2012 Chevrolet Equinox MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is rated 19 to 26 mpg combined across 8 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85).

EPA fuel economy

2012 Chevrolet Equinox · 8 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

26MPG combined

22 city 31 highway

$2,600 a year to fuel

2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)

Best version costs $1,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,600 to $3,550 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

Fewer complaints than a typical Equinox year

The 2012 drew 66 owner complaints in its first three years, against 80 for a typical Equinox year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

No Equinox year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2016, 2017, and 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Equinox year ranked The 2012 Equinox's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Equinox version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Equinox FWD	26 mpg	22 / 31	$2,600
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) Best EPA listing: Equinox FWD · Flex-fuel (E85)	26 mpg	22 / 31	$2,600
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Equinox AWD	23 mpg	20 / 28	$2,900
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Equinox AWD · Flex-fuel (E85)	23 mpg	20 / 28	$2,900
3.0L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Equinox FWD	20 mpg	17 / 24	$3,350
3.0L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Equinox FWD · Flex-fuel (E85)	20 mpg	17 / 24	$3,350
3.0L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Equinox AWD	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,550
3.0L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Equinox AWD · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,550

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$2,579	$215	$12,894
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,579	$215	$12,894
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,915	$243	$14,576
3.0L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,353	$279	$16,763
3.0L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,353	$279	$16,763
3.0L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,529	$294	$17,645
3.0L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Chevrolet Equinox MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 25 to 28 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2018. Diesel: 32 mpg (2018 to 2019).

Best gas version
Best diesel version

2012: gas 26 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table

Chevrolet Equinox best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best diesel version
2010	26	–
2011	26	–
2012	26	–
2013	26	–
2014	26	–
2015	26	–
2016	26	–
2017	25	–
2018	28	32
2019	28	32
2020	28	–
2021	28	–
2022	28	–
2023	28	–
2024	28	–
2025	27	–
2026	27	–

Every Equinox year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Equinox compares

2012 compact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	32 mpg	25 mpg	$2,100
Honda CR-V Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
Chevrolet Equinox This page Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
GMC Terrain Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Kia Sportage Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Jeep Compass Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Toyota RAV4 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$1,000
Subaru Outback Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$3,400
Subaru Forester Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900

2012 Equinox recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 685 owner complaints for the 2012 Equinox.

Owners most often describe excessive oil consumption (157 complaints, 23%), then stalling (121). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Equinox recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 3 mpg: the 2.4L 4-cyl gets 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 23 with AWD.

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2012 Chevrolet Equinox version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2012 Equinox's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 26 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.