Which Chevy Equinox Trim Is Right for You?

A close up shows the bowtie badge on the grille of a blue 2023 Chevy Equinox LT.

Shopping for a car can be intimidating for some people, but it's a lot easier than you might think, and it ultimately comes down to simply making a series of decisions. Some of them are big decisions like choosing a brand, the right dealership, and a vehicle with everything you've been looking for. If you've decided to search for a "Chevy dealer near me" and found us at Dave Gill Chevrolet, you are already off to a great start. The great thing about the Chevy lineup is that it really has something for everyone, thanks to offering so many different models.

The 2023 Chevy Equinox is the perfect choice if you've been looking for a compact, two-row SUV that has fantastic features and functionality without being either too big or too small. Choosing the Equinox is a great decision, but you still have one last thing to pick: the right trim with the features you need. We'll admit that car companies can sometimes go overboard, offering a huge number of trims and making this last bit harder than it needs to be. However, Chevy has kept things simple with the Equinox, as there are four trims available. Let's take a look at them and see what each brings to the road.

Chevy Equinox LS

We'll start with the standard trim for the Equinox, the LS, which has all of the basic features that the other trims build upon. Every 2023 Equinox comes with a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a solid 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers might not seem huge, but this is a small crossover, and that's plenty of power to make it a lot of fun to drive. This engine comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available. You get excellent performance and a fantastic driving experience no matter which trim you choose, so your decision really comes down to other features.

The 2023 Equinox LS comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season tires, with LED headlamps and IntelliBeam technology that automatically turns the high beams on and off to avoid blinding other drivers. You get heated, power-adjustable side mirrors on the LS, along with body-color door handles, a manual rear liftgate, and an acoustic windshield designed to keep out traffic noises.

Inside the LS, you'll find a seven-inch infotainment display with support for Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a six-speaker sound system. You get Premium Cloth seating, with four-way adjustable front seats, standard steering wheel-mounted controls, and a 3.5-inch monochromatic Driver Information Center display. Power windows and door locks are standard, along with Keyless Open and Start, cruise control, single-zone climate control, and numerous USB ports in the front and rear of the vehicle.

One of our favorite things about the 2023 Equinox is that every trim comes with the Chevy Safety Assist suite, which includes a number of impressive driver-assist technologies. You get Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking to warn you of a potential crash and help you avoid it. The Equinox LS also includes Front Pedestrian Braking to help you avoid pedestrians who step onto the road in front of you, plus a Following Distance Indicator to warn you when you're too close to the vehicle ahead of you. You get Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, which alerts you when you seem to be drifting from your lane and can help you stay centered. This all comes together to make even the starting trim for the Equinox an incredibly safe vehicle.

Chevy Equinox LT

If you like what the LS trim brings to the road overall but want some select upgrades inside and out, then the Equinox LT is a great way to go. For starters, the LT features LED daytime running lamps in addition to the standard LED headlamps, and it has body-color side-mirror caps, while the LS features black mirror caps regardless of body color. Inside the Equinox LT, you'll find a number of upgrades, such as an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar control. You also get a 4.2-inch multi-color Driver Information Center display in addition to the other great features found inside the standard model, which all come together to give you an excellent driving experience.

A red 2023 Chevy Equinox RS is shown driving on a city street after leaving a Chevy dealer near you.

Chevy Equinox RS

The Equinox RS is an all-new trim for the 2023 model, and it delivers gorgeous styling inside and out to really elevate the overall look and feel of this small crossover. For starters, the RS has 19-inch Dark Android-painted aluminum wheels for a bold and striking look, along with a Gloss Black mesh grille and Black Ice surround that gives it a stunning appearance. You'll find a unique lower fascia on the RS with body-color inserts, plus Gloss Black side rails and window surrounds to make an immediate impression. Additionally, the programmable power liftgate makes loading and unloading the Equinox RS much easier.

Inside the RS, you'll find a number of upgrades and unique details, such as Jet Black cloth seating with leather-appointed seats available, featuring red stitching that creates a gorgeous contrast throughout. Black Ice chrome accents and similar details inside pair perfectly with the unique touches and badging on the exterior, creating a comprehensive overall look. You also get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start functionality with the key fob, and dual-zone automatic climate control to keep everyone inside nice and comfortable.

Chevy Equinox Premier

If you want a fantastic driving experience but are not into the sporty details of the RS trim, then the Equinox Premier is the way to go. This is the top trim for this model, and it includes 18-inch machined-face aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season tires. The heated powered side mirrors feature integrated turn signals, plus you get a hands-free gesture liftgate that you can open and close by waving your foot under the rear bumper. Body-color door handles with chrome window surrounds complete the overall look of the Premier.

Inside this trim, you'll find an eight-inch infotainment display that looks stunning, along with heated driver and front-passenger seats, perforated leather-appointed seating, and a heated steering wheel. The Premier includes a wireless charging pad for compatible devices, along with the dual-zone automatic climate control and remote start functionality found in the RS. Driver-assist features are taken further on the Premier, including Front and Rear Park Assist to help navigate parking lots, an HD Rear Vision Camera, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert to warn you when someone is hiding in your blind spot.

A grey 2023 Chevy Equinox Premier is shown from the rear driving on a mountain road.

Choosing the Right Equinox

You can see that any Equinox trim will give you a great time on the road, and many differences between them can be pretty minor, though some are significant. The base LS trim is a great choice if you're shopping on a budget, though moving up to the LT trim costs very little and comes with a number of great upgrades. Nothing looks quite as stunning overall as the RS trim, and it features numerous upgrades both inside and out--but if you're not into its design details, then the Premier gives you the ultimate experience offered by the Equinox. You can't go wrong with any of them; it really just comes down to which one is right for you. If you're still unsure, visit us at Dave Gill Chevrolet to learn more and see the 2023 Equinox for yourself. We'll help you figure out which trim is right for you.