It appears that Chevrolet is making a significant change to the Equinox for 2027. The automaker is allegedly swapping the crossover’s continuously variable transmission in front-wheel-drive models for an eight-speed automatic. Hallelujah.
A post on GM Inside News appears to show an assortment of minor changes Chevy will make to the 2027 Equinox. It lists the eight-speed for the FWD variant under "New Features" and the CVT under "Deletions." Motor1 has reached out to Chevrolet to confirm the report.
For 2026, the CVT pairs with the Equinox’s turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, and the only way buyers get an automatic transmission today is to upgrade to all-wheel drive, which adds $2,000 to the price tag.
The Equinox largely carries over into the new model year. If the report is true, Chevrolet will make a few other small tweaks to the crossover. There will be a new Autumn Harvest Metallic exterior color, replacing the Cacti Green option, which the company is discontinuing.
In the Equinox RS, the Black with Red Accents interior will feature only Torch Red, replacing the Torch Red and Santorini Blue stitching. A new connected camera system will be included in the Safety and Technology Package, coming later.
The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox starts at $30,795, including the $1,995 destination charge. We expect the price to increase slightly for 2027.
Mototr1’s Take: The CVT has been a staple of affordable vehicles, replacing traditional automatics in several makes and models, so it’s shocking to see an automaker discontinuing one. We won’t complain about this change.
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Chevrolet reportedly plans to replace the unpopular CVT with an 8-speed automatic in 2027 Equinox FWD models.
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This change could save buyers $2,000 who previously needed AWD upgrade to avoid the CVT transmission.
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CVTs are widely disliked for their rubber-band feel and droning noise compared to traditional automatics.
