If you’re looking at a Chevy Equinox for sale at your local dealership, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the laundry list of features, especially if it’s been a while since you last went shopping for a car. These days, there are all kinds of safety and convenience features that can make your driving experience better if you know what you’re doing. If you don’t understand the tech that’s available to you, you can miss out on some useful tools.
In this list, we will look at ten features that are either standard or available on the 2024 model of the Equinox. Are you thinking about getting behind the wheel of this compact SUV? Then, pay attention and keep track of which features seem the most useful to you. It might help you decide which trim level is right for you, and it should definitely come in handy when you’re first learning how to operate your new Equinox.
1. Power Liftgate
On any trim of the Equinox, you can open the liftgate the old-fashioned way: grabbing the handle and physically lifting it open. But some trims make it easier to access the cargo area with your hands full. The power programmable liftgate is standard on all trims except the base LS and lets you open the liftgate to a customizable height with the push of a button, either on the vehicle itself or on its keyfob. On the top-tier Premier trim, you have the additional option of kicking your foot under the back bumper with the key fob in your pocket, which will let you go completely hands-free.
2. Wi-Fi Hotspot
The Internet is an increasingly important part of our lives, and many people want to be able to go online while they’re on the go. If you want to be able to use your laptop or tablet to browse the web while you’re parked or use internet access to entertain your backseat passengers on a long drive, then you’ll be happy to know that onboard Wi-Fi capability is standard across all trims of the 2024 Equinox. Be aware that while all of these trims are Wi-Fi-capable, you do have to sign up for a subscription in order to actually use it.
3. Wireless Charging
Every Equinox comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, letting you use navigation apps, music streamers, messengers, and other apps from your smartphone through the vehicle’s interface. But if you have an LS, LT, or RS Equinox, you’ll still have to plug your phone in if you want it to charge as you drive. The Premier trim, on the other hand, comes standard with a wireless charging pad that allows you to place your phone under the AC controls instead of messing with a tangle of cords. Since cables are easy to lose or break, this can come in handy for busy people who need to make sure that their phone never dies while they’re on the go.
4. Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Drifting out of your lane for even a second while you’re zooming down a busy freeway at high speeds can be a dangerous mistake. That’s why safety features to help you stay inside the lines are standard across all trims of the Equinox. Lane Departure Warning senses when you’re unintentionally drifting and alerts you to the danger. If you don’t react in time, lane keep assist can use gentle corrective steering to keep you in your lane.
5. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
Accidentally drifting out of your lane can be bad, but so can merging intentionally if you’re not aware of vehicles hiding in your blind spot. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert is designed to help with intentional lane changes. It comes standard on the LT trim and up and is an available option on the LS trim. Icons built into the side-view mirror will light up when a vehicle is detected in your blind zone, so you can keep track of it in real time. If you turn your turn signal on while the blind zone is occupied, the light will flash to make the danger extra clear.
6. Forward Collision Alert & Automatic Emergency Braking With Front Pedestrian Braking
Forward collisions can be particularly serious, so rest assured that the safety features that prevent these crashes come standard across the entire Equinox lineup. Forward Collision Alert detects a potential imminent collision and gives you an alert so that you can take action quickly. It can also warn you if you’re tailgating the vehicle in front of you, which can be dangerous if traffic suddenly stops or slows down. If you don’t take action in time, Automatic Emergency Braking can kick in to either stop or slow down your Equinox to prevent a collision. Front Pedestrian Braking allows the system to detect not just vehicles, but people who may be crossing the street.
7. Following Distance Indicator & Adaptive Cruise Control
On the highway, keeping plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you is important, as traffic can change speed at any moment. The Standard Following Distance Indicator lets you know the following time, in seconds, between you and the vehicle in front of you. Because it’s measured in time instead of distance, a safe number stays the same no matter what speed you’re driving, making it easier to follow. Keeping a safe distance is even easier with Adaptive Cruise Control, which is available on the LT trim and up. With this feature, the system will automatically maintain a set distance between you and the vehicle in front of you when you have cruise control active, so you will slow down when needed and speed back up to your desired speed when the coast is clear.
8. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Not all accidents happen while you’re driving down a highway or even a city street. Parking lots are busy places where it’s easy to get distracted or miss a vehicle in your path, especially during a rush. Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which is available on the LS and standard on all other trims, detects vehicles that are crossing behind you while your Equinox is in reverse. That way, if you’re backing out of a parking spot, you’ll get a warning if a vehicle is approaching so you can avoid a fender bender.
9. Front & Rear Park Assist
As with most new vehicles, the Equinox has a rear vision camera to help you see obstacles behind you when reversing into a parking spot. In addition to this, all trims except the LS have standard Font and Rear Park Assist. Whether you’re pulling in nose first or backing into a spot, this feature will provide alerts if it detects any vehicles or objects in your way. With the Premier trim, you can take things even further with an available Automatic Parking Assist. This system automatically steers your vehicle into a parallel or perpendicular space, so all you have to do is shift gears and brake.
10. HD Surround Vision
Available on the LT trim and up, HD Surround Vision can help you with tricky maneuvers by giving you a 360º view of your surroundings. Several camera feeds work together to show you the entire area around your vehicle, and you can also display a guideline that lets you know where your vehicle is currently headed. This can come in handy when entering or leaving a tight parking spot, a driveway strewn with toys, or a campsite with lots of critters running around.
