The Chevrolet Equinox does 24.1 mpg combined (21.2 city, 28.2 highway), which works out to about $1,593 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl does 32 mpg while 3.4L 6-cyl does 19.5 — a difference of $769 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Equinox engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Equinox ranges from 32 down to 19.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $769 a year across 6 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 28 / 38 | 2018–2019 | $1,200 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 25.9 / 30.1 | 2020–2027 | $1,391 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21.9 / 31.1 | 2010–2017 | $1,483 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2010–2012 | $1,920 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 16.7 / 23.8 | 2008–2017 | $1,949 | |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 17 / 23.3 | 2005–2009 | $1,969 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Equinox burns a gallon every 24.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 498 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.133 |
| Fuel per year | $1,593 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,965 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$99 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,684 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Equinox gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.2 out there against 21.2 in town, a 33% drop worth $449 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 21.2 mpg | $1,811 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.2 mpg | $1,362 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (33%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Equinox changed over the years
The Equinox peaked in 2019 at 32 mpg (28 city, 38 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2008 at 19 — 13 mpg apart, or $821 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 27. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 25 / 29 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2026 | 26 / 29 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2025 | 26 / 28 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2024 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2023 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2022 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2021 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2020 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2019 | 28 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2018 | 28 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2017 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2016 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2014 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2012 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2010 | 19.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2009 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2006 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 31 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Equinox — 6 engines across 2005–2027. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,684. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Equinox get?
24.1 mpg combined on average — 21.2 in the city and 28.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2005–2027.
How much does a Chevrolet Equinox cost in fuel per year?
About $1,593 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,965 over five years, or 0.133 dollars a mile.
Which Equinox engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 32 mpg, against 19.5 for the 3.4L 6-cyl — a difference of about $769 a year.
Is the Equinox good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Equinox figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet Equinox is $2,684 against the $1,593 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 32 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.