After spending a week getting to know the redesigned 2010 Chevy Equinox, I’m still trying to decide if I should give it a thumbs up or down. From a style perspective, I’d say the Equinox is a perfect fit for my family. While it’s far from being overly glamorous, this crossover isn’t boring either. The interior is unique enough to make me feel trendy while maintaining an affordable price. However, my kids and I ran into some day-to-day problems in it that were annoying.
My test car had a 264-horsepower V-6 engine; the Equinox also has a 182-hp four-cylinder. The V-6’s performance is typical for a crossover or SUV; I found it to be sluggish at the starting gate, but capable of maintaining higher speeds. Braking is solid, but the pedal could have engaged at a higher point. It felt as though a tennis ball was stuck under the brake pedal, and I had to pound it down to get any aggressive braking action.
Even with the V-6 and all-wheel drive, the my test car gets an EPA-estimated 17/25 mpg city/highway. If you’re looking for better fuel economy, the four-cylinder Equinox with front-wheel drive gets 22/32 mpg.
Exterior
There’s nothing aggressive about the Equinox’s looks; just look at those wide-eyed headlights and a button nose that’s perfectly punctuated by the Chevrolet emblem. The front end even appears to have the plump-cheeked grin of a baby or toddler. I loved it and had fun taking pictures of it with my kids as if the Equinox were a family pet. At first, I was iffy about the black-colored plastic bumper, but after spending some time in the Equinox I began to appreciate that it was there in case I got a little too cozy with the curb – if you know what I’m sayin’.
From the rear, the Equinox has some Buick Rendezvous déjà-vous. My favorite rear feature is, of course, the optional power liftgate ($495). Simply press a button on the key fob or on the liftgate itself and voila! With this feature, moms will no longer fear that mud-caked liftgate; your mani will maintain its perfect sheen as you let the door open and close by itself.
My older son could reach the door handles easily, but both kids needed help climbing in since my test car didn’t have running boards. But you know youngsters, their abundance of youthful energy pops them up and into the car in a flash!
I had to wonder if the Equinox’s driver-side door had a vendetta against my legs as it repeatedly closed far too fast and hit my left leg mid-ascent. Most car doors have distinct stopping points when you open them. This holds the car door open and allows you to get in and situated without any injuries. The Equinox didn’t have this small feature. It might seem like a small concern, but it was an annoyance I dealt with everyday in this crossover.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times
Interior
The stunning interior of my test car included leather upholstery in Jet Black/Brownstone that reminded me of my morning cup of joe. Red stitching added a touch of spice to the interior. I had to remind myself that this is a Chevy and not some high-priced luxury car.
The center stack looked space age-y with its metallic trim complemented by light blue ambient lighting. Below the center stack, a handy cubby was perfect for my cell phone, change and ChapStick. It even had that grippy plastic to keep all my baubles in place. My test car wasn’t equipped with the optional navigation system ($2,145), a storage bin sat in its place. This sizable space would easily fit an iPod, aftermarket GPS device or other day-to-day travel necessities. There’s even more storage in the doors, including a bottleholder and bins. The bins weren’t wide enough to hold my fully loaded purse, but it may be a great fit for yours.
The seating is solid, but the seat cushions are a tad too small for my liking. I needed them to be about an inch deeper to provide more support and comfort. However, I did enjoy the Equinox’s optional heated seats for the front row as well as the crossover’s sliding second row. This adjustable feature allows you to push the bench seat back for taller passengers and move it forward to keep babies and toddlers within reach (for those times when you need to rescue a paci or hand over gum to calm the roar of angry children).
The optional rear entertainment system ($1,295) was a humongous hit for us, too. The screens fold out of the front row’s seatbacks. With easy-to-use wireless headphones, my kids were able to watch their movies while I enjoyed being able to hear my thoughts. Another mom-friendly feature is a button on the center stack that allows you to lock or unlock second-row doors and keeps the kids from doing the same.
In the cargo area, my grocery run filled the space; I had to use the cargo area’s bins to keep the eggs out of harm’s way. The Equinox is not a full-size crossover, so you’re not going to have as much space as in larger SUVs or crossovers. If you are riding sans kids, you could always fold the second-row seats for added storage.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Safety
The Equinox comes with a standard backup camera, and I needed it. The bulky pillars between the windows made it nearly impossible to check blindspots. Having a standard backup camera on a Chevy was refreshing and increased my optimism about the future of affordable cars.
The Equinox also comes standard with front- and side-impact airbags for the front row and side curtain airbags for both rows. It also has standard antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system.
In the second row, the Latch connectors are easy to see and use. With a sliding backseat, there’s plenty of room in the second row for rear-facing infant-safety seats, and its reclining seatback makes installing booster seats a snap. While my 7-year-old could buckle in easily, my 4-year-old could not because of recessive seat belt buckle receptors.
The 2010 Equinox scored the top score of Good in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. This year, IIHS added a fourth crash test that measures roof strength, simulating a rollover. The 2010 Equinox hasn’t undergone this test.
FAMILY LIFESTAGE
In Diapers: The sliding backseat offers plenty of flexibility for fitting child-safety seats in the second row.
In School: Both parents and kids will love the optional rear entertainment system with easy-to-use wireless headphones.
Teens: With its standard electronic stability control, parents can feel good about letting their teen driver get behind the wheel.
