The refreshed 2022 Chevy Equinox compact crossover will retain GM’s six-speed automatic transmission when it goes on sale later this year.
The Chevy Equinox was due to receive a mid-cycle enhancement (MCE) for the 2021 model year, but this had to be delayed due to the difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two engines were initially planned, including the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX, which produces 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, and the more powerful 2.0L I4 LSY, rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
The LSY was scheduled to replace the previously available 2.0L I4 LTG engine, but as GM Authority exclusively reported in March, the General has since cancelled its plans to introduce the LSY in the Equinox. As a result, the LYX will be the only choice for the 2022 model, mated to the six-speed automatic transmission, as in the 2021 Chevy Equinox.
2022 GMC Terrain
This is strange, because Chevrolet could upgrade its compact crossover to its nine-speed automatic transmission instead. In fact, the Equinox’s corporate cousin, the GMC Terrain, is already available with the LYX engine and the nine-speed gearbox. and the refreshed 2022 GMC Terrain will keep that powertrain configuration.
As before, the revised Chevy Equinox will ride on the GM D2 platform shared with the Terrain. This platform was also used for the now discontinued Buick Cascada, Buick Verano, Chevy Cruze and Chevy Volt, and is still the basis of the European Opel Astra and Vauxhall Astra.
Changes to the Equinox for the 2022 model year include new front grille, lower fascia, fog lamps, tail lights and rear bumper. An engine auto stop-start defeat switch will also be included for the first time, and a new RS trim level will also be added to the Equinox for the new model year.
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Comments
Equinox – 6-speed 1.5 liter
Terrain – 9-speed 1.5 liter
Envision/XT4 – 9-speed 2.0 liter
Blazer – 9-speed 3.6 liter
Makes no sense to me but that’s the lineup for now.
Their solution to elevate the mediocre performance of the Blazer is to lower the performance of others. This cost cutting and dilution of any level of character is a alarming to the point where it’s hard to want to purchase any of their products.
I’ve had 3 Equinox’s and was looking at my forth. With this new information , no thanks. What a shame. Not going with small I4 , I could live with a six 6 speed. Probably will be looking elsewhere. RS was getting me back into the game, but not now.
GM come on !
I never owned any of the listed, but my brother in law owned the Equinox 1.4 liter and had to replace it this year, his daughter wrecked it, had 235k miles on the engine at time of the wreck. According to my brother in law, the Equinox ran great. Did not have any engine work done it. He drove 39 miles oneway to work which is where the miles came from. His only complaint, not enough power but more reliable, less money to maintain, and way better gas mileage than his Explorer and way more comfortable than his Toyota truck.
Lol, he replaces the Equinox with a diesel Cruze and loves it…says the gas mileage is outstanding.
Think you meant 1.5 Equinox. Trax has 1.4. Equinox could’ve been 2.4 if pre-18, 1.6 diesel or 2.0.
Stupid GM is at it again. If you like the Equinox and that’s what you want you’re stuck. They think giving the others the better stuff will make people want them more, but then you’re stuck with their questionable looks.
What, no new and improved Powerglide for the “all-new” 22 Equinox?
They will switch to a CVT and call it Dynaflow.
The 9 speed in my ’19 cruze hatch diesel has failed twice in less than 500km. Valve body both times. now it shifts odd when cold somewhere between 2 and 5. I’m so disappointed.
So, maybe it’s OK that the 9 speed isn’t offered for now.
I have a 2017 Cruze Diesel with the Automatic 9 speed & it’s been running fine for 82,000 miles and counting.
Sounds like you got a lemon or had a clueless mechanic try to repair it.
congratulations on your luck with the 9 speed. Also, thanks for the tip about getting a lemon and clueless mechanics.
The competition, especially the Koreans are quickly updating their vehicles with slick designs while GM seems to be in a holding pattern, focused on short term margins. I sadly predict they will lose more market share. A damn shame.
Fine, buy a Hyunda/Kia and report back when the engine throws a rod or worse, catches on fire while you drive.
I for one don’t get this race to the top of the gear wars. Show me any true benefit to an 8 speed, 9 speed or 10 speed trans. Sure, there are talking points that are thrown around all the time, but show me any true benefit. I’ve owned vehicles with 4 speeds, 5 speeds, 6 speeds and now an 8 speed. The worst so far in my opinion? The 8 speed in my CT4. The best I’ve had? Any of the 4 speeds. Lower RMP’s or better MPG’s with all those extra gears? Nope. So I beg someone to share even one legit reason why we need all these gears.
And for all those ready to jump on me about this? Look at Mazda. The auto press gushes all over them (I have no clue why). Anyhow, you want a Mazda, you get a 6 speed auto that is quite good.
Just a personal anecdote, but I actually like the 9 speed in my Enclave. If I remember correctly the 8 speed in your Caddy isn’t geared very sensibly. In my humble opinion they should be putting the 9 speed in everything fwd and the 10 spd rwd. The ratios are close so in my 9 speed that the top gear isn’t all that different than a 6 speed, but driving around town, you need barely any more than 1/2” of pedal. It’s the engine design that gives you the fuel efficiency. Cruising around town it’s almost like a cvt (yeah, yeah I know cvt bad, give me a chance.) the way it goes bwap bwap bwap never above 2500 rpm. When you want to get on it, it downshifts instantly to the right gear, and goes, unlike a cvt. If you give it a bit of gas, it drops one gear. Half throttle, two gears. Floor it, 4 gears. And it can skip gears for better or for worse. That’s why I like it. It’s always in the right gear, so the engine is either always idling it’s way along, or it revs just enough to accelerate you smoothly and instantly. If I want to go a little faster, it drops just enough to move a bit faster without lugging the engine or revving harshly. Around town it gets noticeably better mileage than my old Honda Odyssey 5 spd, only marginally better on the highway. That’s the benefit of the close ratio 9 spd, detriment of the lower top gear. I know this is getting long but it’s hard to explain, you really need to drive it to understand.
Plus, if I understand correctly the new 8/9/10 spds are no more complex than the older 6 spd, they just figured out a way to use the same gears more times.
Hey Josh, thanks for your info. I fully get what you are saying, but I’m still not reading anything that seems to be of benefit in any meaningful way. Let’s go back to all the Buicks I’ve sold with the 3800 V6 and the 4 speed auto with overdrive. Those were fantastic vehicles and you could cruise down the road at 70 mph and were only turning around 1900 RPM if I’m not mistaken. All while attaining 28+ mpg in a full sized luxury sedan. Here I am today with a 2020 CT4 and 8 speed and if I’m doing 70 it’s turning around 2200 RPM and not getting any better MPG than that Buick 30 years ago! And my CT4 is a 4 cyl.
Another example. in 2001 I had a Chevy S10 4 WD with the 4 speed auto and 4.3L V6. For some stupid reason, I ended up trading that on a 2003 Ford Ranger with a 5 speed auto and the 4.0L and 4WD. The Chevy ran less RPM’s at the same speed as the Ford and got better MPG to boot. I could go on, but I guess it really doesn’t matter anyhow because we don’t have any choices any more. The gear wars are cranked up and we get what we get.
Dan is right! I have a Buick Lucerne with a 4 speed trans and as you know it’s a big and long. It gets over 29 MPG and sometimes 30 MPG on the highway with straight driving. It gets in the low 20’s in the city. Meanwhile it’s comfortable, quiet and luxurious for it’s day. I haven’t any issues with the 4 speed transmission since I brought it. My next vehicle will probably be a Caddy XT6 and I hope any issues with the 9 speed are worked out by then.
Yep, I 100% understand where you are coming from. I too have had a Lesabre and a Lucerne, both 3800s with 4 speeds that got over 30 mpg easily on the highway. I think it’s because the top gear isn’t any different in the new transmission than the old ones. Both about 0.70:1. The 9 spd has a shorter final drive, plus bigger tires these days, the engine has to work harder and turns the same if not higher rpm on the highway. I still maintain that the extra gears noticeably help in the around town city mpg. -Josh
I have a 2018 Terrain with the 1.5L/9 speed auto and FWD. The engine/transmission combo work great together in terms of driveability and fuel economy (I’m averaging 31.3 mpg over 65,500 miles). I’ve driven some Equinoxes with the 6 speed and they are very clunky.
I know Ford and GM share transmissions, don’t they share the same 6 speed auto? I’ve driven some previous gen Escapes with the 6 speed that have similar clunkiness issues.
I loved my 2015 Equinox, comfortable on a 6000 mile trip west and great mileage. Then I purchased a 2019 Equinox and I have difficulty taking a 100 mile trip. The seat approximately 6 inches narrower and very uncomfortable. Why change vehicle comfort?? I love every aspect of the SUV but if the seat isn’t comfy, I’m done with GM. I don’t want more cargo space, etc, so larger vehicle is out of question. Looking at competition now to to access mpg, cargo cu ft and seat comfort. A six foot 200 pound shouldn’t have to drive a Traverse to be comfortable.
I’m disappointed that the six-speed wasn’t replaced with the nine-speed.
I own a 19 Traverse with a 9 speed and love it.
Doing 70 mph while the rpms are around 1700 rpm and getting 27 hwy and 24 city. Love it. Now my 4 speed auto v8 Colorado with 4.10s, not so much but i didn’t buy for gas mileage.
2020 Enclave here. AWD disconnect is the best thing since sliced bread. I’ve been averaging 27-29 on the highway and 23-24 in the city. Better mileage than my old Odyssey, especially around town, something I was not expecting at all.
What’s the point of even buying a Nox now . GM is hoping there loyal fan base will snatch this up they can go right ahead I’m looking at another brand . Mazda CX-5 turbo looking like a gem right now.
It’s becoming quite apparent that the Equinox’s days as an ICE crossover are numbered. The investment money disappears in preparation for an all-electric next gen. So glad I bought a 2019 with the LTG and 9 speed while they were still around.
It is obvious that GM has no plans to continue the Equinox and Terrain after this generation. I would guess 2025 will be last model year at this point. I currently have a 2015 Equinox, and it is my 6th GM vehicle, but they have lost me as a customer and my next vehicle will be something from another manufacturer.
You are likely right. The Equinox has a lot of brand equity, and, if any company knows how to throw brand equity away, it’s GM.
I’ve driven a base 2019 Equinox with the 1.5L/6spd and it was a dog on the hwy. Around town it was ok. I have a ‘19 Redline Equinox with the 2.0L/9spd and it is great, especially on the hwy. For GM to only put the base engine/trans in the new Equinox, especially the RS, is an embarrassment. But I suppose they want you to buy the Buick/Caddy CUV’s if you want more power while the Equinox will be a favorite filler for your local airport rental lot.
They might be keeping the 6 speed because of the higher EPA mpg ratings. Makes you wonder why the 9 speed gets worse mileage…