2016 Chevy Equinox MPG
The 2016 Chevy Equinox gets 16–22 mpg in the city and 23–31 on the highway (18–26 combined), across the 6 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 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 18 mpg combined, 8 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2015 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox FWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular · 347 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Gasoline or E85 · 347 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular · 381 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 · 381 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular · 459 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | Regular · 482 g CO₂/mi |
2016 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 2016 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 (18 mpg combined) comes to about $3,630 a year, $1,120 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.
2016 Chevy Equinox specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2016 Chevy Equinox: 2.4 L 4-cyl and 3.6 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 "Small Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 3.6 L | 6 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2016 Chevy Equinox problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 399 owner complaints about the 2016 Chevy Equinox.
Engine is the most-reported area (41% of component mentions), followed by visibility/wiper (23%) and power train (5%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 36 complaints a year: fewer than the 2015 (56 a year) and more than the 2017 (27 a year).
That ranks 11th of 17 Chevy Equinox model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 399, 14 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 14 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 203 | 41% |
| Visibility/wiper | 114 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 32 | 6% |
| Power train | 27 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 24 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 4% |
| Air bags | 12 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 2% |
| Steering | 7 | 1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 6 | 1% |
| Structure | 6 | 1% |
| Visibility | 6 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1% |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% |
| Suspension | 3 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 2 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 2 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Tires | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
I am filing this complaint regarding a safety-related engine problem with my 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. My vehicle is currently experiencing excessive crankcase pressure associated with the PCV system. …
Wipers just stopped working on the highway in a very bad rain storm, when I was taking my daughter to school. …
The drivers' side front seatbelt will not retract back into the b pillar when taken off. It will get caught in the door when closing it and prevent the driver's door from closing. …
2016 Chevy Equinox recalls
The 2016 Chevy Equinox has been the subject of 1 recall campaign.
The most recent, campaign 16V449000 from June 2016, concerns equipment and tires.
16V449000 · June 21, 2016 · Equipment, Tires
Problem: The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the certification label, free of charge.
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2016 Chevy Equinox; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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 2016 models in the EPA's small sport utility vehicle class, the 2016 Ford Escape (26 mpg), 2016 Toyota RAV4 (26 mpg) and 2016 Subaru Forester (27 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 26 | 751 | 53 | 2 |
| 2014 | 26 | 549 | 42 | 1 |
| 2015 | 26 | 680 | 56 | 2 |
| 2016 | 26 | 399 | 36 | 1 |
| 2017 | 25 | 276 | 27 | 0 |
| 2018 | 32 | 410 | 45 | 5 |
| 2019 | 32 | 306 | 38 | 4 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2016 models
FAQ
Is the 2016 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2016 Chevy Equinox has 36 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (11th most of 17 model years), 1 recall campaign, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 26 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2016 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (203), visibility/wiper (114) and power train (27). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2016 Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Equinox get?
The EPA rates the versions at 18–26 mpg combined (16–22 city, 23–31 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Equinox per year?
About $2,510 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $3,630 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).