Chevy Trax vs Equinox
Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet
Chevy Trax vs Equinox
The Chevy Trax vs Equinox choice is about how much SUV you need. Both seat five. The Trax is the smaller, lower-priced one with front-wheel drive. The Equinox is bigger, has more power and cargo room, and offers all-wheel drive.
The figures here come from Chevrolet’s 2026 Trax and 2027 Equinox pages and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov, checked October 8, 2026. Prices and equipment change by trim, so confirm the window sticker on the vehicle you are looking at. You can compare live stock on the Trax inventory and Equinox inventory pages.
Size
54 cubic feet of max cargo in the Trax. 63.5 in the Equinox.
Drivetrain
The Trax is front-wheel drive only. The Equinox offers all-wheel drive.
Power
137 hp in the Trax. 175 hp in the Equinox.
Price
Chevrolet lists $21,700 and $29,300 to start. Those figures can change.
Chevy Trax vs Equinox at a glance
| Item | Chevy Trax | Chevy Equinox |
|---|---|---|
| Model year on Chevrolet.com | 2026 | 2027 |
| Starting MSRP | $21,700 | $29,300 |
| Engine | 1.2L turbo 3-cylinder, 137 hp, 162 lb-ft | 1.5L turbo, 175 hp, 203 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive only | Front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive |
| EPA combined MPG | 30 (Chevrolet) | 27 FWD, 26 AWD (EPA) |
| Towing | Not rated to tow | Up to 1,500 lbs when properly equipped |
| Max cargo | 54 cu ft | 63.5 cu ft |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Curb weight | About 3,000 lbs | 3,428 to 3,629 lbs |
Starting prices are Chevrolet MSRP and exclude destination, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. The Trax MPG is Chevrolet’s listed EPA estimate. The Equinox MPG is from fueleconomy.gov.
Size and cargo space
The Equinox is the bigger SUV. Chevrolet lists 63.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space in the Equinox and 54 cubic feet in the Trax. That is about 9.5 more cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Equinox is 183.2 inches long and weighs 3,428 to 3,629 pounds. Chevrolet lists the Trax at about 3,000 pounds.
The Trax still has a usable cargo area and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. If you carry a dog crate, hockey bags, or a week of groceries, it can work. If you load camping gear for the Bighorns or haul a stroller every day, the Equinox gives you more room to work with.
For the full Chevrolet size ladder, from the Trax up to the Suburban, see Chevy SUVs by size.
All-wheel drive and Wyoming winters
Chevrolet says the 2026 Chevrolet Trax is only available with front-wheel drive. The Chevrolet Equinox offers all-wheel drive. For a lot of Sheridan drivers, that is the deciding point.
Front-wheel drive with good winter tires handles plenty of town driving. If you drive a ranch road, a steep driveway, or I-90 toward Buffalo in January, all-wheel drive gives you more traction to get moving. It does not help you stop, so tires still matter.
If you like the Trax size but want all-wheel drive, look at the Trailblazer. Our Trax vs Trailblazer comparison covers that choice.
Engines, power, and fuel economy
The Chevrolet Trax uses a 1.2L turbo three-cylinder with 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Chevrolet Equinox uses a 1.5L turbo with 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft. The extra power matters most when you merge onto the interstate or carry a full load.
The Chevrolet Trax uses less fuel. Chevrolet lists an EPA-estimated 30 MPG combined for the 2026 Chevrolet Trax. The EPA rates the 2027 Equinox at 25 city and 29 highway, or 27 MPG combined, with FWD. With AWD it is 26 MPG combined. City miles and highway miles both sit in those EPA figures.
Trims, screens, and safety features
Chevrolet lists five 2026 Chevrolet Trax models: LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and ACTIV. The gas Chevrolet Equinox models on Chevrolet’s page are LT, RS, and ACTIV. The Equinox EV is a different Chevrolet model. This comparison is the gas Equinox.
The Chevrolet Trax takes regular 87 octane, and Chevrolet says it can run on E85. The EPA lists the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox with an 8-speed automatic. Chevrolet lists an 11-inch touchscreen as available on the Chevrolet Trax and an 11.3-inch touchscreen on the Chevrolet Equinox. The Trax rear seat is a 60/40 split. Those are the interior details you can confirm on the sticker.
Chevrolet’s Equinox page lists more than 15 standard safety and driver assistance features. That count of safety features is not a score against the Chevrolet Trax. A test drive at the dealership is how you check the interior, the FWD Trax, and the available AWD on the Equinox on the same roads.
Towing
Chevrolet says the 2026 Chevrolet Trax is not rated to tow. The Chevrolet Equinox can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. That can cover a small utility trailer. Check the loaded trailer weight against the rating on the vehicle first.
If you tow a camper or a horse trailer, neither of these is the right Chevy. Look at the best Chevy SUVs for Sheridan for bigger options.
Price and trims
Chevrolet lists the 2026 Trax from $21,700 on the LS. The Trax comes in five versions: LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and ACTIV. The 2027 Equinox starts at $29,300 on the LT, and Chevrolet lists starting prices up to $36,200 depending on trim. The Equinox comes as LT, RS, and ACTIV.
That is a $7,600 gap at the starting point. For that money, the Equinox adds more cargo room, more power, available all-wheel drive, a tow rating, and a standard 11.3-inch touchscreen. The Trax offers an available 11-inch screen.
Current offers change, so we don’t list payments here. Check Chevy special offers or talk with our finance team.
Which Chevy SUV fits you?
Pick the Trax if
You want the lowest starting price, the better fuel economy, and an easy SUV to park. Front-wheel drive fits your roads, and you don’t need to tow.
Pick the Equinox if
You need more cargo room, more power, all-wheel drive, or a small tow rating.
If you need a third row, step up to the Traverse. Our Equinox vs Traverse guide walks through that move.
Compare them in Sheridan
Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet is at 107 E Alger St, Sheridan, WY 82801. Call (307) 674-6419 and we can pull a Trax and an Equinox so you can compare them in the same visit. Have a trade? Start with our value your trade tool.
Common questions
Is the Chevy Trax bigger than the Equinox?
No. The Equinox is the bigger SUV. Chevrolet lists 54 cubic feet of maximum cargo space in the 2026 Trax and 63.5 cubic feet in the Equinox. The Equinox is 183.2 inches long and weighs 3,428 to 3,629 pounds. Chevrolet lists the Trax at about 3,000 pounds.
Does the Chevy Trax have all-wheel drive?
No. Chevrolet says the 2026 Trax is front-wheel drive only. All-wheel drive is available on the Equinox and on the Trailblazer.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Trax or the Equinox?
The Trax. Chevrolet lists an EPA-estimated 30 MPG combined for the 2026 Trax. The EPA rates the 2027 Equinox at 27 MPG combined with front-wheel drive and 26 MPG combined with all-wheel drive.
Can the Chevy Trax tow?
No. Chevrolet says the 2026 Trax is not rated to tow. The Equinox can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped.
What are the cons of a Chevy Trax?
The Trax gives up a few things to hit its price. Chevrolet lists it as front-wheel drive only and not rated to tow. Its 137-horsepower engine makes less power than the 175-horsepower Equinox, and it has less maximum cargo space. If you need AWD or a hitch, look at the Equinox.
Which is more reliable, the Trax or the Equinox?
No single answer covers every model year and trim. Chevrolet does not publish a reliability score that ranks one against the other. Look up recalls for the exact vehicle by VIN at NHTSA.gov, ask for service records on a used one, and compare the factory warranty on each window sticker.
How much more does the Equinox cost than the Trax?
Chevrolet lists the 2026 Trax from $21,700 and the 2027 Equinox from $29,300. That is a $7,600 gap in starting MSRP before destination, taxes, and dealer fees. Trim and options change the real number.
Can I compare the Trax and Equinox in Sheridan?
Yes. Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet can line up a Trax and an Equinox so you can sit in both, load your gear, and drive them on the same roads.
0 comment(s) so far on Chevy Trax vs Equinox