Since the way back, people have loved having their car, truck, or motorcycle stand out by looking a little different. Adding to that desire, car makers starting making special graphics packages and trim levels to denoted faster, fancier, and all-around cooler versions of normal cars. According to Chevy’s sales numbers, these special trims are still super popular. 20 percent of Chevy Trax sold last year wore the Midnight or Sport packages. One-third of Blazers sold last year had the RS package. It seems Chevy has taken the hint and is adding the RS package for the 2022 Chevy Equinox and Mightnight package for the Chevy Traverse. 

The Chevy Equinox is about to level up

According to MotorTrend, The 2022 Chevy Equinox will be getting the RS treatment. That designation used to mean “Rally Sport” and usually denotes a sportier car. The Equinox RS will be covered in RS-specific trim like a gloss-black grille, blacked-out roof rails, badging, nameplates, and a black interior with red stitching an RS shift knob. The badass Equinox will also get 19-inch Dark Android wheels. Unfortunately, the Equinox RS is like the Sport and Midnight special editions; they only look sportier. 

Chevy Traverse joins the Midnight Edition party

The full-size guy gets the new, hot Midnight trim as well. Joining the Chevy Trax, the 2022 traverse is getting the all-black or, as the youths say, “Murdered out” trim package. Matching the other Midnight edition cars, the Traverse will have metallic black paint, as well as a blacked-out grille, wheels, roof rails, and badging, including the bowtie logo. If you don’t want to commit to the full Batman look, you can opt for the Sport. This package gives dark accents like wheels, grille, trim, roof rails, and badging. 

What engine comes in the 2022 Chevy Equinox RS?

Although the 2021 Equinox had the new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, we are pleased to see it coming back for the 2022 model. The base-model Equinox will still have the turbocharged 1.5-liter making 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Both the 1.5-liter turbo and 2.0-liter turbo versions come with either FWD or AWD. The turbocharged 2.0-liter option for the Equinox RS makes 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph can be done in 6 seconds flat in the 2.0-liter and 8.7 seconds in the 1.5-liter version.

What will power the new Traverse? 

The Chevy Traverse keeps it real with the usual SUV V6. In this case, the 2021 Traverse got some updates both inside and outside, but it still only comes with the 3.6-liter V6 making 310 hp 266 lb-ft of torque paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. That may seem like a meager torque number, and it is. The low torque helps keep this massive three-row family hauler friendly at the gas station.

In the AWD configuration, the Traverse gets 17 mpg in town and 25 on the highway. If you go with the FWD version, it’ll get 18 mpg in town and 27 on the highway. Honestly, that’s not enough of a difference to justify FWD. 

The Traverse got some new interior features

The Chevy Traverse got a few new interior touches, like, for the fancier trim levels, you get an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, Wireless Apple CarPlay, and Andriod Auto. A few other new creature comforts for the 2021 Traverse is a rear power sunshade for the available two-panel power sunroof. Chevrolet is also changing up the available upholstery colors and trims. And, of course, Midnight and Sport trim packages. 

These special edition trims look great, and I’m sure, bring excitement to some buyers, but sportier-looking trims can only be so exciting. Next time, let’s throw a bigger turbo on these trucks or, like the old days, just a monster engine.