The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to road safety, has announced its latest Top Safety Picks, recognizing the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox in the Small SUVs category.
The IIHS awards its Top Safety Pick rating to the best performers in the organization’s various safety evaluations. The evaluations include a long list of crashworthiness tests, all of which the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox aced with a top “Good” score.
The organization also looks at crash avoidance and mitigation, with the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox awarded with the top “Superior” rating for its standard Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Alert systems. Meanwhile, the latest Equinox was awarded with an “Advanced” rating for its Front Pedestrian Braking system in the IIHS’ Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-To-Pedestrian test, while the headlight evaluation was mixed depending on trim level, with the LT trim’s HID projectors and high-beam assist rated as “Acceptable,” and the Premier trim’s LED projectors and high-beam assist rated at “Marginal.” The L and LS trims’ halogen projectors and high-beam assist were rated “Marginal” as well.
Given these ratings, it would appear as though the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox barely missed the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ rating, which would be within reach had the Equinox come equipped with better headlights. Nevertheless, a Top Safety Pick rating is still something worthy of recognition.
As a reminder, the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is the fourth model year of the latest third-generation. Although the 2021 model year was originally expected to usher in a refresh for the Equinox, disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the refresh to the 2022 model year.
The 2021 Chevy Equinox rides on the GM D2 platform, and following the deletion of the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gasoline engine from the Equinox model lineup for the 2021 model year, it is offered with a single engine option, namely the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX, which produces 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Both FWD and AWD configurations are available.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Equinox news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Comments
GM missed way to many awards for safety due to poor headlights. I do hope their redesigns take care of this issue soon.
Only one year away from the Equinox/Terrain mid-level refresh. I noticed a new headlight design on the 2022 Terrain so we can only hope!
URGENT–My Name Is Barry C and I have been complaining about the horrible UNSAFE headlights on my 2019 Equinox since I purchased it. My low beams are blinding oncoming traffic causing them to high beam and blind me! I twice had oncoming trucks actually push me over almost hitting me because they were so angry. Because of this ongoing problem, I cannot see the road properly especially on turns because my headlights are aimed too high and when I do use my high beams to try to see better ahead and to the sides, I still can’t see properly because I can mostly then see the high branches of the trees in front of me. When I complained to Both GM and the dealer Dyer Chevrolet in Fort Pierce Florida multiple times they told me that my headlights are not adjustable and there is nothing that they can do to correct this problem! I want to be contacted by the correct person or people at GM ASAP quickly so this ongoing safety issue can and will be corrected before I get hurt or killed because of these horrible headlights that to date GM and the local dealer refuse to deal with. This is pure NEGLIGENCE! I can be contacted on my direct line at 561-629-5618. Please help me with this urgent issue!
Sorry for your dilemma. Hmm, the manual does in fact does state that the headlights are set from the factory, and to take to your dealer should it need correcting after front end damage repairs. Manufacturers are increasingly making DIY corrections difficult for simple systems.
What trim level do you have? I have a 19 Premier Equinox with LED headlights, and they have a nice flat cutoff, but could be brighter. I will take a gander when I get home, and see if there are some imperceptible vertical adjustment screws that they are hiding, and not the typical service advisor quoting the manual blathering.
I have a 2019 Diesel LT Model. It has never been in an accident unless it happened from the dealer I purchased it from. I cannot find any adjustments for my headlights! It is my opinion that headlights that cannot be adjusted is a shortcut to negligence because all headlights should be able to be adjusted due to the common possibility of different size tires, shock absorbers, towing trailers ect… that can change the level of the headlights that will then need to be adjusted. None of these possible reasons is a factor in my situation as my 2019 Equinox Diesel LT is totally stock from the factory! I need GM to pay attention to this information and take the proper action in good faith to remedy this ongoing safety problem!
Adjustment screws are on the back of the headlight housing (in white).
Hi Barry,
May I add some advice? I would say file a ticket with the BBB for negligence of faulty product or services not fully rendered as this is putting your life and other lives at risk.
In addition, let us pray for those who retaliated harmfully and bring peace to their heart of patience.
Thank you for your time.
All the best,
Julian Verdugo
What is it with headlights and transmissions that GM seems to flounder on year after year? Considering they have been building cars over a 100 years and should know that suppliers do have issues and change to a different supplier if the issues continues year after year. How hard is this?
I agree with the headlights. We have a 2019 diesel equinox it’s 2 years old and people are always flashing me with my low lights on
Now in the last 3 weeks it’s been in the shop twice the DEF tank froze so we had to have it replaced thank goodness it was still under emissions warranty got it back 3 days later the starter went out. Had to have it towed its got 57000 miles on it but really starter at 2 years old and of course the starter isn’t covered under the drive train. Cost me $1500.00. And I hear starters have been an issue with the for years….
Please, people need to boycott the auto start/stop. Idc what GM or anyone says, the car is not meant to shut off and start again and again over and over . I will never buy car with that technology in it.