Chevy Equinox Trim Comparison: LS vs LT vs RS vs Premier

The Chevy Equinox trim comparison is one of the most common questions we answer at McFarland Chevrolet in Maysville, KY. Four trim levels, similar price points in some cases, and a feature list that can be hard to sort through on a spec sheet. This post cuts through that. We cover what each trim adds over the one below it, which features matter in everyday use, and where the real decision points are so you do not buy the wrong one.

2026 Equinox Trim Comparison: At a Glance

Here is a feature-by-feature breakdown of what each trim includes. Detailed explanations follow below.

Equinox LS: The Starting Point

The LS is the base trim and it is more complete than most buyers expect from an entry-level vehicle. It comes with an 11-inch diagonal touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a backup camera, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. Those are not stripped-down features. They are the safety and connectivity baseline that most buyers need every day.

What the LS does not have: heated seats, blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, or the improved interior materials of the higher trims. The interior is functional and clean but it does not feel as finished as the LT.

Who should buy the LS: buyers who are primarily budget-focused and do not need heated seats or the additional safety alerts. If the price difference between the LS and LT is a real concern and you live in a mild climate or rarely drive in cold weather, the LS is a reasonable choice. For most buyers in Kentucky, the LT is worth the step up.

Equinox LT: The One Most Buyers Should Buy

The LT is the most popular Equinox trim and the one we recommend to most buyers who ask. Here is what it adds over the LS.

Heated front seats: Standard on the LT, not available on the LS or RS. For anyone driving in Kentucky from October through March, this feature gets used every day. Buyers who have never owned heated seats tend to underestimate them until they do not have them in a cold car. Buyers who have owned them and then tried to go without them know exactly what they are worth.

Blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert: Both come standard on the LT. Blind zone alert warns you when something is in your blind spot on the highway. Rear cross traffic alert warns you when traffic is crossing behind you while backing out. These are the two driver assistance features that prevent the most common everyday fender benders.

Improved interior materials: The LT gets a more refined interior finish throughout. It is not leather, but it is a noticeable step above the LS in how the cabin looks and feels.

What the LT does not have: leather seating, ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, the large 17.7-inch screen, or the sport exterior package. For buyers who want any of those, the choice is between the RS and the Premier depending on which specific features matter.

Equinox RS: When the Look Matters

The RS is the sport appearance trim. It adds a blacked-out exterior package with a black grille, black roof rails, black mirror caps, and 19-inch black aluminum wheels. The interior gets RS-specific sport accents and badging. The overall effect is a darker, more aggressive version of the Equinox that stands out on the road.

Here is the trade-off buyers need to understand before they choose the RS over the LT: the RS does not have heated front seats. The LT does. At a similar price point, the RS gives you the sport appearance package while the LT gives you heated seats and blind zone alert. Neither trim has leather or the large screen. The choice between them is about what you value more.

The RS also does not have a performance advantage over the LT. The engine, towing capacity, and driving dynamics are the same. The RS looks more aggressive and nothing else about the vehicle changes.

Who should buy the RS: buyers who are drawn to the blacked-out exterior look and are comfortable trading the LT’s heated seats for the appearance package. Buyers who drive in mild weather or already have a warm garage might feel that trade-off less. Buyers who drive a cold car to work every morning in January will probably wish they had the LT.

Equinox Premier: The Full Package

The Premier is the top trim and it adds a meaningful set of features that change the interior experience. Here is what you get that none of the other trims offer.

17.7-inch diagonal infotainment screen: This is the biggest single visible difference between the Premier and every other Equinox trim. The other trims get an 11-inch screen. The Premier gets a screen that spans most of the center stack. Kayla Rushing, our sales manager, describes what happens when buyers first sit in a vehicle with this screen: “They sit in it and they can’t unsit in it.” The Premier’s screen produces that reaction.

Leather-appointed seating with heated and ventilated front seats: The Premier is the only Equinox trim with ventilated seats. In Kentucky from June through September, ventilated seats go from a nice-to-have to a feature you use on every single drive. Combined with the heated seats already available on the LT, the Premier gives you year-round seat comfort.

Heated steering wheel: Only on the Premier. A small feature in isolation, but paired with the heated seats it makes a cold morning start noticeably more comfortable from the first minute.

Surround-view camera: The Premier gets a full surround-view camera system that shows a birds-eye view of the vehicle when parking. Combined with the backup camera on all trims, parking in tight spots becomes significantly easier.

Power driver seat with memory: The driver seat adjusts electrically and saves your preferred position. If multiple people drive the same vehicle, this is a daily convenience that earns its place quickly.

2.0L turbocharged engine available: The 2.0L turbo is only available on the Premier. It produces 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque versus the 1.5L’s 175 horsepower. It also enables the Equinox’s maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs when properly equipped. For buyers who want more power or need to tow, the Premier with the 2.0L is the only way to get it in the Equinox lineup.

Who should buy the Premier: buyers who spend significant time in the vehicle and want the interior to feel genuinely premium every day, buyers who want ventilated seats, buyers who want the large screen, and buyers who need the 2.0L engine for power or towing.

The RS Heated Seat Trade-Off: Know This Before You Decide

This deserves its own section because it catches buyers by surprise. The RS looks like a step up from the LT because it has the sport appearance package and the blacked-out exterior. But the RS does not have heated front seats. The LT does.

That means if you buy the RS thinking you are getting a more loaded Equinox than the LT, you are actually giving up one of the most-used comfort features in the lineup to get a sport look. The RS and LT are priced similarly. The decision between them is appearance versus heated seats, not better versus worse.

If you want the sport look and heated seats, you need to move to the Premier. The Premier has both, plus everything else at the top of the lineup. There is no RS configuration that includes heated seats.

AWD Is Available Across Every Equinox Trim

All four trim levels offer all-wheel drive as an option over front-wheel drive. AWD is not exclusive to any specific trim. You can get an AWD LS, LT, RS, or Premier depending on what fits your budget and needs.

For buyers in Kentucky and the surrounding tri-state area, AWD is a serious consideration. Winter roads, gravel lanes, and the unpredictable weather this area sees from November through March make AWD more than a nice-to-have for a lot of buyers. It adds a modest cost over front-wheel drive but the confidence it provides in mixed conditions is real.

Which Equinox Trim Is Right for You

Buy the LS if budget is the primary driver and you do not need heated seats.

Buy the LT if you want the best everyday value. Heated seats, blind zone alert, and a more finished interior at a modest price step. This is the right trim for most buyers.

Buy the RS if the sport exterior appearance matters to you and you are comfortable without heated seats. Best for buyers in mild climates or who prioritize how the vehicle looks.

Buy the Premier if you want the large screen, leather, ventilated seats, and the top interior experience. Also the only trim where the 2.0L engine is available.

Talk Through the Decision at McFarland Chevrolet

McFarland Chevrolet has been family-owned in Maysville, KY since 1983. The Equinox is one of our top-selling vehicles and we put buyers into them every week. We know which trims sell the most, which features buyers come back wishing they had, and which upgrades are genuinely worth the money for the way people actually use these vehicles around here.

If you are still not sure which Equinox trim is right for you after reading this, come in and sit in a couple of them. Most buyers make up their minds quickly once they are in the seat. Call us at (606) 564-6181 or stop by and we will have them ready for you.

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