Chevrolet made a decision for 2026 that's easy to miss while you're scanning window stickers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are now standard equipment on every Equinox trim, including the base LT. So a Fairfield County family loading up for the Thanksgiving run down I-77 doesn't have to step up to a pricier trim just to arrive in Columbia with warm hands. You get a real comfort upgrade at the entry level, and it's worth knowing what else the 2026 Equinox delivers on a 34-mile holiday drive.
Browse the 2026 Equinox at Wilson Chevrolet
What Do the Specs Actually Mean for a Thanksgiving Drive?
The 2026 Equinox runs a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 175 horsepower, and the figures that count more on a Thanksgiving trip are the ones tied to comfort and how the mileage holds up across the whole drive. That's plenty for I-77. Look at how those numbers play out once you're rolling.
| Feature | 2026 Equinox Spec | Why It Matters on a Holiday Run |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | Standard, all trims | Warm before the engine fully heats up on a cold November morning |
| Heated steering wheel | Standard, all trims | Comfortable grip when temps drop into the 40s leaving Winnsboro |
| EPA highway MPG (FWD) | 29 mpg | 34 miles to Columbia barely registers on the fuel gauge |
| EPA highway MPG (AWD) | 29 mpg | Identical highway efficiency whether you opt for AWD or not |
| Infotainment screen | 11.3-inch touchscreen | Easy to navigate and queue music without squinting |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto | Standard, all trims | No cable needed when you're already running late |
| Max cargo volume (rear seats folded) | 63.5 cu ft | Fits casserole dishes, overnight bags, and a folding chair |
| Passenger volume | 104.3 cu ft | Five people across two rows with room to breathe |
| Drive Mode Selector | Standard, all trims (new for 2026) | Quick adjustment if pavement is wet on that early-morning departure |
The EPA rates the FWD 2026 Equinox at 26 city / 29 highway / 27 mpg combined, and the AWD version holds that same 29-mpg highway figure. Run the stretch south from Winnsboro to Columbia and the round trip barely registers in a tank that holds between 14.8 and 15.6 gallons. There's nothing to fuss over.
A Quieter Cabin Is the Real Upgrade Worth Talking About
The biggest change between the 2025 and 2026 Equinox for a highway drive is a cabin Chevrolet reworked to cut road noise versus the outgoing model, and that's not filler language from a press release. You feel it on a 34-mile I-77 run as a conversation you can hold at a normal volume, no competing with tire hum.
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The 11.3-inch infotainment screen and the 11-inch Driver Information Center are both standard across the lineup, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come on every trim with no upgrade needed. Wired versus wireless is a fair thing to sort out before a road trip, and it matters more than you'd guess. No reaching for a Lightning cable when someone in the backseat is trying to pull up the parade.
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Wireless phone charging is available on the RS and ACTIV trims, though not on the base LT. Stay at the entry level and you'll still have USB ports front and rear, plus the wireless CarPlay keeps the phone in your pocket or the cupholder instead of tethered to the dash. For what the LT runs, that's a fair tradeoff.
2026 Equinox as a Thanksgiving Road Trip Vehicle: Honest Tradeoffs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heated seats and steering wheel standard on the base LT | Wireless charging only on RS and ACTIV, not the LT |
| 29 mpg highway on both FWD and AWD | No hybrid option for buyers who want maximum efficiency |
| Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on every trim | Five-passenger maximum (no third row) |
| Quieter cabin vs. the 2025 model | AWD towing capacity tops out at 1,500 lbs |
| Drive Mode Selector standard across all 2026 trims | |
| 63.5 cu ft of cargo space with the rear seats folded |
Who Should Take an Equinox Down I-77 This Thanksgiving?
A family of four or five that doesn't need a third row and isn't pulling a trailer is the right fit here, because the Equinox is a compact two-row SUV built for that kind of load rather than a convoy or a heavy tow. Columbia sits about 34 miles south of Winnsboro on I-77. The Equinox handles that corridor comfortably, parks without drama in a Columbia neighborhood, and for 2026 it delivers real warmth on a cold November morning without asking you to spend up past the base trim.
See what Equinox models we have in stock
If your guest list runs larger than five, or you're pulling something with real weight, we'd steer you toward the Traverse or the Tahoe instead. We're not hedging. Calling that out straight is what a good salesperson does before you find the problem in the parking lot at your in-laws' place.
For the family that fits in two rows, though, the 2026 Equinox earns that trip. Standard heated seats. Standard wireless CarPlay. A noticeably quieter highway ride than last year. Those aren't small things when you're pulling out of a Winnsboro driveway at 6 a.m. on a 40-degree Thanksgiving morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2026 Chevy Equinox have heated seats on the base trim?
Yes. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on every 2026 Equinox trim, including the base LT. That's a change from 2025, when heated seats on the entry trim required an upgrade. If you want warmth on the base model without stepping up to RS or ACTIV pricing, the 2026 LT delivers it as standard equipment.
How far is Winnsboro to Columbia, and will the Equinox handle the trip without thinking about fuel?
The drive from Winnsboro to Columbia via I-77 is about 34 miles, typically under 40 minutes in normal traffic. The EPA rates the 2026 Equinox FWD at 26 city / 29 highway / 27 mpg combined, and the AWD version matches that 29-mpg highway figure. At those numbers you're looking at roughly 1.2 gallons for the round trip. The tank holds between 14.8 and 15.6 gallons depending on the configuration, so there's nothing to think about on fuel for a holiday run to Columbia and back.