![]() ![]() New elements such as available denim-style seat fabric in the lower trim levels, blend high style with high-durability, while a new “kneeling” rear seat enhances functionality. In the Premier trim edition the rear seats are also heated, and two adults will feel quite happy with the head and leg room. The supple leather heated and cooled front seats are wide and all-day comfortable. The interior takes advantage of the Equinox’s all-new architecture to offer a down-and-away instrument panel, while a low windshield base provides a commanding outward view, which is a major reason people would rather have an SUV than a sedan. The cabin is a comfortable place to spend hours in. The Equinox was as enjoyable to drive aggressively as anything in its class, including offerings from the European manufacturers. Nice firm, confidence inspiring pedal, with good feel, and no fade after heavy use going up the mountain roads, or down. Another pleasant surprise were the brakes. The 1.5 engine was a bit noisy under hard acceleration. They close in certain conditions on the highway, when engine cooling needs are reduced, pushing more air around the vehicle to reduce drag. New electronically controlled upper and lower grille shutters also account for the greater aero performance and mileage. Wind noise was not a factor, because the Equinox spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel, achieving class leading aerodynamics, which helps with noise, and fuel efficiency. Ride quality was comfortable on smooth stretches of asphalt, and it soaked up the bumps on broken pavement with complete composure. Quick side-to- side transitions felt easy and athletic. The Equinox easily handled better than my own Nissan Rogue, and felt more composed than the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav 4. It felt nimble and solid with minimal body lean in the tightest of corners, and the steering was quick and offered good road feedback. What surprised me most was how well Equinox handled on those tight and twisting roads. With a 15 gallon fuel tank, highway cruising range is around 450 miles. And the gas mileage rating for the front-wheel-drive model (all-wheel-drive is available) is an excellent 26 City and 32 Highway. But at no time driving on some incredibly challenging mountain roads traveling from Greenville, SC to Asheville, NC did I feel that the car was underpowered. While the engine is quite peppy and free revving, it’s not a burner. of torque which comes on at a low 2,000 rpm, where is can be used properly. The Equinox is powered by a 1.5 liter, turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower, and 203 ft. Kudos to the engineering department for pulling that off. OK, so making a car smaller will naturally save weight, right? But the story here is that the interior dimensions remain virtually the same as the previous generation! There is still plenty of leg and headroom for front seat and rear seat passengers, and with the rear seats folded flat, you still get more than 63 cubic feet of cargo room. They did this by shortening the wheelbase by 5.2” and the overall length by 4.7”, among other technological advances. Now GM has upped the ante with the newest vehicle, by improving it in almost every single way.įirst Chevy sent the Equinox to Weight Watchers, and trimmed the overall weight by an incredible 400lbs. By 2016, Equinox became Chevy’s second best-selling vehicle, at just over 242,000 units sold, just behind the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck. The Equinox first appeared in 2005, and was a strong seller right away. And the new Equinox will certainly be a game changer and add to the fight for market dominance. ![]() The Nissan Rogue is the current sales leader in the category, but strong sales from Honda, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet means the competition for that title can change quickly. ![]() And every major manufacturer has their own offering in that space, so competition is fierce. The features and flexibility that small SUV’s provide versus a sedan numerous. In 2016, compact crossover vehicles out-sold mid-size sedans to become the biggest segment of the auto industry, a trend that won’t slow down any time soon. And after spending the day with the new Equinox, I can say that they’ll have a lot of happy customers. I’m not sure why they time-shift like this, but I guess the folks at Chevy thought this new groundup re-make was so good, they just couldn’t wait to get it into customer’s garages. I know this because I found myself in Asheville, North Carolina last month - before the end of the first quarter of 2017 - road testing the new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Car manufacturers apparently do not use the same calendar as the rest of the world. ![]()
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