2026 Chevy Equinox Trims Compared Hamburg PA

Three trims separate the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox — LT, RS and ACTIV — and the roughly five-thousand-dollar gap between the $28,800 LT and the $33,600 RS and ACTIV (all base MSRP, excluding destination) buys wheels, seating surfaces and standard driver-assist content rather than a bigger engine: every trim runs the same 175-hp turbo. This guide breaks down each trim, lays them side by side, and points Berks County shoppers to the one that fits.

Outten Chevrolet stocks the lineup, so you can park an RS next to an ACTIV in one visit; buyers drive in from Reading and Bally to do exactly that, many of them turning off US-222 or Route 61 to reach the lot. This page covers each trim, a full comparison table, the matchups people actually cross-shop, and the value pick.

2026 Equinox Trim Lineup at a Glance

Prices are base MSRP and exclude the $1,995 destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees, and optional equipment. Every trim is front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available for $2,000 more — the Equinox offers all-wheel drive, not four-wheel drive.

Trim-by-Trim Breakdown

LT — from $28,800

The starting point is not a stripped one. It pairs the 175-hp 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with the 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard, and rides on 17-inch machined-aluminum wheels wrapped in cloth seating. LED lighting, remote start and keyless entry are standard, as is the Drive Mode Selector new for 2026. Every trim comes front-drive, with all-wheel drive optional. Chevy Safety Assist is standard fleet-wide, while the LT folds its blind-spot, rear cross-traffic and reverse-braking aids into the $945 Safety and Technology Package. Best for value buyers who want the heated-seat comfort without stepping up in price.

RS — from $33,600

The RS is the sport-appearance trim: blacked-out grille, badging and exterior accents on 19-inch wheels, with a flat-bottom steering wheel inside. A hands-free power liftgate is standard, and so is the fuller driver-assist set — blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking come standard rather than as an add-on. It keeps the same 175-hp turbo and front-wheel-drive-standard layout, with all-wheel drive available. Best for the buyer who wants street presence and the loaded safety content in one box.

ACTIV — from $33,600

The ACTIV is the rugged-styled trim: 17-inch all-terrain tires, a more aggressive fascia and a tuned suspension, with Evotex and sueded-microfiber seats inside. Like the RS it makes the power liftgate and the blind-spot, rear-cross-traffic and reverse-braking suite standard. It shares the 175-hp turbo, front-wheel-drive-standard setup with available all-wheel drive — a natural pairing for the shopper who wants the look of a light-trail crossover for gravel lots and lake access. Best for buyers who want character and traction over a sport-tuned look.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Every trim runs the 1.5L turbocharged four making 175 horsepower. Front-wheel-drive models make 184 lb-ft of torque through a CVT; adding all-wheel drive brings 203 lb-ft and an eight-speed automatic for $2,000 on any trim. All three trims share a five-seat, two-row cabin and fold the rear bench 60/40, and all three carry the 11.3-inch Google built-in touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the standard Drive Mode Selector.

Common Equinox Trim Comparisons

LT vs RS

The RS steps up about $4,800 over the LT and spends it on the blacked-out sport look, 19-inch wheels, a standard hands-free power liftgate, and the blind-spot, rear-cross-traffic and reverse-braking suite as standard equipment. The LT keeps the lowest starting price and standard heated front seats and heated steering wheel. If you would option the LT with the $945 Safety and Technology Package anyway, price it against the RS before you sign — the gap narrows fast.

RS vs ACTIV

Same $33,600 starting price, opposite intent. The RS is a street-styled trim on 19-inch wheels with sport trim inside; the ACTIV wears 17-inch all-terrain tires, a rugged fascia and a tuned suspension with Evotex and sueded-microfiber seats. Both make the power liftgate and the full driver-assist suite standard. Pick by whether you want the sport look or the outdoorsy one — the hardware underneath is otherwise the same.

The Equinox Value Verdict

For most Berks County shoppers the LT is the value pick: it lands at the lowest starting price yet still includes heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and the $945 Safety and Technology Package adds the blind-spot suite for well under the step to an RS or ACTIV. The place buyers most often overpay is loading an LT with packages until it reaches RS or ACTIV money — at that point the RS and ACTIV give you the standard liftgate, standard driver aids and the distinctive styling for the same outlay, so price them side by side first.

Which Equinox Trim Is Right for You?

If your weekends run toward Blue Marsh Lake or a folk-festival trip out to Kutztown, the ACTIV with available all-wheel drive is the honest match; if they run toward downtown Reading, the RS suits the drive. Shop the full 2026 Equinox lineup and filter by trim.

Shop Equinox Trims at Outten Chevrolet

Shoppers drive up from Reading and Bally to compare trims in person, many of them off I-78 or past Cabela's, and we keep the range on the lot for exactly that. Call (610) 674-0598 to have an RS and an ACTIV staged side by side, or schedule a test drive with your short list.

2026 Equinox Trim FAQs

Explore the 2026 Equinox Research Hub