Up Close: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
After GM’s press conference today, we had a chance to see the all-new Equinox up close. It’s a big contrast to the Cruze, which is a sharp-looking but disappointingly executed compact sedan. Chevy’s new crossover isn’t a styling knockout — it looks equal parts Chevy Malibu, Saturn Vue and GMC Acadia — but the cabin makes up for that with utilitarian delights: From a deep center console to a roomy glove compartment and wide door pockets, there should be plenty of crannies for moms and dads on the run.
The rear seats fully adjust forward and back, and they recline, though their reclining range is limited. There’s also a hard-plastic flap that ensures there won’t be a gap in the cargo floor regardless of seat position. In back, the tailgate area has scuff plates up the wazoo. Kids, do your worst.
Cabin quality is mixed. Dashboard plastics are hard to the touch — the Vue’s are softer and richer — and the door armrests feel marginally cushioned. Most of the controls seem sturdy, and although the stereo has a new design, chief engineer Tim Herrick assured me it will maintain the automaker’s user-friendly interface.
Thick C- and D-pillars create a significant blind spot, and the rear head restraints sit high above the seatbacks — the CR-V and RAV4 nest theirs for better visibility — but at least the center seat belt anchors in the seat rather than dangling from the ceiling. City drivers take note: Chevy quotes the Equinox’s turning circle at 40 feet, or 42.6 feet with the optional 19-inch wheels. That’s pretty terrible — most RAV4 trims, for example, come in at less than 35 feet.
