The refreshed 2022 Chevy Equinox will ditch the three appearance packages that are offered on the pre-update model, which include the Midnight Edition, Sport Edition and Redline Edition.
General Motors originally intended to offer the refreshed Equinox for the 2021 model year, however various setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic forced the automaker to delay its arrival to 2022. The updated Chevy Equinox, which will launch later this year, features revised exterior styling and offers a sporty new RS trim level.
In addition to these changes, GM Authority has now learned the 2022 Chevy Equinox won’t be offering the Midnight Edition, Sport Edition and Redline Edition appearance packages.
The Equinox Midnight Edition and Sport Edition were available to equip on the LT trim level for the Equinox and include most of the same features, but the Midnight Edition was only available with the Mosaic Black exterior, whereas the Sport Edition could be ordered with any of the Equinox’s available exterior colors. This equipment included the following (relevant RPO codes listed in parentheses):
- Jet Black interior color with premium cloth (RPO H1T)
- 19-inch Gloss Black aluminum wheels (RPO PJI)
- Dark finish fog lamp bezel surround (RPO TVO)
- Unique mold-in-color Black grille and mesh with Black surround (RPO TL6)
- Front and rear Black bow ties
Meanwhile, the Redline Edition is currently available to order on the Premier trim level in the Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White or Mosaic Black Metallic exterior colors. It gives the Equinox a sport-inspired exterior appearance by way of the following equipment (relevant RPO codes listen in parentheses):
- 19-inch Black wheels with Red accents and Black center caps (RPO RZA)
- 19-inch all-season blackwall tires (RPO RR0)
- front and rear Black bow tie emblems (RPO CG6)
- Redline-specific Black grille (RPO GGC)
- Black Equinox badges with Red outline
- Black window surround
While customers will miss out on these appearance packages for the 2022 model-year Equinox, they will benefit from the newly introduced RS trim level, which adds a unique front grille treatment/fascia, different rear fascia, black exterior accents, black Equinox badges, black-painted 19-inch wheels and a quad-tip exhaust. The interior of the Equinox RS also gets some sport-inspired enhancements such as contrasting red stitching and an RS-branded shift knob with a stitched leather shift boot.
In addition to the RS trim level, 2022 Chevy Equinox customers will be able to order the compact crossover in four new exterior colors. The new colors set for introduction with the refreshed 2022 Equinox include (relevant RPO codes listed in parentheses):
- Blue Glow Metallic (RPO GHT)
- Seaglass Blue Metallic (RPO GHZ)
- Cherry Red Tintcoat (RPO GSK)
- Iron Gray Metallic (RPO GIV)
The 2022 Chevy Equinox also ditches the base L trim level and adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A turbocharged engine other than the 2.0L I4 LTG was supposed to return for the new model year, but that plan was later scrapped, and the 2022 Equinox will feature the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX engine across the board. Production on the updated model for North America will begin at the GM CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada as well as the GM Ramos Arizpe plant in Coahuila, Mexico on June 14th.
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Comments
It’s a smart move to ditch these appearance packages. I don’t think their primary target audience, the rental car companies, would check those boxes on the fleet order form. GM might as well make it a fleet-only vehicle or stick a fork in it. Offer the Trailblazer and make the step-up be the Blazer.
The Equinox is moving completely to Mexico for 2024 or next gen whichever comes first. Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s exactly the plan. Equinox as primary fleet vehicle and Blazer and Trailblazer take its spot for retail sales.
So is there any actual improvement for the 2022 model compared to the 2021? All I see is different colors and some exterior and interior modifications, mostly appearance-related. We don’t get the old 2.0 liter back, we don’t get the new 2.0 liter that’s in a lot of other GM products, and the 1.5 liter isn’t any more powerful or efficient. And I haven’t read that there will be significant improvement in safety features or anything else, really.
So what exactly is the point of the 2022 model? Just looks? I’m not being sarcastic, I genuinely want to know.
It’s a cheap fleet vehicle.
When you rent one make sure to drive it hard. That baby 1.5 Glassoline can easily go out before warranty.
It’s hard to believe that GM would walk away from 8-10% sales of the 2L in the Equinox? Now the Equinox joins the Trailblazer for inadequate power. Put the 1.5L in the Trailblazer & drop the 1.2L. The 1.5L in the Equinox should be around 190HP
That right there! Chevy, are you listening?
My wife’s Honda CR-V has a 1.5L that makes 190 hp and feels quite quick (actually feels stronger than 190 hp). The Equinox weighs the same as the CRV, and 170 horsepower just doesn’t cut it, at least not without a lot of noise, especially if you load it up with people and luggage.
A lot of people, including me, wouldn’t get the Trailblazer because both its engines are 3 cylinder, but might look at it if Chevy puts the 1.5L in it. And put something stronger in the Equinox, at least as an option. The new 2.0L turbo (LSY?) had looked like a perfect match for it as the upmarket engine for the RS and Premier trims. Cookie cutters in GM’s Accounting department seem to have killed that idea.
The target audience for the Trailblazer overall could not tell you what a cylinder is, letalone how many it has and what the difference is between 3, 4, 8 or 12.
Fortunately, I have the last year model with the 2.0t. The first one I road tested was the 1.5t. I was turned off with its lack of power and was ready to walk out the door before my salesman said he had a 2.0t in stock but not the color or trim I wanted. If I liked it, he would locate one for me. Had I not road road tested the 2.0, I wouldn’t have even considered it. BIG NOTICABLE difference in power between the two.
They should get rid of the 1.5 pig and made the 2.0t standard. If anything, let the Trailblazer inherit it as you mentioned.
Besides…Chevy’s naming convention of the Trailblazer and Blazer were FUBAR to begin with in retrospect to their size. The new Trailblazer should have been the new Trax. What’s Chevy trying to accomplish having 2 mini CUVs close to the same size? The new Blazer should have been called the Trailblazer, which would leave Chevy to build a REAL Blazer with a v8 that everyone wanted to begin with.
All the excitement for the new equinox but still have the 1.5 dog motor being 2.0 l dropped what the point of buying wow one new colours wow that would make me purchase one colours over performance!!! Let all run and put our orders in !!!!!!!!
Good! We don’t need 3 variations of blackout appearance packages as they are essentially the same thing. The one new RS version is all that is needed. Now they just need to get a clue and put a real engine behind the RS and Premier.
Joe I definitely 100% agree with you dont need black out pkges just a real engine would be nice!!
It’s almost like GM is giving up on the Equinox and relegating it to fleet and rental use. That would be a shame since I think Chevy can really do a lot with the Equinox if they put their mind to it.
Also, what would be its replacement for families? The Trailblazer is a bit small, the Traverse is a bit large for many people, and the Blazer is more sport-oriented than family-oriented.
Their plan for pushing EV is to make their ICE vehicles complete crap first and that way you are forced into EV if you want something decent.
It’s too bad no one else makes vehicles. Otherwise they would just lose market share. Oh wait.
Ironically that will just push car buyers like me into older cars.
I’ll stick with my 2000s cars and their adequate power, great build quality and beautiful timeless styling.
So the second best selling vehicle in the GM lineup which also happens to be a suv is being given the Malibu and Cruze treatment for products that sell in fewer numbers and just happen to be manufactured abroad just like the Equinox.
They aren’t giving up, it is well reviewed. It is one of the largest segments and a top seller. I see the KIA/Hyundais and other bottom brands as rentals, rarely a Chevy. The engine is with inline of most of the segment. Sure the 2.0 helps it standout but it didn’t have a high take rate. A few sales will be lost but most won’t care, it is right inline with the Others (Rav4, CRV, etc) in terms of power and the little turbo motor makes its around town power with the low torque plentiful. Not many are buying them with higher speeds passing power in mind. If it saves gas, is reliable, drives well enough, is priced good and has solid features, comfort and tech it will be good (along with plenty of room).
A mean 42.5 HP per exhaust outlet on that RS trim. Unless they are actually fake tips.
That pic with the quad tips is an old press release, since deciding to dump the 2.0 even the RS package will lack visible exhaust tips. Unlike the sport trim if you opt for the RS you’ll be forced to get leather, a deal breaker for me.
Just as an aside, why is leather a deal-breaker for you?
I ask because I’m trying to decide whether or not to get leather in my next car and am interested when people have strong opinions one way or the other.
If it’s due to the issue of blazing hot leather seats in places like Texas or Arizona, ceramic window tinting might help a lot.
Why does gm make it so discouraging to purchase a new vehicle with deletion of option and always making changes thinking future customers will buy but personally think perspectives future buyers are going to shop the competition to try to get a bigger bang for the buck !! And won’t look back
Yes absolutely correct gm should at least offer a 2.0 LSY Option in the R S trim it would only make sense and happy equinox buyers!!