2018 Chevy Equinox MPG
Across its 6 EPA-rated versions, the 2018 Chevy Equinox returns 22–28 mpg city, 28–39 highway and 24–32 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 32 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 24 mpg combined, 8 mpg less. That is 7 mpg better than the best gasoline 2017 version (25 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox FWD | 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 39 | 32 | Diesel · 319 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 28 | 38 | 32 | Diesel · 319 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 32 | 28 | Regular · 314 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Regular · 337 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Premium · 355 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 9-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | Premium · 367 g CO₂/mi |
2018 Chevy Equinox fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on diesel at the September 2026 U.S. average of $6.29 a gallon, the 2018 Chevy Equinox costs about $2,950 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (32 mpg combined), or roughly 20 cents a mile.
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.
2018 Chevy Equinox specs
The EPA lists 3 engine choices for the 2018 Chevy Equinox: 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo, 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L turbo | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 1.6 L turbo | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 2.0 L turbo | 4 | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2018 Chevy Equinox problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 410 owner complaints about the 2018 Chevy Equinox.
Service brakes are the most-reported area (20% of component mentions), followed by engine (14%) and power train (11%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 45 complaints a year: more than the 2017 (27 a year) and the 2019 (38 a year).
That ranks 6th of 17 Chevy Equinox model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 410, 23 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 17 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 118 | 20% |
| Engine | 86 | 14% |
| Power train | 66 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 61 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 56 | 9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 19 | 3% |
| Structure | 17 | 3% |
| Air bags | 15 | 3% |
| Steering | 15 | 3% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 14 | 2% |
| Wheels | 13 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 11 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 2% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 9 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 1% |
| Seats | 7 | 1% |
| Visibility | 7 | 1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 6 | 1% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 1% |
| Lane departure | 4 | <1% |
| Tires | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment | 2 | <1% |
| Parking brake | 2 | <1% |
| Other/i am not sure | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
On approximately 09/04/2026, while driving my vehicle and slowing to a stop, I applied the brake pedal and it suddenly became extremely hard to depress. At approximately the same time, the steering became very stiff and difficult to turn. …
While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of engine power accompanied by severe engine shaking, reduced acceleration, and a lit Check Engine / ESC light. …
Complete and sudden failure of Transmission involving the clutches (clutches are burned up inside the transmission). No warning or dash lights. Confirmed by mechanic and the solution is transmission replacement ($10,000). …
2018 Chevy Equinox recalls
The 2018 Chevy Equinox has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 20V668000 from October 2020, concerns power train.
Power train accounts for 2 of the 5 campaigns, more than any other area.
18V358000 · May 31, 2018 · Gasoline fuel system
Problem: The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge.
18V252000 · April 19, 2018 · Structure, Visibility
Problem: The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Risk: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge.
17V516000 · August 22, 2017 · Power train
Problem: The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
Risk: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Equinox years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V668000 | October 29, 2020 | Power train | 2018–2020 |
| 18V576000 | August 30, 2018 | Hydraulic service brakes | 2018–2019 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 4 versions of the 2018 Chevy Equinox; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
Its SUV FWD Early Release and SUV AWD Early Release versions scored 4 stars overall.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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 2018 models in the EPA's small sport utility vehicle class, the 2018 Honda CR-V (30 mpg), 2018 Mazda CX-5 (29 mpg) and 2018 Nissan Rogue (29 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2020 | 28 | 318 | 45 | 4 |
| 2021 | 28 | 100 | 16 | 4 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2018 models
FAQ
Is the 2018 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2018 Chevy Equinox has 45 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (6th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 32 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2018 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are service brakes (118), engine (86) and power train (66). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2018 Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 5 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 2018 Equinox get?
The EPA rates the versions at 24–32 mpg combined (22–28 city, 28–39 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Equinox per year?
About $2,950 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average diesel price of $6.29 a gallon (EIA).