Used 2006 Chevrolet Equinox Consumer Reviews
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Hate this car
I bought my Equinox in Oct 2008 with less than 300 miles on it. 6 weeks later, it had already been in the shop 3 times. It was pulling and it turns out I had defective tires. Now, 3 years later I have had to buy new tires again, had to get my rotors replaced three times in 6 months, and there are noises galore. Clunking, clicking, shaking, you name it. This car is a total lemon and I would get rid of it in a second if I didn't have so much negative equity in it!
Saved our lives
We only had our Equinox 8 months but it was one of the best vehicles we have ever owned. For an suv it got decent mileage, around 22 hwy which is all we drove in it. It was so fun to drive until we lost control by driving a little too fast in the rain and went head on with the concrete barrier at 65mph. The seatbelts and airbags hurt but did exactly what they should. Nox's designed was great! We both walked away from an accident that should have killed one of us. The frame was rolled under but we had no major injuries. If you want something dependable and very safe buy a Nox. We are going to pick out a new one now!
- LT 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,795102 mi away
- LT 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,300223 mi away
- LT 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,823354 mi away
Love Hate Relationship
Like everyone else I have had issues. Just under 2 years the tires needed to be replaced. Wheel bearings were replaced under warranty and now that warranty is done need to be replaced again. There is a knock in the gas tank because something is loose. While driving on highway front console shuts off. No speedometer, tach etc. Problems with transmission. Seems to shift into neutral while driving. Cheap windshield wipers, all replaced after 2 years. Windshield chips and cracks very easily... poor design.. Headlight needed to be replaced after 3 years. Blind spots are very big and you need to be careful... Use your mirrors Key constantly sticks in ignition.
Unsettling Starts
We bought our Equinox, because of all the good reviews we read when they first came out. I have less than 31,000 miles and we have had to replace all 4 tires, front and rear brakes, have had a leak from the back (trunk) and replaced the weather stripping at a cost of $300.00. And today had to have it towed because the car just won't start. I had it in to the dealer because of the car not starting right away when I had turned the key, they told me that they would do a tune up and that should help and guess what did the same thing 2 days ago and now it won't start at all. I love the SUV over all.
I love my Eqinox
I bought my Equinox to have a higher, more comfortable interior than a car. The interior seems much larger than other vehicles I checked out. I has a very nice ride. I especially like the adjustable back seat to give more leg room to passengers. Mine also has a outdoor temperature feature that I like especially on winter roads to tell me when icy conditions may exist. My only concern is -- with 2000 miles on it, is getting 19.5 mpg around town.I hope this will improve. But it is a great vehicle and I could not be happier with it. I think GM should advertise the Equinox more.
Love My Equinox!
I have had no problems with the vehicle! Love to drive it - rides very smooth. Instruments are user friendly and easy to access. Performance and handing are great. I would definitely choose the Equinox again!
100,000 miles and going strong.
I purchased my Nox brand new in 2006. I have had a few issues with the wheel bearings. All have been replaced within 100,000 miles. Other than that it has all been basic maintenance. The tires on my vehicle were great (lasted 95,000 miles). I had my 100k maintenance completed a few days ago, oil, trans fluid, and filters changed. Everything is still running like brand new. Would definitely purchase another Nox when the time comes.
Nursemobile
I drive about 125 miles a day when I am working. I appreciate the pickup when driving on the freeway. I have experienced some transmission "jerk" on a quick acceleration - ie. getting on the freeway/passing on a double lane road. Satellite radio is a must for me as well as the heated seats.
Great Ride
Just got my Equinox and I love it! It has the roomiest back seat ... lots of leg room. The cargo area is very handy ... perfect level for loading things and no reaching or bending. Drives really well ... easy to park in tight spaces ... easy backing. Has a plain dash ... not complicated ... very sleek and clean looking. Very satisfied with this car ... had an Aztek prior and I like this much better.
Uncertain
I bought my Nox in 2006 with 9 miles on it. At first I thought it was a great buy, but two and a half years later, it's one thing after another with this wagon. It acts up every other day, refusing to start, the check engine light is always popping up and it feels as though I really have to step on the pedal to reach thirty mph. I have thought about trading in for a car but I would be in the hole about 4k. I do not recommend anyone buying this car.
I'm Alive
I bought my Equinox 2 yrs ago. It has 60,000 on it now. Well, did. I had to replace the rotors and was due again. Also, the main belt in the motor had to be replaced. There was a knocking sound coming from the back passenger side we could never figure out. Also, my gas gauge was never accurate after filling up. Two days ago I totaled it. I hydroplaned and flipped numerous times before playing ping pong with pine trees. It threw me out of the seat belt ans I landed halfway outside the vehicle. Also, NONE of my air bags deployed. I came out with only scratches & bruises so I'm blessed but don't really know how I'm feeling about it at this time. Cons out weigh pros but I am alive.
Great Vehicle
Great handling and great looking vehicle. No problems whatsoever. Exceptionally roomy. Gas mileage a little less than advertised (I'm getting around 18 City, 22 highway). Rear storage should be redesigned to maximize space.
My Equinox
This is a great car with good mileage. The cargo area is spacious and the children love the reclining seats.
Brakes
I purchased the vehicle new and have had it in the shop 6 times for braking problems. My wife drives like a grandma so I know its not due to harsh braking. I have also had the alternator replaced, luckily that was still under warranty. Unfortunately when dealing with Chevy, the warranty does not include "normal wear and tear" on rotors or pads. I have noticed that the more frequent we replace them the faster they need replacing. This will be the 3rd time in 2009. I'm over it! This can't be legal. Someone help!
Warning....I should Have leased It
This FWD Equinox had a definite stability problem, swaying left to right at even speeds and level roadway. Driver and front side passenger as well as rear passenger experience " Bobble Head" feeling, not quite car sick but slightly light headed dealer checked all struts and swaybars, allegedly all OK. Steering is terrible giving the feeling of not being in control of vehicle. GM advised no recalls or service bulletins on this problem. Vehicle was traded in at only 4000 miles use for a Chrysler Pacifica and at a loss of approximately $8000.00 Lemon law not applicable because GM denies problem exists, therefore Dealer cannot repair. Friends with the AWD did not experienced any of the above.
Going back to Chrysler
I drive over 35,000 ml. a year, so we only keep our vehicle about 2 years, will be 2 in October,has 58,000 miles on it, and we have put a new EHR valve, new gas cap, new igination switch (which I think is going out again) Runs good except there is so many noises and rattles your constantly wondering if it's going to break down. Seats just keep showing new stains, ones I'm not even sure we made. In wind sounds like it's going to fall apart. Transmission shifts wierd. I like the fact that its not a van but more than a car. Love look on outside, inside is cheap quality. Gas mileage ok approx 20 to 24 all the time. Doesn't do sharp turns. Would not recommend to anyone. 1st and last time Chevy owner.
Better than an Escort
I bought my 'Nox because my back hurt too much from getting in and out of my old 94 Escort. I like it, it is roomy, and easy to get in and out of. I paid only $18,000 for it new, so my low expectations have been greatly exceeded. It does well in the snow (what little I get in Va.). Looks good, relativly quiet for an SUV, I can get all my work equipment in it. I scotch-guarded my seats, so I do not have a stain issue.
Will Buy Again!
My husband and I leased an Equinox to take our son back to college in another state. The trip was 10 hours one way and none of us got tired! There was plenty of room to pack everything and room for us to sit comfortably. We decided then that would be the next vehicle for us We bought the Equinox pre-owned and since I am the primary driver I couldn't be more pleased. The radius turning is good and surprisingly tight. The back seat has more room than the Toyota Highlander. I love my Equinox!!
2005 Equinox
I love the vehicle. It has tons of room in the front, and back seats. It is a very nice looking vehicle on the outside, but needs a little work on the inside. The interior of the doors are less than luxurious, and the sound system needs imporvement as well. Overall, for the price, it's a very good vehicle.
Sporty look, but not fun to drive
Bought this in Dec. 06. I have always had this knocking sound. Cannot figure out what it is. For the past 6 months, I have had a hesitation when I try to start it. On several occasions I didn't know if I was going to be stranded or not. Took it to a mechanic, he acted like nothing was wrong because no lights were on. Also, cd player quit working about 1 year after I bought it. Finally, there is a problem with the gears shifting. Almost seems like the transmission is going out.
A Great Investment
This is my first SUV to own, and I will never drive anything else! The Equinox has great room, and feels like you are driving a car. Not to meantion the motor is very quiet.
Great SUV from Chevrolet
We had been shopping around for a SUV and our choices came down to the Equinox and CRV. As this was our first SUV purchase, we wanted as much as we could get for the money. After driving both and looking at all the features, the Equinox was a better value than the CRV. We love it. The exterior styling stands out from other SUVs. The interior is laid out well. All the controls are within reach and the steering wheel controls are great. The sliding rear seat gives rear passengers so much leg room, plus sliding it all the way forward gives you more cargo room. Chevrolet has done a good job in designing this new SUV and with all the standard features it competes well with the imports.
Equinox is underated
I purchased my Equinox after a failed attempt at downsizing from a mini-van. I first tried a Cobalt, then a Malibu, and finaly settled on the Equinox. On our first long trip (1000+ miles) we averaged 26.5mpg. The average had been slightly higher until we drove through the mountains to visit Crater Lake. I should note that we purchased the Equinox after considering a number of mini-vans. The mini-vans were discounted because of their pricing and poor economy.
Issues as soon as it was out of warranty
As soon as my Equinox was out of warranty the problems started occurring. To date I've had to have the brakes replaced, the fuel cap, cellnoid, some other part for the emissions and now a fan has broken in the motor. In totally it has been almost $2000. I will never buy a GM product again!
Equinox
First I am an 84 year old man--The car is fun to drive. My 16 yr old grandson gets credit for the selection but his choice was excellent. It is used mostly around town and only short trips. For older people wanting to scale down it would be hard to beat.
In the shop again!
We purchased our Nox in early 2006. We had numerous fixes while under warranty. We had the ignition changed three times within the first 6 months. The key would get stuck-either on, off, or wouldn't come out at all. We had the wipers worked on. Strange noises popped up that they were never able to find. After the warranty expired the problems continued. We have replaced the tires twice in 75,000 miles. It took 5 visits to the shop to discover the coolant was leaking into the heads and the engine had to be dismantled. After $1,200 and 2 weeks out of the shop it is back in. It misses out at 50-60 mph and the check engine light is on. I wish I could afford to get rid of the stupid thing!
Our family's Equinox!
Being a mother of 3 and doing the house chores, I have experienced the new Equinox. From doing everything around the city from going to the cottage. Equinox is a great dependable SUV. Its big, roomy, and it's...well..great!
So far so good
Got this about 4 weeks ago and have put 1200 miles on it. Pleased with it so far. Very good power although a little bit of a bump when you hit the accelerator and the transmission first engages. Leaps when you ask it to. Chevy interior is basic but at the price still good value. Excellent radio system in the LT model.
My Equinox is a lemon
I purchased my car in March of 2006. In Aug of 06, the rear differential had to be replaced with only 6300 miles on the odometer. In Nov of 07, May of 08 and Nov of 08, this car completely lost power while I was driving it. It only has 24,000 miles on it and the dealer has been unable to fix the problem although each time it had been serviced for this same problem, they seem to think that they have corrected it. This car is a potential deathtrap! It is only by sheer luck that I have not been driving 60 MPH on the highway when it loses power.
My awsome chevy NOX
The 2006 Chevy Equinox is a great SUV to have. It has the most appealing exterior and interior design than any of its other competitor. It is a real Chevy truck. With on demand AWD, its perfect. As a mom, I've seen the difference we had since we traded our 2002 Toyota Rav4. The kids don't complain about the rear seat legroom. There is enough cargo space. The LT model is great. The Equinox is a strong, confident, SUV. It is the best SUV in its class. Looks almost like the Acura MDX but is a lot cheaper. Equinox looks expensive. Its a great buy!
Great all around vehicle
The was a great vehicle very roomy and comfortable. Had a few factory problems but they were fixed at the dealership.
Heat Does Not Work!!!
I like the SUV but unfortunately the door that blends the heat with the air flow inside breaks inside the dash and the only way to fix it is to take apart the whole dash board costing $1,200 on up!There should be a recall because there has been 1,000s of complaints registered online and GM is thumbing there nose at the consumes.
Fun but already falling apart
I haven't had my Equinox very long and I do love it but am already dealing with some issues. The leather seats are already tearing apart on sides. The paint around the radio buttons and window buttons are chipping off. Every time I open my sun roof gresse gets on the fabric. When you roll window doiwn just a tad the noise of wind is awful. You can't even hear someone next to you. And the back seat ride is so hard and awful to ride in.
A Waste of Engineering
We bought three identical ones for our company. So far two of the three have been very unreliable. One had the transmission completely rebuilt under warranty at 15000 and the second rebuilt at 26000. On all three the AWD is a complete joke. If you take off quickly on wet pavement you will spin the front tires for 1 or 2 seconds before the AWD engages. In snow and ice it is a complete joke. Leave it at home and drive something else. The center "console" is a joke as well as the location of the parking brake. It makes you wonder if a freshman design student came up with the plans. Really loud wind noise at speed on the highway that the dealers cannot remove.
Love my Equinox
My only complaint about this vehicle is that the gas tank is very small. I feel like I have gotten to know the staff at my local gas station really well in the last few months. The fuel economy is above average, but not the tank size! I love every other aspect. It handles really well in all weather conditions, and is just fun to drive. It is also very easy to carry large items because the rear seats are easy to fold, not to mention the towing capacity.
Hate the Car
I have had my equinox for 1 1/2 yrs. I've had the window molds replaced 3 times, an electrical system replaced once. The weathering on my driver's door replaced once and now my rear drive unit is being replace. Thats along with the 4 times I had to have it pulled in because I couldn't jump the battery, then the battery was replaced. I thought the car was awesome. I live in ND and in the country so snow gets impacted in places and make sthe car run funny. It doesn't do well in the cold and lots of snow. I have decided that it wasn't worth my college graduation present as many problems as I've had with it, it leaves me with an unreliable vehicle.
Love It
Great interior space, very roomy and comfy. Easy to use instruments. Great mileage, and love the extra 5th gear in the new transmission. It's awesome on the highway
dont buy it
Check engine light comes on and we fix the problem. Couple weeks later its back on and this cycle has continued the entire we have owned it. The jack storage compartment door falls off constantly. The rear seat cover comes off ever now and then have to clip it back together. Seat cushions are impossible to keep clean. The vehicle has good pick up and rides well. It is roomy inside and especially the back seat. But I'd never buy another one.
Happy Equinox owner
For price , quality and for its class, I feel the Chevy Equinox is the best vehicle on the market money can buy. I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend the Equinox to anyone looking to buy a mid-sized SUV. The only issue with the vehicle is that with the price of gas today, mpg could be better but it is plenty of car for a car pool or average sized family.
I love my mini SUV!
I love my new car! I'm not the greatest driver in the world and after the arrival of my second child I decided I needed a bigger car. Coming from a Honda Accord I knew I wouldn't be able to drive anything too BIG. I test drove the Equinox and I loved it! It is easy to drive, easy to park, and GREAT on gas mileage. It fits me my husband and our two children perfectly. It also has a lot of cool features like shelves in the very back and an adjustable back seat!
Good Value, Minor Improvements needed
This is my company car so I'm in it a lot. It has great looks and value for the price. It is very comfortable and powerful enough. It has been very reliable so far with no major repairs. Only exception is the windshield. I think the angle makes it prone to chipping, or the glass is not good enough. I'm on my 3RD one! Overall, this is a good car for the money. Blind spots and big turning radius are the only complaints.
MY 2006 NOX!
This is great, it has great everything...barely no engine noise, runs excellent. It's great on gas, better then the 2003 Pathfinder I had. A great car if you have teenaged kids, enough rear legroom for growing kids.
'06 Equinox
Having owned for about three months now, my family of three thoroughly enjoy our new SUV. The styling strays from the minivan crowd and moves toward the truck-SUV group, but without the poor mileage. Ride and road noise are very agreeable and we are fans of the 17" wheel and tire combo for looks and ride characteristics. The tried and true 3400 is not a power-house in this application, but seems very peppy and is plenty for the majority of our in- town drives. The long list of standard features is a welcome treat and excellent crash safety scores justify the purchase with my family on-board. A long-time Chevy fan, I am very pleased with this new model so far.
CD player has problems
This is my first SUV. My Equinox is fun to drive, but it reminds me of driving an old tractor - I need one of those handles on the steering wheel to get it to turn around. Drives like a truck, but still small enough to park like a car. Not bad overall. I can live with the steering issue, but the CD has serious problems. I have had it replaced twice in less than 2 months. The dealership warranty is still good on it, but that isn't very comforting.
Fun to drive!
The 3.4 litre engine is peppy and responsive, gets up to speed quickly and handles well in traffic, builds RPM's fast, good bottom and mid range. Very roomy, especially in the backseat and storage areas. Center console is not layed out all that well, radio controls are confusing, overall has a fairly cheap and plain look to interior. Seats are very firm, but supportive, the huge windshield gives good visibility. Exterior is very attractive looking and is on par with other more expensive small SUVs, the sunroof is a nice option for the modest price.
Fun at First
We rented this car some years back and I fell in love with it then. I bought it used with on 33k miles on it. The car was great at first. I took it for its 1st oil change then the check engine light came on. Then the abs brakes started grinding (and brakes were new) then static was coming through the speakers while a cd was playing, which I read was an early sign of electrical problems. I loved the styling and ride of this truck but way too many problems that chevy needed to work out! Especially for the car being only 3 years old and not even hitting 40k miles yet. Needless to say I traded it in and not for a Chevy, which used to be my favorite car.
1st Chevy
I change vehichles every 2-3 years. This is my first Chevy(except for a '79 4x4 Cheyenne long gone). Overall I enjoy it except for an annoying "clunking" noise in the front end. Especially annoying is the high speed stability, or lack of it. At freeway speeds it tends to be quick to get away from you. I must always stay glued to the steering wheel or I tend to find myself in the next lane. I had the dealership check it out but they heard no noises nor found anything wrong. I like the vehichle in all other ways but am very disapointed at its handling on the freeways. The one other thing that I miss is a 'hook' to hang my dry-cleaning. I can't find one.
Great little SUV
I love my new SUV. I test drove about 7 of the new SUV's that fell in the same size catagory. The selling point for me was the room in the back seat (made available because of the ability to move the seat back.) and I love the space in the center front that is low and almost hidden to put my purse when driving. There is loads of room inside with the backseat up and lots of additional room with both of the seats laid forward. The SUV has a very smooth ride and all of the dials on the dash are within easy reach. I would recomend the purchase of the vehicle to anyone who likes the thought of being raised up off the ground but still have the small size that makes parking a breeze.
On a trip w/ '06 Nox
Have had vehicle for 7 weeks. Took trip from Colo. to Cal., went about 2400 miles r/t. Avg 21.6 mpg. Most driving was at or over 75mph on I-70 & I-15. Drove into head winds at times. Great vehicle. Comfortable. Easy, very easy, to drive. Good handling on snow packed mountain passes (in CO.) and off-road desert trails (in Ca.) didn't push it to the limit tho. Didn't need to as Nox AWD seems to have good traction control on all sorts of road conditions if it's driven reasonably. In the back of my mind the biggest concern is the long term quality of the Chinese factory built engine. Engine purrs right now, will know more in 5/6 years or so. Hopefully not my last Chevy.
Nice to drive, hard on gas
Wheel bearing went in the first month. Gas mileage is pretty bad even when driven gently (approx 22 MPG HWY) Nice to drive, very comfortable, poor visibility when backing up, needs adjustable delay wipers, -window controls are not lit (hard to find at night) -handbrake is awkward to reach -gearshift is clumsy to use -great stereo (with upgrade) -excellent in snow