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The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox comes in three gas trims: LT starting around $29,000, and RS and ACTIV both starting at $33,900. All three use the same 1.5L turbocharged inline-four producing 175 horsepower, so your choice comes down to styling, features, and whether you want a sport-tuned look or an outdoor-ready one.
By the end, you will know what the LT includes at its lower price point, why the RS and ACTIV share a price tag despite serving completely different buyers, and which one makes the most sense for your driving habits. We will keep the focus on real differences that affect your decision, not spec sheets copied word for word.
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox is Chevrolet’s compact SUV, seating five and slotting between the smaller Trailblazer and the larger, three-row Traverse. It is built for buyers who want everyday practicality, modern technology, and efficient driving without stepping up to a midsize footprint.
Lineup position
The Equinox sits between the Trailblazer (smaller, two-row) and the Traverse (larger, three-row). It is the midpoint choice for buyers who want five-passenger practicality without a bigger footprint or a bigger payment.
Every 2027 Equinox trim uses the same 1.5L turbocharged inline-four rated at 175 horsepower. Your engine performance does not change as you move from LT to RS to ACTIV. This is the single most important thing to understand before you shop.
Engine
1.5L Turbo I4
Same across all trims
Horsepower
175 hp
LT, RS, and ACTIV identical
Standard drivetrain
FWD
AWD available on all trims
What changes between trims
Style and features
Not speed or capability
Because the powertrain stays constant, the decision shifts entirely to budget, styling, and available features. You are not paying more for a faster Equinox when you move up. Understanding this one fact keeps you from overspending on a trim that does not actually give you what you thought it did, and it is why we walk every Equinox shopper through this first in our new Chevrolet Equinox inventory.
All three 2027 Equinox trims share the same turbocharged engine and the same new 8-speed automatic transmission. The differences that actually matter come down to standard content, styling direction, and which packages let you personalize each trim without moving up the lineup.
| Starting Price | Around $29,000 MSRP ($30,995 with destination) |
| Engine | Turbocharged 1.5L, 175 hp, 184 lb-ft (203 lb-ft with AWD), same across all trims |
| Wheels | 17-inch Grazen Metallic machined-face aluminum |
| Standard Highlights | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11.3-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control |
| Styling | Standard Equinox exterior treatment; no blacked-out or off-road styling elements |
| AWD | Available for $2,000, same across all trims |
| Available Packages | Technology package, Midnight Edition, panoramic sunroof |
The LT arrives with features that used to require higher trims or add-on bundles: a large touchscreen with wireless phone connection, adaptive cruise control for highway driving, and heated seats for winter mornings. For many Henry County buyers, the LT covers everything they’d actually use every day.
Best for: buyers who want strong daily-use tech and comfort features at the lowest entry price, with room to personalize through packages instead of moving up a trim.
| Starting Price | $33,900 MSRP ($35,895 with destination) |
| Engine | Turbocharged 1.5L, 175 hp, 184 lb-ft (203 lb-ft with AWD), same across all trims, no performance upgrade |
| Wheels | 19-inch, standard |
| Standard Highlights | Same core infotainment, seating, and driver-assist tech as LT, plus flat-bottom steering wheel and red interior accents |
| Styling | Black exterior accents, sport grille, black roof rails, red badging |
| AWD | Available for $2,000, same across all trims |
The RS is a styling and appearance trim, not a performance upgrade. It leans into a blacked-out, road-focused aesthetic. If you want an Equinox that looks sharp in a driveway or a downtown Louisville parking garage, the RS delivers that look, but you’re buying the aesthetic and trim-specific interior touches, not more speed.
Best for: buyers who want a sportier street-focused look and don’t need off-pavement capability.
| Starting Price | $33,900 MSRP ($35,895 with destination), same as RS |
| Engine | Turbocharged 1.5L, 175 hp, 184 lb-ft (203 lb-ft with AWD), same across all trims |
| Wheels | 17-inch, paired with all-terrain tires |
| Standard Highlights | Same core infotainment, seating, and driver-assist tech as LT, plus raised badging and rugged trim details |
| Styling | Bronze exterior accents, all-terrain tires, raised badging |
| AWD | Available for $2,000, same across all trims, unlocks light off-pavement readiness |
The ACTIV shares the RS price but targets a completely different buyer. Where the RS is about street-focused style, the ACTIV is about capability and adventure character. The all-terrain tires and available all-wheel drive make it the better pick for buyers who take gravel county roads or head out on weekend trips.
Best for: buyers who want a rugged look and light off-pavement capability at the same price as the RS.
For buyers already comparing these three gas trims, the all-electric Equinox EV is worth a look because its starting price and range can overlap with a well-equipped RS or ACTIV. Whether it makes sense comes down to how and where you drive, and honestly, it does not make sense for everyone.
When the EV wins
The Equinox EV makes the most sense when you can charge at home or work and your driving stays within its electric range. Fuel and maintenance savings can offset its price over time, and a loaded gas trim can look less attractive on paper once you run the numbers.
You have reliable home or workplace charging available overnight or during the day.
Your daily routine is predictable in distance and stays within a comfortable single-charge window.
You want to skip gas stations entirely and reduce routine maintenance costs over the ownership period.
When gas still wins
The gas Equinox remains the better choice for buyers who cannot reliably charge at home or work, or who regularly drive long distances beyond a comfortable single-charge range. Convenience and range confidence still favor the gas trims for a large share of Kentucky drivers.
You have no reliable home charging and your area lacks convenient public charging infrastructure.
Your weeks include long hauls on US-421 and I-64 without dependable fast-charging stops along the route.
You want zero route planning around chargers and full range confidence on any day, no matter how busy.
The fastest way to settle the trim question is to see the LT, RS, and ACTIV side by side, and that is worth the easy drive to Eminence, whether you are coming from Louisville or Lexington. Glenn Chevrolet keeps a range of Equinox configurations on the lot, and our team is happy to walk you through the differences without any pressure to decide on the spot.
Small-town pricing is a real part of the conversation here. Plenty of buyers have made the drive and discovered that Chevys really are cheaper in the country, and we would rather show you the numbers than talk around them. You can browse current listings, confirm your configuration, and even get a head start on the paperwork through our online financing application before you visit, so your time at the dealership is spent driving rather than waiting.
The right 2027 Equinox trim comes down to one question: do you want the best value, a sportier look, or outdoor-ready character? Because the engine is identical across the range, matching the trim to your priorities is genuinely straightforward.
Best value
Choose the LT if value matters most and you want the features you use daily without paying for styling upgrades you do not. The lowest entry point in the lineup with no compromise on the core driving experience.
Sport look
Choose the RS if a sharper, blacked-out street presence appeals to you and you are comfortable paying $33,900 for the look and upgraded interior. Black accents and dark badging make a visible difference in person.
Outdoor character
Choose the ACTIV if you want all-terrain tires, a rugged appearance, and light off-pavement ability at that same price point. Built for buyers who want the vehicle to match the kind of weekends they actually have.
At our Eminence dealership, the deciding factor is almost never horsepower and almost always how the buyer wants the vehicle to look and where they plan to take it. If a monthly payment is your real deciding factor, our financing team can structure the numbers so the trim you want stays within reach.
The main difference is character: the RS is a street-focused styling trim with black exterior accents, a sport grille, and black roof rails, while the ACTIV is outdoor-oriented with all-terrain tires, bronze accents, and raised badging. Both start at $33,900 and use the same 175-horsepower engine, so neither is faster than the other. The RS suits buyers who want a sporty, blacked-out look for daily and city driving, and the ACTIV suits buyers who want a rugged appearance and light capability for gravel roads and weekend trips.
The 2027 Equinox LT comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 11.3-inch infotainment display, heated front seats, and adaptive cruise control. None of these require an added package. Buyers who want more can add options like the Technology package, the Midnight Edition, or a panoramic sunroof while keeping the LT’s lower starting price of around $29,000 as the base.
The 2027 Equinox RS is a styling trim, not a performance model. It uses the same 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 175 horsepower as every other Equinox trim, so it is no faster than the LT or ACTIV. The RS adds a sportier appearance through black exterior accents, a sport grille, black roof rails, and an upgraded interior. If your priority is a sharper look rather than added speed, the RS delivers that.
The 2027 Equinox comes standard with front-wheel drive across all trims, with all-wheel drive available as an option on each. That means you can add AWD to the LT, RS, or ACTIV rather than being forced into a specific trim to get it. The ACTIV pairs naturally with all-wheel drive given its all-terrain tires and outdoor focus, but the choice of drivetrain is independent of which trim you select.
The Equinox competes well on starting price, coming in lower than both the CR-V and RAV4 at the base trim level, and it offers a larger infotainment display as standard equipment than either competitor. Where the CR-V and RAV4 hold advantages is in long-term reliability reputation and resale value, both of which are backed by more model years of ownership data. The Equinox’s strongest case is for buyers who want a feature-rich compact SUV at a lower entry price and are less focused on maximizing resale three to five years out. Our team can walk you through a side-by-side comparison based on how you actually plan to use the vehicle.
Buyers who browse inventory online beforehand, submit a financing application in advance, and have a trade-in estimate ready can realistically complete a purchase in two to three hours including the test drive and paperwork. We can also handle the pricing conversation by phone before your visit, so buyers traveling from Louisville or Lexington often arrive having already confirmed the vehicle and the numbers, making the in-store portion focused and efficient. The steps that add time are same-day financing decisions and working through a trade value that hasn’t been estimated in advance.
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox makes trim shopping refreshingly clear: one engine, three personalities, and a decision that rests on value, style, or outdoor character rather than horsepower. Once you know that, choosing between the LT, RS, and ACTIV becomes a matter of matching the vehicle to how you actually live and drive.
When you are ready to see them in person, we are an easy drive from Louisville and Lexington, and you can reach our sales team at (502) 878-7946 to confirm which trims are on the lot before you make the trip. We would be glad to help you find the right one.
