​​CarPro Finds the Equinox ACTIV to be a Good Compact Crossover Choice​ 

The compact crossover has become the default choice for singles, married couples, and young families. That is a large swath of the U.S. population, so sales are pretty high. Chevrolet’s entry into this market, the Equinox, is the brand’s best-selling model under the Silverado and was the 7th best-selling model in 2025. Take pickup trucks out of the picture, and the Equinox was Chevrolet’s 3rd best-selling model overall. Being fully redesigned in 2025 clearly helped those sales, and as CarPro stated in its review, “Chevrolet got a lot right with the redesign,” so little changed for 2026. Sharp Chevrolet follows up on what else CarPro had to say about the Equinox, specifically the 2026 Equinox ACTIV AWD model that they sampled for over 600 miles. 

The ACTIV presents a more rugged look than the base Equinox model or street-sport RS. ACTIV’s all-terrain tires will add confidence in getting to or out of a camping site after a good rain, while Chevrolet leaves hard-core off-roading to the ZR2 versions of the Colorado and Silverado. Still, with 17-inch machine-finish wheels, roof rails, black accents, and a white roof (against a Gray Metallic body), CarPro found that their tester “looked more expensive than its window sticker would suggest.”  

Well past the days when a Chevrolet family car would be expected to have a simple but large V-8 under the hood, the Equinox goes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. With the available AWD, the engine is paired with an 8-speed manual transmission. According to the CarPro reviewer, “I found the engine had decent power for everyday driving. It accelerates confidently, merges onto freeways without drama, and never felt strained during extended highway driving.”    

CarPro also found ride quality and suspension tuning to be an Equinox strong suit. “Even with the ACTIV’s all-terrain tires, it remained remarkably quiet on the highway and soaked up rough pavement with ease. Chevrolet has struck an excellent balance between comfort and control, and after spending long stretches behind the wheel, I climbed out feeling fresh instead of fatigued.” In its testing, CarPro also found the model delivered on its EPA MPG estimates of 25 in the city, 29 on the highway, and 26 combined.  

CarPro’s test vehicle was equipped with the standard Maple sugar interior, which brightens the spacious cabin with maple accents on the seats, center armrest, door panels, and dash, the latter serving as a full-width backdrop for the 11-inch digital driver information center and the adjacent 11.3-inch center touchscreen. The center screen runs the Google Built-in operating system, which features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and on-board Google Maps navigation that needs no smartphone connection.  

If you have your smartphone with you, it can be charged by simply placing it on the standard (on ACTIV) wireless charging pad. CarPro appreciated that the center screen does not control the climate system, which is instead handled by a bank of physical controls  placed below the screen. The transmission is controlled by a stalk on the right side of the steering column, which leaves room in the center console for storage, dual obligatory cupholders, and the drive mode knob, which includes Normal, Snow, and Off-road settings.  

Rear passengers enjoy just under 40 inches of legroom (39.9 inches), and behind the rear seat there is just under 30 cubic feet of cargo space (29.8). CarPro appreciated the wide cargo opening from the power tailgate, nearly flat-folding rear seats when you don’t need them, and the fact that there is a 17-inch spare tire under the floor, as opposed to the inflator kit provided by many competitors.  

CarPro’s test vehicle included the optional panoramic sunroof and the Convenience Package III, which included ventilated front seats, an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and driver position memory, all of which are always welcome if the vehicle is driven by two or more drivers. Still, the ACTIV can get by well without any options at all, with standard features such as dual-zone climate control, an 8-way power driver’s seat, heated power outside mirrors, roof rails, remote start, keyless open and start, remote folding rear seats, active noise cancellation, the previously mentioned wireless phone charging and power tailgate, adaptive cruise control, and the Chevrolet Safety Assist suite of safety and driver-assist technologies.  

Overall, CarPro found the Equinox ACTIV quite impressive for its mission, concluding, “If you are in the market for a compact SUV, do not leave this one off your shopping list; it’s an exceptional SUV at a really terrific price point.” We couldn’t agree more, but we simply add that if you live anywhere near eastern South Dakota, the place to do your shopping is Sharp Chevrolet in Watertown.