Model-year timing
2027 Chevrolet Equinox Release Date & What's New
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox is on sale now (2026-09-06). This record tracks 5 dated milestones across the full 2027 Chevrolet Equinox release cycle, each carrying its own confidence label and cited source, so a reported date is never shown as an OEM confirmation. It is built at GM San Luis Potosi Assembly (Mexico); GM Fairfax Assembly, Kansas (US). This is a powertrain change model year, compared against the 2026 model, with 1 logged changelog entry documenting exactly what moved and when. See the full stage-by-stage timeline, what changed, what carried over, and a sourced wait-or-buy verdict below before deciding whether to wait for this model year or buy the outgoing one.
Timeline
Every dated milestone for the 2027 Equinox.
| Stage | Date | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specs published GM Authority: CVT-to-8-speed transmission swap on FWD models, confirmed independently by Motor1, Carscoops, TFLcar and gm-trucks.com the same month. | March 2, 2026 | Reported, not OEM-confirmed | GM Authority → |
| Order banks open GM Authority: dealer order submissions expected to open for the 2027 ICE Equinox. | April 16, 2026 | Reported, not OEM-confirmed | GM Authority → |
| Production start GM Authority: production of the gas-powered 2027 Equinox scheduled to begin the week of June 1, 2026, at GM San Luis Potosi Assembly (Mexico). | The week of June 1, 2026 | Reported, not OEM-confirmed | GM Authority → |
| Pricing announced chevrolet.com's own configurator shows the 2027 Equinox as the current model with live pricing (checked this date); no separate OEM press release found. | September 6, 2026 | OEM-confirmed | Chevrolet.com (OEM site) → |
| On sale chevrolet.com presents the 2027 Equinox as the current build-and-price model as of this record's last_verified date. | September 6, 2026 | OEM-confirmed | Chevrolet.com (OEM site) → |
| In market | Not yet announced | ||
| Final model year | Not yet announced | ||
| Discontinued | Not yet announced | ||
What's new for 2027
- CVT automatic (FWD models) is retired; all Equinox configurations (FWD and AWD) now share the same GM 8-speed automatic (RPO code MGH). GM Authority
- Eliminating the CVT removes its 184 lb-ft torque ceiling: FWD models now make the same 203 lb-ft as AWD models (same 175 hp 1.5L turbo-four, unchanged). GM Authority
- GM Authority expects (not yet confirmed) FWD towing capacity to rise from 800 lb to the AWD-equivalent 1,500 lb as a result of the transmission change. GM Authority
- New paint color Autumn Harvest Metallic (GTJ) replaces the discontinued Cacti Green. GM Authority
What carried over
- Engine remains the turbocharged 1.5L I4 (LSD), GM D2 platform continues, body/trim-lineup structure (LT/RS/ACTIV plus the separate Equinox EV) is unchanged. GM Authority
Year-over-year
2027 vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox
Configuration, not badge name, decides what actually changed: verify the exact trim before treating either year's figure as settled.
| Field | 2027 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 175 hp |
| Drivetrain | FWD / AWD | FWD / AWD |
| Trim count | 3 trims | 3 trims |
| Engine | 1.5L turbo I-4 | 1.5L turbo I-4 |
| Output | 175 hp | 175 hp |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic (all configurations) | not listed |
Should you wait?
Wait or buy.
Buy the 2027 over a leftover 2026 FWD model if you want the extra torque and expected towing improvement: the CVT-to-8-speed swap is a real mechanical upgrade, not cosmetic, and it also resolves a documented reliability complaint (Consumer Reports pulled the gas Equinox's 'Recommended' rating over CVT issues). No reason to wait for 2028: no redesign is expected before roughly 2031-2032.
- FWD models gain real torque (184 -> 203 lb-ft) and GM Authority expects a towing-capacity increase from the transmission change alone. GM Authority
- Consumer Reports had pulled its 'Recommended' rating for the gas Equinox over CVT issues (documented fluid-leak complaints); the CVT is now gone entirely. GM Authority
Generation & next redesign
Generation 4, since 2025
Fourth generation launched MY2025 (gas/ICE model). 2027 is its 3rd model year. Generation history verified: 1st gen 2005-2009, 2nd gen 2010-2017, 3rd gen 2018-2024, 4th gen 2025-present. Redesign-year gaps: 2005->2010 (5y), 2010->2018 (8y), 2018->2025 (7y): average 6.67 years.
Next redesign estimate: 2032. Verified full-redesign years: 2005, 2010, 2018, 2025. Gaps of 5, 8 and 7 years average 6.67 years. Applied to the current (4th) generation's 2025 start, that projects a full redesign around 2031-2032. GM Authority separately reports a possible mid-cycle production shift/refresh tied to the Fairfax plant relocation later in the 2027 calendar year: that is a plant move, not a design refresh, and is not the same claim as this cadence estimate.
Open the full generation history →Frequent questions
Answered from this record's own sourced facts.
Q01Is the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox out yet?
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox is on sale now (2026-09-06).
Q02What changed on the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox?
CVT automatic (FWD models) is retired; all Equinox configurations (FWD and AWD) now share the same GM 8-speed automatic (RPO code MGH). Eliminating the CVT removes its 184 lb-ft torque ceiling: FWD models now make the same 203 lb-ft as AWD models (same 175 hp 1.5L turbo-four, unchanged). GM Authority expects (not yet confirmed) FWD towing capacity to rise from 800 lb to the AWD-equivalent 1,500 lb as a result of the transmission change. New paint color Autumn Harvest Metallic (GTJ) replaces the discontinued Cacti Green.
Q03How much does the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox cost?
Base pricing starts around $29,000, as of 2026-09-06.
Q04Should I wait for the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox or buy a 2026 model?
Buy the 2027 over a leftover 2026 FWD model if you want the extra torque and expected towing improvement: the CVT-to-8-speed swap is a real mechanical upgrade, not cosmetic, and it also resolves a documented reliability complaint (Consumer Reports pulled the gas Equinox's 'Recommended' rating over CVT issues). No reason to wait for 2028: no redesign is expected before roughly 2031-2032.
Q05Where is the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox built?
GM San Luis Potosi Assembly (Mexico); GM Fairfax Assembly, Kansas (US).
Changelog
What changed on this record, and when.
2026-09-06: CVT automatic (FWD models) is retired; all Equinox configurations (FWD and AWD) now share the same GM 8-speed automatic (RPO code MGH). Eliminating the CVT removes its 184 lb-ft torque ceiling: FWD models now make the same 203 lb-ft as AWD models (same 175 hp 1.5L turbo-four, unchanged). GM Authority expects (not yet confirmed) FWD towing capacity to rise from 800 lb to the AWD-equivalent 1,500 lb as a result of the transmission change. New paint color Autumn Harvest Metallic (GTJ) replaces the discontinued Cacti Green.
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Chevrolet Equinox.
The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. It was intended to replace the North American Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also replaced the first-generation Chevrolet Captiva.
Source: Chevrolet Equinox (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Chevrolet Equinox at a glance
- Production
- 2004–present
- Model years
- 2005–present
- Class
- Mid-size crossover SUV (2004–2017), Compact crossover SUV (2018–present)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive / all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Chevrolet Tracker (Americas), Chevrolet Tracker, Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
- Also called
- Pontiac Torrent (2005–2009), GMC Terrain (2010–present), Holden Equinox (2017–2020)
Chevrolet Equinox generations
The Chevrolet Equinox has been redesigned in 2010, 2018, gaps of 5, 8 years, an average of 6.5 years between generations. The current generation (third generation) began in 2018.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 2005–2010 | The Chevrolet Equinox was introduced in 2004 at the 2003 North American International Auto Show for the 2005 model year; its mechanical twin, the Pontiac Torrent, was introduced in 2005 at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show for the 2006 model year. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2010–2018 | The second-generation Equinox was announced by GM on December 21, 2008, and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. |
| Third generation | n/a | 2018–present | Chevrolet unveiled the third-generation Equinox on September 22, 2016. |
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- February 2026, Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette… Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 227 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about electrical system (75), unknown or other (49), power train (34).