortunately, some of your comments written in response to this troll were also deleted as a result of the thread being wiped when a user gets banned – a system behavior over which we have no control.
Pardon the inconvenience of the trolls. We’ll deal with them as they come.
Keep calm and carry on,
Alex
Magrius is a troll too
I am surprised this is already getting an MCE. I was hoping to see some spyshots on the MCE for the Colorado.
With the poor edicate spoken you would think they all drove a banana seat bike with horn shaped handle bars wear bandanas on their forehead like embasols. My mother and I have bought a few Equinox as we trade it in each year it has a beautiful incline with positive feedback from both of us! Thank you and now you may carry on!
I sure hop they get more power out of the little 1.5T as 170 is on the bottom end of acceptable for a vehicle this size and weight, especially in AWD and higher trim levels. Not good news on the mediocre LSY engine replacing the more powerful LTG. It’s been reduced to only 230 on the Acadia so it wouldn’t surprise me to see it drop even further on this to say 225 or so.
I’m hoping they will keep a normal shifter and include a defeat for stop/start and that styling is a bit more aggressive without being OTT.
Alex any inside info on which upcoming vehicle Chevrolet will unveil a new interior design theme?
I hope it is this refreshed Nox as this is the hottest segment in the business right now. Well excluding Full size trucks.
Also, I hope the Nox gets GM’s 1.6 Turbo over the kind of weak 1.5. I think only the Cascada offers this engine in the States.
I love my 19 equinox with the LTG. It’s no surprise they are doing really well with this car. It’s the right size and has good driving dynamics for the segment. The interior is utilitarian but elegant. Its just an all around excellent car and it can be had for good discounts. The only issue is the base engines are underpowered. Then again, they do net better fuel economy, so its nice to have choices. Myself, I wanted the zippy engine and I have no regrets. And with the 2.0L, you also get better brakes and dual exhaust and the exhaust actually sounds pretty good. Every time I start it up in the morning, I’m like, “THAT doesn’t sound like your typical 5 passenger CUV”.