Shopping the 2027 Chevrolet Equinox in Ontario usually comes down to one question once you have settled on the SUV itself: RS or ACTIV? The lineup starts with the LT, but the RS and ACTIV are the two personality-driven trims that get cross-shopped most, and they are not aimed at the same driveway. Here is where they actually differ, and where they do not.
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Spec |
RS |
ACTIV |
|
Ground Clearance |
208 mm |
204 mm |
|
Touchscreen |
11.3-inch |
11.3-inch |
|
Digital Instrument Cluster |
11-inch |
11-inch |
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
|
Engine |
1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, 175 hp |
1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, 175 hp |
The clearest difference between these two trims shows up at the wheels. The ACTIV wears 235/65R17 all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, a setup built for grip on gravel and rougher surfaces rather than polished highway manners. Paired with 204 mm of ground clearance, the ACTIV is the trim built to shrug off a rutted laneway or an unplowed lot.
The RS actually clears slightly more ground, at 208 mm, four millimetres taller than the ACTIV. That number alone will not turn the RS into an off-roader. It does mean frost heaves and speed bumps are not a bigger concern on the sportier trim than they are on the one marketed for the outdoors.
Once you are inside, the RS and ACTIV stop competing. Both run an 11.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, and both come with a six-speaker audio system and seating for five. Neither trim asks you to give up cabin tech for the sake of style.
That means the choice between them is not about screens or seats. It is about how you will actually use the SUV, which is where the ACTIV’s tires and the RS’s stance start to matter more than a spec sheet ever could.
Properly equipped, the gas-powered Equinox tows up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg), a figure tied to the vehicle rather than to one trim alone. For an ACTIV buyer hauling a small trailer or gear for a weekend away, that capacity paired with all-terrain rubber covers more ground than the RS’s street-focused footprint typically needs to.
The 2027 Equinox, including the RS and ACTIV, also carries a 3-year/60,000-kilometre basic warranty and a 5-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Neither trim trades coverage for looks.
Neither choice costs you cabin tech. The touchscreen, instrument cluster, and seating carry over no matter which one you pick.
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox keeps its cabin tech and engine consistent across the RS and ACTIV, leaving the trim decision down to stance, tires, and the roads you drive most.
Visit City Buick Chevrolet GMC in Toronto to sit in both the RS and ACTIV and see which stance and setup fits your daily routes.
You might also be interested in these blogs: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt vs. 2025 Equinox EV and 2025 Blazer EV: Which Electric Chevrolet is Best for Toronto Commuters? | Complete Charging Guide for Chevrolet's Electric Vehicle Lineup, | Ranking Every Chevrolet and GMC Electric Truck by Range
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