2010 Chevy Equinox MPG
The 2010 Chevy Equinox gets 17–22 mpg in the city and 24–32 on the highway (20–26 combined), across the 4 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 26 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive manages 20 mpg combined, 6 mpg less. That is 6 mpg better than the best gasoline 2009 version (20 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox FWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | Regular · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular · 444 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular · 444 g CO₂/mi |
2010 Chevy Equinox fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2010 Chevy Equinox costs about $2,510 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (26 mpg combined), or roughly 17 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (20 mpg combined) comes to about $3,270 a year, $750 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2010 Chevy Equinox specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2010 Chevy Equinox: 2.4 L 4-cyl and 3.0 L 6-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.0 L | 6 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2010 Chevy Equinox problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 784 owner complaints about the 2010 Chevy Equinox.
Engine is the most-reported area (24% of component mentions), followed by power train (16%) and visibility/wiper (12%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 46 complaints a year: more than the 2009 (5.2 a year) and about as many as the 2011 (49 a year).
That ranks 4th of 17 Chevy Equinox model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 784, 15 mention a crash, 9 a fire and 20 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 271 | 24% |
| Power train | 182 | 16% |
| Visibility/wiper | 132 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 82 | 7% |
| Air bags | 58 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 52 | 5% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 49 | 4% |
| Steering | 44 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 33 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 3% |
| Visibility | 30 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 2% |
| Structure | 22 | 2% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 17 | 2% |
| Suspension | 11 | <1% |
| Seats | 9 | <1% |
| Wheels | 8 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 6 | <1% |
| Tires | 6 | <1% |
| Equipment | 5 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 2 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for Technical Service Bulletin TSB #: 19-NA-065. …
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 25 - 30 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. No warning lights illuminated. …
The climate controls, including the seat warmers, located on the control panel directly below the radio/stereo controls on my 2010 Chevy Equinox stopped working. As a result, the ability to control the temperature and direction of heated/cooled air was lost. …
2010 Chevy Equinox recalls
The 2010 Chevy Equinox has been the subject of 3 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 16V502000 from July 2016, concerns electrical system and power train.
09V489000 · December 23, 2009 · Visibility
Problem: THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Equinox years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V502000 | July 5, 2016 | Electrical system, Power train | 2010–2013 |
| 14V447000 | July 23, 2014 | Seats | 2010–2012 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2010 Chevy Equinox, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Chevy Equinoxes can be compared fairly. Among other 2010 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2010 Ford Escape (24 mpg), 2010 Honda CR-V (24 mpg) and 2010 Nissan Rogue (24 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 19 | 370 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 20 | 94 | 5.2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 26 | 784 | 46 | 3 |
| 2011 | 26 | 782 | 49 | 3 |
| 2012 | 26 | 685 | 45 | 3 |
| 2013 | 26 | 751 | 53 | 2 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2010 models
FAQ
Is the 2010 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2010 Chevy Equinox has 46 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (4th most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns and up to 26 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2010 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (271), power train (182) and visibility/wiper (132). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2010 Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Equinox get?
The EPA rates the versions at 20–26 mpg combined (17–22 city, 24–32 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Equinox per year?
About $2,510 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $3,270 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).