The one-piece bench seat can slide forward and backward as a whole, but each section of the split backrest can recline independently. Taller drivers, however, might notice that the B- pillar blocks the view when checking their left-side blind spot.Įven taller adults can enjoy the Equinox’s backseat thanks to its generous legroom. The driving position affords excellent forward views, and the standard tilt/telescoping steering column lets you adjust the wheel just so. The optional leather seats, in comparison, provide some welcome softness. They feature an interesting mesh pattern that looks durable, but the seats’ firm padding isn’t particularly comfortable. I’m less enthusiastic about the Chevrolet Equinox LT’s premium cloth bucket seats. The design is modern yet functional and makes use of high-grade trim that fits tightly together. The Chevrolet Equinox’s redesigned interior is a big step up from its predecessor and now rivals the leaders in its segment. By comparison, Chevrolet’s Traverse three-row crossover offers more comfortable suspension tuning, as does the Nissan Rogue, one of the Equinox’s competitors. Balancing ride comfort and handling is something Chevrolet did quite well in its Malibu midsize sedan, but the Equinox’s focus on handling is greater than it needs to be for this vehicle type. Larger bumps could be absorbed better by the shocks in order to make the Equinox more agreeable to family-oriented buyers. The ride was a little tiresome on rougher roads, as you can feel small pavement cracks and patchwork in the cabin. There’s no question it might be too taut for some people - it was very close to the line for me. There’s a not-too-hidden price for this performance, as it comes at the expense of ride comfort. It’s composed through corners and does a good job resisting body roll. The Chevrolet Equinox is one of the better-handling small crossovers around. While the brakes don’t have trouble bringing this crossover to a halt, the pedal feel is lackluster there’s a mushiness to it that doesn’t inspire confidence. The Chevy Equinox has front and rear disc brakes with ABS. It’s a $1,500 option, and it’s also going to cost you more at the pump because it gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy 18/25 mpg for front-wheel-drive models and 17/24 mpg for all-wheel drive. It doesn’t feel underpowered, but it does start to lose steam when accelerating hard at 60 mph or so.įor people who want more reserve power for passing and merging, it’s nice that Chevrolet offers a V-6 some of its competitors don’t. (Heck, I think the smaller CR-V doesn’t offer a lot of power.) The Equinox’s four-cylinder, however, is a plucky little engine, and its smooth-shifting transmission reacts quickly when you need more power at midrange speeds. It’s understandable that some customers would have reservations about purchasing a crossover, even a smaller one, with only a four-cylinder engine. Both engines team with a standard six-speed automatic transmission. Both engines feature direct injection, which improves gas mileage, as do a more aerodynamic body and the use of low-rolling-resistance tires. Small Crossover Gas MileageĮPA-estimated city/highway mpg with base four-cylinder and automatic transmissionĬhevy expects the four-cylinder will make up about 70 percent of Equinox sales, with the other 30 percent going toward the optional 264-hp, 3.0-liter V-6. The Equinox’s claim to fame is its fuel economy - an EPA-estimated 22/32 mpg city/highway with the standard 182- horsepower four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. (See a side-by-side comparison of the new Equinox and the previous version.) I tested two LT versions of the crossover, one with the four-cylinder and one with the optional V-6 engine. It’s offered in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. Some people might find the Equinox’s ride a bit too firm for a family vehicle, but there’s enough good stuff going on here to elevate the Equinox - for the first time - into a discussion of the best small crossovers on the market. It also features a large backseat to keep passengers happy. The second-generation Chevrolet Equinox four-cylinder surpasses the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 - three of its main competitors - in gas mileage, and its stylish cabin brings high-quality materials and an upscale flair to the class. Twice a year, the equinox marks a near-perfect balance between length of day and night across the planet, and for 2010 the redesigned Equinox offers an excellent balance of size and efficiency, roominess and utility, quality and price. “Equinox” has become a truly apt name for Chevrolet’s small crossover.
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