Powers Swain Chevrolet | Fayetteville, NC
Does the Chevy Equinox Have 3 Rows?
No. The Chevy Equinox is a two-row, five-passenger SUV. Every 2026 trim seats five, and no third row is offered. If you need seven or more seats, the Traverse is the next step up.
The Short Version
Buyers ask this because the Equinox looks bigger in photos than it measures in person. Here is what it actually holds.
2Rows of seatsFront row and one rear bench
5Passengers, maxSame on LT, RS and ACTIV
29.8Cu ft behind row 2Groceries, strollers, gear
63.5Cu ft, seats folded60/40 split rear bench
Why There Is No Third Row
The Equinox is a compact SUV. Chevrolet builds it on a footprint meant to park easily and sip fuel, not to carry a soccer team. Adding a third row would mean a longer wheelbase, and at that point you have a Traverse.
That is a real trade, not a shortcoming. The 2026 Equinox is rated 26 mpg city and 29 highway with front-wheel drive, and 25 city and 29 highway with all-wheel drive. A three-row SUV cannot touch those numbers.
Every 2026 Equinox uses the same 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder making 175 horsepower. Seating does not change by trim. The LT, RS and ACTIV all seat five.
Seating by Trim
The 2026 Equinox comes in three trims. None of them adds a seat.
| Trim | Seats | Rows | Third row available? | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT | 5 | 2 | No | FWD standard, AWD available |
| RS | 5 | 2 | No | FWD standard, AWD available |
| ACTIV | 5 | 2 | No | FWD standard, AWD available |
LS and Premier are not 2026 Equinox trims. The lineup was simplified for 2026 and LT became the entry model. Specs confirmed against Chevrolet trim data at build time.
Chevy SUVs That Do Have a Third Row
If you came here because you need six or more seats, these are the three to look at. All are stocked on Bragg Blvd.
Seats up to 8
Chevy Traverse
The natural step up. Three rows, up to 97.6 cu ft of cargo with the seats down, and it still fits a normal garage. This is the one most Equinox shoppers end up in when a third row is non-negotiable.
Shop Traverse
Seats up to 9
Chevy Tahoe
Full-size, body-on-frame, and built to tow. Popular with Fort Liberty families who haul a boat to the Cape Fear River and still need every seat filled on the way there.
Shop Tahoe
Seats up to 9
Chevy Suburban
Same seat count as the Tahoe, far more room behind the third row. If your problem is that everyone fits but the luggage does not, this is the fix. PCS moves are where it earns its keep.
Shop SuburbanIs Five Seats Enough for a Fayetteville Family?
For most, yes. A five-seat Equinox handles the school run, the Skibo Road shopping trip, and the daily crawl up the All-American Freeway to the Fort Liberty gate without burning full-size SUV fuel. It parks at Cross Creek Mall without a three-point turn.
The honest limit is the sixth passenger. If you regularly carry grandparents, run a carpool, or move a full household on a PCS, five seats will frustrate you within a month. That is the moment to drive a Traverse back to back with the Equinox.
Cargo is the other half of the question. 29.8 cubic feet behind the second row swallows a commissary run and a stroller. Fold the 60/40 bench and 63.5 cubic feet opens up, which covers a dorm move to Fayetteville State or a weekend at Carvers Creek State Park.
External reference: EPA fuel economy ratings for the Equinox are published at fueleconomy.gov.
Chevy Equinox Seating Questions
Does the Chevy Equinox have a third row?
No. The Chevy Equinox is a two-row, five-passenger compact SUV, and that is true of every 2026 trim: LT, RS and ACTIV. There is no third-row option, no seven-passenger package, and no way to add one. If you need a third row, the Chevy Traverse is the next size up.
How many people can sit in a Chevy Equinox?
Five. Two in front and three across the second row. The rear bench splits 60/40, so you can fold one side down and still carry four people plus longer cargo.
Which Chevy SUVs have a third row?
Three of them. The Traverse seats up to eight and is the closest step up from the Equinox. The Tahoe and the Suburban both seat up to nine, and the Suburban adds significant cargo room behind the third row. All three are on the lot at 4709 Bragg Blvd.
How much cargo space does the Chevy Equinox have?
29.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. That is enough for a full commissary run at Fort Liberty, a stroller plus a weekend bag, or a load from the Skibo Road stores without putting anything on a passenger's lap.
Can three car seats fit across the back of an Equinox?
It depends entirely on the seats you own. Three narrow boosters often work across the Equinox bench. Three bulky rear-facing convertibles usually do not. Bring your actual car seats to the dealership and we will fit them in the vehicle before you buy, not after.
Is the Equinox big enough for a family in Fayetteville?
For a family of four or five, yes, and it is easier to park at Cross Creek Mall and easier on fuel on the All-American Freeway run than a full-size SUV. Families who regularly carry a sixth person, or who run carpool for a team, are better served by the Traverse.
Can I see an Equinox and a Traverse side by side?
Yes. Both are stocked at Powers Swain Chevrolet on Bragg Blvd, about ten minutes from the Fort Liberty All-American gate. Sitting in the second row of one and then the third row of the other settles the question faster than any spec sheet. Call 910-864-9500 and we will have both pulled up front.
What Fayetteville Drivers Say
Come Sit In One
Address 4709 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone910-864-9500
Hours Monday to Friday 8:30am to 7:00pm. Saturday 8:30am to 6:00pm. Closed Sunday.
Family owned since 1961 Same family, same Bragg Blvd address, and a long record of supporting Fort Liberty.
Five Seats or Eight? Drive Both.
Twenty minutes on the lot answers this better than another hour of reading. We will park an Equinox next to a Traverse and let you climb through both.