2011 Chevy Equinox Review
2011 Chevy Equinox Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Premium look inside and out
- quiet cabin with lots of storage bins
- adjustable backseat
- fuel-efficient four-cylinder.
Cons
- Not quite as much cargo space as chief rivals
- some controls difficult to reach
- numb and uncommunicative steering.
What’s new
For 2011, the Chevrolet Equinox's optional V6 now has E85 capability. Enhancements include heated cloth seats on 2LT models and a compass on LS models. A USB port, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity are now standard on 1LT models, and OnStar service has been upgraded to standard Directions and Connections (providing access to OnStar's navigation and information services) for a six-month trial period.
Edmunds says
The 2011 Chevy Equinox is a stylish and comfortable entry in the highly competitive small-crossover segment. RAV4 and CR-V shoppers should take notice.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$157/mo
Equinox LT1
vs
$173/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Vehicle overview
Roomy and graced with an available snappy V6, the previous-generation Equinox had its charms, but it didn't shine brightly enough to surpass its rivals. As a result, Chevy's capable but undistinguished hauler was left to linger on the lots as shoppers flocked to more popular choices from the likes of Honda and Toyota. But thanks to a full redesign last year, the latest Equinox has vaulted up to be a top pick in the small crossover SUV segment.
The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox boasts character and refinement – two traits that were missing in previous-generation models, and indeed many small crossovers in general. With a rear seat that slides back to create an expanse worthy of a prom-night limousine, the Equinox easily counts rear legroom among its strengths. Ride quality is another plus, with the Equinox delivering a stable, well-planted ride. In terms of equipment, the Chevy is fully competitive, with plenty of standard features and some nice upgrades like a hard-drive-based navigation system.
Under the hood you'll find a choice of either a 182-horsepower inline-4 or a 264-hp V6. Both of these engines deliver respectable acceleration, and the four-cylinder is notable for its above-average fuel economy (even though we've found it doesn't quite meet its lofty EPA estimates). Another Equinox selling point is its upscale good looks; the cabin is attractive and expensive-looking and features interior materials quality that's finally competitive with other choices in this segment.
The most significant area in which the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox lags is cargo capacity. The 2011 Honda CR-V and 2011 Toyota RAV4 both boast more total space, which could be a factor if you're frequently using your small crossover to haul lots of stuff. The Equinox also comes across as a bit lifeless to drive when compared to sportier models like the 2011 Kia Sportage and 2011 Mazda CX-7. But in pretty much every other measure that matters -- cabin design, fuel economy, comfort and safety -- Chevy's crossover is a front-runner.
Performance & mpg
Every 2011 Chevrolet Equinox comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque. Optional on all but the LS is a 3.0-liter V6 good for 264 hp and 222 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional. When equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the Equinox makes the 0-60-mph sprint in 9.3 seconds, which is about average for the segment.
An Equinox four-cylinder with front-wheel drive achieves an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. All-wheel drive lowers these estimates to 20/29/23. An Equinox V6 with front-wheel drive gets an estimated 17/25/20, with all-wheel-drive versions dropping 1 mpg on the highway. As impressive as these numbers are, however, we've noticed that the Equinox struggles more than most vehicles to match these numbers in the real world.
Safety
The 2011 Chevy Equinox comes standard with antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), traction and stability control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and OnStar. A rearview camera and rear parking sensors are optional.
The Equinox has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedure; however, its 2010 rating (which isn't comparable to the new methodology) was a top five stars for its performance in head-on and side-impact collisions for all occupants. In side-impact and frontal-offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Equinox earned a top "Good" rating.
Driving
Acceleration from the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox's four-cylinder engine is respectable – especially in light of its strong fuel economy -- and should prove satisfactory for most shoppers. The V6 is a good match for those seeking gutsier performance, offering a 264-hp output that marks it as one of the most powerful choices in the segment.
Road and wind noise aren't a problem in the Equinox, which boasts a very quiet cabin at highway speeds. Ride quality is also impressive on interstate road trips, providing a buttoned-down feel indicative of bigger SUVs. Handling is unremarkable and steering is decidedly vague – though we suspect that these two shortcomings won't be an issue for the Equinox's target demographic.
Interior
The Chevy Equinox boasts a stylish cabin filled with premium touches. The available two-tone color schemes are eye-catching, and perfectly complement the dashboard's elegant, swooping dual-cowl design. All in all, the Equinox's interior looks more deluxe than that of most others in this segment.
The switchgear for the climate controls and audio system feels substantial, a pleasant departure from the cookie-cutter units found in many other GM models. The downside is that the center console is plagued by a plethora of similar-looking buttons and can be hard for shorter drivers to reach.
As its plus-sized exterior suggests, the Equinox offers a spacious cabin. Adjust the sliding rear seat backward and you'll find rear legroom that's the most generous in this segment; the rear seat also reclines for passenger comfort. There are lots of storage opportunities within the cabin, with the highlight being a huge bin that sits beneath the front row's center armrest. Cargo capacity, however, is not that impressive. There is a maximum 31.4 cubic feet of space behind the sliding backseat; with the rear seat folded, that figure grows to 63.7 cubic feet. As such, the Equinox offers less cargo space than rivals like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4.
2011 Chevrolet Equinox models
The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is a compact crossover SUV available in LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim levels.
Standard equipment for the LS includes 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning, full power accessories, power front seat height adjustment, a sliding and reclining backseat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, OnStar and a six-speaker sound system with CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. The 1LT adds tinted rear windows, roof rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth and an iPod/USB audio interface. When equipped with the optional V6 engine, 18-inch wheels are added.
The Equinox 2LT gets you the above features plus foglamps, remote ignition, heated front seats, automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming mirror, a rearview camera (mounted in the rearview mirror) and an eight-speaker Pioneer stereo. The top-shelf LTZ adds automatic headlamps, a power tailgate, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery and driver memory functions.
Many of the standard features found on the upper trims can be added to the lower trims as options. All Equinox trims except the LS can be had with a sunroof. The 2LT and LTZ can further be equipped with a rear entertainment system and a navigation system with voice recognition and digital music storage. The LTZ V6 can be outfitted with optional 19-inch chrome-clad wheels.
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox.
5 star(25%)
4 star(26%)
3 star(19%)
2 star(12%)
1 star(18%)
190 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
2 out of 5 stars
Pile of garbage.
Tom Lamothe, 04/21/2016
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
I have owned this vehicle for about 18 months. It was purchased off of my parent who bought the vehicle new. In the first 3 years of them owning the vehicle, they had to have several things repairs: Driver's seat, fuel pump/timing chain and some other minor issues. When I bought the car off of them, it was as if a self-destruct button was pushed. Immediately we found rust on the … bottom of the rear doors (at 38,000 miles). This was repaired by the dealership under warranty. Shortly after I noticed that the vehicle was losing oil quite rapidly and seemed down on power. After (no lie) 12 visits to dealerships (one of which I refused to deal with any further as they wanted me to drop the vehicle off for the entire day for an oil consumption test), to monitor the oil level, they finally agreed to rebuild the engine (45,000 miles) as well as fix a transmission leak. Upon vehicle inspection, they also "discovered" that the AC condenser was leaking and needed to be replaced and that the rear brakes were "metal on metal" and needed to be replaced. All told there was over $7,000 worth of work done. $700 to replace the condensor. I refused brake replacement, another story, but it turned out that there was more than half of the braking material left and no need whatsover to replace the pads or rotors as we were quoted.
one year later and we are back at it. At 58,000 miles, the rear differential is now leaking. The vehicle is still under the mileage for the powertrain warranty but past the time limit by 4 months. This repair was quoted at 600-700 dollars to replace an axle seal. This vehicle is now being traded in as I cannot deal with the sheer level of crap that is the 2011 Equinox.
To summarize, 2011 Equinox with a 2.4 L engine only having 58,000 miles has had the following major issues:
1. Burning over 2 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. (Engine rebuilt)
2. Fuel pump and timing chain replaced.
3. Rust repair
4. Transmission leak repair
5. AC condensor leak
6. Seat issue recall repair
7. Rear differential leaking.
The other minor issues I have had include random electrical gremlins that cause the auto headlights to come on randomly in direct sunlight, slipping serpentine belt that causes dimming of interior lights on occasion.
On the surface this is a great vehicle. The interior is spacious and comfortable, the outside is relatively unobjectionable, It has several higher end features like Satellite radio, heated seats, etc. but the build quality is abysmal. I would not recommend this vehicle to my worst enemy.
4.25 out of 5 stars
Loud engine knock at cold start up.
arveejay, 05/15/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
The car is very comfortable to drive with lots of leg room. It handles just fine, looks great and rides great. My only concern so far is the 2.4L engine rattle at cold start. It sounds like there is no oil in the engine for several seconds and then quiets right down. Even after dealer changed the oil and filter at 1000 miles the noise is still there. If my dealer can fix the noise before … the engine shells out, I'll be very happy with it. I'm sure I won't still have it when the warranty is nearing running out.
1 out of 5 stars
Worst Car I've Ever Owned. No GM Support
bradjohnson08, 11/18/2014
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
UPDATE 5/18/2017 - I bought a new car last week and I made sure it WAS NOT a GM product after their terrible vehicle and customer service. Also, 5 family members have bought new cars since this ordeal and even they decided to not buy GM solely based on how terribly they treated this incident. To boot, 4 of those family members retired from GM. Keep alienating yourself GM and I doubt … you'll get a buy-out next time!
UPDATE 11/18/2016 - I have now found out that GM has owned up to ALL of the issues I had with this vehicle that they FLAT OUT DENIED and were never willing to help me when I had them for several years. They have now sent out notices to replace entire engines and more for these vehicles experiencing the issues that I was having with mine the whole time I "owned" it. However, since I was forced to sell my vehicle due to the challenges it presented on a daily basis I am left with a different car and 5 more years of payments instead of the GM Equinox that would have been paid off some time ago. This just furthers the bad taste in my mouth and pure disdain I feel for General Motors. GM IS BY FAR THE WORST COMPANY/VEHICLE BRAND in quality as well as customer service. I might as well have just threw my money at them to rent it for years then give it back to them to fix and sell again. What a joke - My family and friends have now listened to my story and NOT ONE of them have bought a new or used GM vehicle and have branched out to the "foreign" makes that they have always said they would "never" try due to loyalty to a brand that doesn't understand how to properly appreciate it's customers that tried to stick with them until they felt unwanted and forced to move on. The only way that GM would ever possibly get back in good standing with it's irate customers is if they learned how to treat them and offer real incentives when they encounter issues.
UPDATE 5/18/2016 - This car was the biggest mistake I've ever made in terms of a large purchase. After 2 years of constant circles with GM and them continuing to own up to their short comings they finally made me an offer to turn in or replace. They offered $6,500!!!!!! and they said this was "generous" since it was used and had lots of issues. Keep in mind - these are issues they denied until this point and refused to assist. I hit my breaking point and decided to go to another local dealer of a brand I swore I would NEVER drive because I'm a "GM person from a GM family" but after I walked in the doors and they offered me OVER DOUBLE to turn it in and buy a car from them that has higher ratings and WAYYYY less expensive - not to mention for american made than GM and their false claims. I normally wouldn't even turn in a car because they offer so little but I didn't wish to look an individual in the face and sell them this hunk of crap. I knew this dealer would go through and replace the things that GM refused to do over the years. In closing - I will NEVER own another GM car and my whole family that is brand loyal and over 10 family members who retired from GM have said they will never own GM, as well. Another case of GM not understanding it's customer base and selling an inferior product for a premium then not backing their garbage models and wiggling out of everything to not help. I am now paying off a new car instead of riding out my Equinox until the wheels fell off because, sadly, the wheels will fall off an equinox before it hits 50,000 miles.
PLEASE - IF YOU'RE READING THIS - SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND DON'T BUY AN EQUINOX. ON SECOND THOUGHT, DON'T BUY GM AT ALL BECAUSE THEY WON'T HELP YOU WITH THEIR PRODUCT EVEN IF IT'S CLEARLY A LEMON OR PROBLEM-RIDDEN IN WARRANTY PERIOD.
February 2011 7,099 miles - Complaint of jerkiness while shifting. Weird shifting.
Action taken Seat belt recall, nothing done concerning our complaint except charge us for an oil change.
November 2011 17,683 miles - Further shifting issues and chugs while driving. Loud ratting and grinding from under hood by engine. Knocking in back. Slow to take off from a stop. Has stalled 2 times driving.
Action taken Reprogrammed engine control module. Said they couldnt duplicate the rest.
April 2012 22,365 miles - Stalled more times. Knocking in engine and rattling. Still shifts incorrectly. Sputters and stalls while driving. Transmission leak.
3.75 out of 5 stars
Good and bad points
chrisco716, 09/05/2012
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
Have owned 2011 LT2 Equinox for about a year and a half.
Bought it new.
The Good - Nice looking and drives pretty well.
Comfortable for passengers.
Good options like heated seats, power everything including automatic opening tailgate.
AWD.
Nice computer.
The Bad - Does not achieve expected mileage.
We consistently average a little over 19 mpg in mixed driving conditions.
Only about 24 … mpg highway.
Drivers seat uncomfortable... I have to put a rolled up towel in the bottom back to keep from getting back pains.
The Ugly - It's a dog driving in the mountains or even getting up to highway speeds.
The automatic transmission also seems a bit rough when accelerating hard.
2011 Equinox Highlights
LS
Combined MPG | 26 MPG |
---|---|
Cost to Drive | $157/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Engine Type | Gas |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat4 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover19.1%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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More about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox Overview
The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is offered in the following submodels: Equinox SUV. Available styles include LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A), LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A), and LT1 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A). Pre-owned Chevrolet Equinox models are available with a 2.4 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 182 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox?
Price comparisons for Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox trim styles:
- The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 is priced between $9,899 and$16,998 with odometer readings between 35580 and111399 miles.
- The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 is priced between $6,890 and$14,998 with odometer readings between 84847 and190000 miles.
- The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS is priced between $10,990 and$13,599 with odometer readings between 61353 and106222 miles.
- The Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ is priced between $9,995 and$9,995 with odometer readings between 115512 and115512 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2011 Chevrolet Equinoxes are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2011 Chevrolet Equinox for sale near. There are currently 17 used and CPO 2011 Equinoxes listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $6,890 and mileage as low as 35580 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox.
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Should I lease or buy a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Chevrolet lease specials
Check out Chevrolet Equinox lease specials
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