Vehicle Overview Chevrolet has redesigned its Equinox, a five-seat crossover that shares many components with the Saturn Vue. Though it rides on a similar wheelbase to the outgoing model, the new Equinox is slightly shorter and wider. With a new direct-injection four-cylinder engine, Chevrolet is targeting an impressive 30 mpg highway, territory normally reserved for cars. Equinox competitors include the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.
The Equinox comes in front- or all-wheel drive with the four-cylinder or a V-6; either engine uses a six-speed automatic transmission. In ascending order, trim levels include the LS, LT and LTZ.
Exterior The Equinox looks like an amalgamation of GM models. The horizontally split grille emulates that of the Chevy Malibu sedan and Traverse crossover, while the headlights ditch the Traverse’s angular styling for something more akin to the Saturn Vue’s. In back, the tail doesn’t look much different than that of the Pontiac Torrent crossover. A power liftgate, something not usually available in this segment, is optional.
Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard on four-cylinder models, while 18-inchers pair with the V-6. Nineteen-inch wheels are optional, but they extend the Equinox’s already-wide 40-foot turning radius to an enormous 42.6 feet. Those figures considerably trail the CR-V (37.8 ft.), RAV4 (34.8 to 36.8 ft.) and Escape (36.7 ft.).
Interior Chevy’s twin-cowl dash, used in everything from the Traverse to the Malibu, carves out similar shapes facing the driver and front passenger. GM’s radio, whose interface details the station for each preset and can include AM, FM and satellite radio stations on the same list, has been redesigned; it has a shapelier faceplate, but the automaker says its functionality remains unchanged. Uplevel stereos can store audio selections on an internal hard drive.
Well-optioned trims have heated seats, automatic climate control, a navigation system and a power driver’s seat with memory settings. A backup camera can come with the navigation system or as a stand-alone option, and the display sits in the rearview mirror.
Chevrolet says the Equinox’s deep center console can fit a laptop or small handbag. The rear seats recline and slide forward about 8 inches, with a trailing panel to ensure a gap-free cargo floor no matter the seat position. Cargo volume behind the second row totals 31.4 cubic feet — slightly more than the Escape but a few cubic feet short of the CR-V or RAV4. With the seats folded, maximum volume is 63.7 cubic feet, slightly less than the Escape but nearly 10 cubic feet short of the other two.
Under the Hood A 182-horsepower four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic are standard; with front-wheel drive, Chevrolet estimates gas mileage will be 21/30 mpg city/highway. An optional V-6 makes 255 hp; it also uses a six-speed auto with a manual-shift mode. All-wheel drive is optional with either engine.
When properly equipped, maximum towing capacity with the V-6 is 3,500 pounds; with the four-cylinder it drops to 1,500 pounds. Both figures are competitive with four- and six-cylinder competitors.
Safety Dual front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows are standard, as are four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system.
