Equinox Cargo Space vs Competitors: How Much Can It Hold?

The Chevy Equinox cargo space question comes up at McFarland Chevrolet in Maysville, KY whenever buyers are cross-shopping compact SUVs and trying to figure out which one fits their actual life. The Equinox offers 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Those numbers are honest, and so is the comparison: the RAV4 and CR-V offer more space on paper. What the Equinox offers instead is a more balanced package of interior feel, pricing, technology, and cargo for buyers who do not need maximum cargo volume above all else. This post gives you the real numbers and helps you decide whether the Equinox’s cargo space is right for what you actually carry.

How Much Cargo Space Does the Chevy Equinox Have?

The 2026 Chevy Equinox has 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

What those numbers mean in practical terms

29.9 cubic feet is enough for a full week of grocery runs for a family of four, a weekend’s worth of luggage for two adults, or several large bags of feed or supplies. It handles the everyday load that most compact SUV buyers carry without requiring the rear seats to be folded. The 63.9 cubic feet with seats folded handles larger hauls: flat-pack furniture, camping gear, sporting equipment, or anything that requires real floor length.

Cargo floor dimensions matter too

Cubic feet measure volume, not dimensions. The Equinox’s cargo area is approximately 39 inches wide at the widest point and the load floor is relatively flat when the rear seats are folded, which matters more for carrying large items than the cubic foot number alone. A 4×8 sheet of plywood does not fit in the Equinox with the hatch closed, but a full-size mountain bike, a kayak paddle, and a cooler do with the rear seats down.

How many cubic feet is the Chevy Equinox cargo area?

The 2026 Chevy Equinox has 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

How much cargo space does a 2021 Chevy Equinox have?

The 2021 Equinox has approximately 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The cargo space is consistent across the third and fourth generation Equinox from 2018 onward.

Equinox Cargo Space vs Competitors: Side-by-Side Numbers

Here is the direct comparison of cargo space across the Equinox and the vehicles buyers most commonly cross-shop.

Note: competitor figures are approximate and may vary by trim and configuration. Verify with current manufacturer specifications before making a purchase decision.

Does the Equinox have more cargo space than the RAV4?

No. The Toyota RAV4 has approximately 37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats compared to the Equinox’s 29.9 cubic feet. The RAV4 has a meaningful cargo advantage. Buyers for whom maximum cargo space is the top priority should weigh that difference seriously.

Does the Equinox have more or less cargo space than the CR-V?

Less. The Honda CR-V offers approximately 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, making it one of the roomiest compact SUVs in the segment. The Equinox’s 29.9 cubic feet is notably smaller. The CR-V prioritizes cargo volume. The Equinox offers other trade-offs including pricing, technology, and engine options that matter to many buyers.

Why the Equinox’s Cargo Space Works for Most Buyers

The Equinox does not lead the compact SUV segment on cargo volume, and most buyers who choose it do not need it to.

Most everyday loads fit comfortably

The buyers we sell Equinoxes to at McFarland are not primarily cargo-focused buyers. They are families running errands, commuters who occasionally need to haul something, and buyers who want a practical, efficient SUV for everyday use. For those use cases, 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats is sufficient for the vast majority of trips. The larger RAV4 or CR-V numbers start to matter when cargo volume is a consistent weekly need, not an occasional one.

60/40 fold-flat rear seats add flexibility

The Equinox’s rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, which means you can carry a longer item on one side while keeping a rear passenger on the other. The seats fold relatively flat, which keeps the load floor usable without a significant step up from the cargo area to the folded seat back. This flexibility matters more in real use than the raw cubic foot number for buyers who occasionally need to carry awkward or long items.

Interior feel offsets the cargo gap for many buyers

The Equinox’s interior quality, particularly on the Premier trim with the 17.7-inch diagonal screen, is a strong selling point that many buyers weigh against the larger cargo volumes of the RAV4 and CR-V. Buyers who sit in the Premier and then sit in a comparable RAV4 often prefer the Equinox’s cabin feel. Cargo space is one factor in the decision, not the only one.

Is the Equinox good for hauling?

Yes for everyday loads. The Equinox handles groceries, luggage, sports equipment, and the regular cargo needs of most families without difficulty. For buyers who need to regularly haul large or heavy loads, the Equinox is adequate but not the segment leader. The Blazer, Traverse, or a truck would serve heavy hauling needs better.

What can you fit in the back of a Chevy Equinox?

With the rear seats up: full grocery hauls, strollers, weekend luggage for two, camping gear for two, or several large bags. With the rear seats folded: bikes with the front wheel removed, kayak paddles, large appliance boxes, furniture from stores like IKEA, or camping gear for four. A 4×8 sheet of plywood does not fit with the hatch closed.

Equinox vs GMC Terrain Cargo Space

The GMC Terrain and Chevy Equinox share the same platform and essentially the same cargo dimensions.

Same numbers, different brand

The Terrain and Equinox are built on the same GM platform and the cargo space figures are effectively identical: approximately 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with seats folded. If a buyer is cross-shopping the Terrain and the Equinox specifically for cargo space, cargo is not the differentiator. The differences between the two vehicles are in styling, trim level naming, and price. The Terrain typically prices higher for equivalent capability. For a full breakdown of what separates those two vehicles beyond cargo space, the key differences are covered in our Equinox buyer’s guide.

Does the Equinox have more cargo space than the GMC Terrain?

No meaningful difference. The Equinox and Terrain share the same platform and have essentially identical cargo dimensions: approximately 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. Cargo space is not a differentiator between these two vehicles.

Equinox vs Chevy Blazer Cargo Space

The Chevy Blazer is a larger midsize SUV, but its cargo space advantage over the Equinox is smaller than most buyers expect.

The Blazer is bigger but not dramatically so for cargo

The Blazer offers approximately 30.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. Those numbers are nearly identical to the Equinox’s 29.9 and 63.9. The Blazer is larger in overall dimensions and feels larger from the driver’s seat, but the cargo area difference between the two is less than one cubic foot behind the rear seats.

What the Blazer actually adds over the Equinox

If cargo space is similar, why step to the Blazer? The Blazer’s real advantages over the Equinox are a more sport-oriented driving experience, a more distinctive exterior design, and a more spacious rear passenger area. If you are cross-shopping the Equinox and Blazer specifically for cargo space, you will not find a meaningful difference. The choice comes down to interior size for passengers, price, and styling preference.

Does the Blazer have more cargo space than the Equinox?

Barely. The Blazer has approximately 30.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats versus the Equinox’s 29.9 cubic feet. The difference is about half a cubic foot, which is not meaningful in practice. The Blazer is a larger vehicle with more rear passenger space, but it does not offer significantly more cargo room.

Cargo Space on Used Equinox Models: What Changed by Year

Buyers shopping used Equinoxes will find that cargo dimensions have been consistent across recent generations, with one notable shift.

2018 to present: consistent cargo dimensions

The third-generation Equinox introduced in 2018 and the fourth-generation current model share essentially the same cargo dimensions. A 2018, 2020, 2022, or 2026 Equinox will all have approximately 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats. If cargo space is your concern, any year in this range delivers the same result.

Pre-2018 models were meaningfully smaller

The second-generation Equinox that ran through 2017 had a smaller cargo footprint than the current generation. If you are comparing a pre-2018 Equinox to current competitors, the numbers are not equivalent. The 2018 redesign brought a meaningful increase in both passenger and cargo space over the previous generation.

How much cargo space does the 2018 Chevy Equinox have?

The 2018 Equinox has approximately 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the same as the current generation. The 2018 redesign maintained the same cargo dimensions through the current model year.

Did Chevy change the cargo space on the Equinox?

The most significant change was at the 2018 redesign, which increased cargo space over the previous second-generation model. From 2018 to the current model, cargo dimensions have remained consistent. The fourth-generation update did not change the cargo area significantly.

Ready for Your Next Step?

If you want to see what the Equinox’s cargo area actually looks like with your real cargo in it, come in and load it up. Most buyers make up their minds after five minutes in the hatch. Call us at (606) 564-6181.

Also helpful:

Chevy Equinox buyer’s guide
Equinox trim comparison
Equinox safety features guide
Equinox FWD vs AWD