The Nissan Rogue, Jeep Cherokee and redesigned 2016 Hyundai Tucson thump the Equinox in cabin materials and layout. That’s a must-have option in this segment. GM has had five years to update the center control panel, but it’s still an assortment of confusing buttons that, despite the quantity, lack dual-zone climate controls. Chevrolet placed last in our 2014 comparison of blind-spot visibility among small SUVs (read it here), and nothing has changed since then.Ĭabin materials are basic, with low-gloss materials but cheap, hard plastics in a lot of places where competitors swap in richer stuff. The small rear window sits between bulky C- and D-pillars, and the rear-quarter windows are more of a technicality. Unfortunately, the packaging pays little heed to visibility. The backseat has copious legroom and headroom, plus a high, adult-friendly seating position it also moves forward/backward and reclines a few degrees. Still, the SUV’s extra girth makes for excellent passenger space, with a high driving position and large front seats that make competitors’ chairs seem economy-class. Taken as a whole, its ratings are unimpressive most small SUVs of this body type beat the Chevrolet Equinox in one or more configurations. The EPA rates the four-cylinder at 26 mpg combined (but just 23 mpg with AWD). We’ve driven that engine, and its exceptional output (301 horsepower and 272 pounds-feet of torque) turn the Equinox into a quick, capable SUV.Ĭapability plus weight rarely equals efficiency, however, and the V-6 Equinox gets just 20 mpg in combined city/highway ratings by the EPA (19 mpg with AWD). That’s probably enough to make the case for the Equinox’s 3.6-liter V-6. Our test car lacked all-wheel drive, which adds around 150 pounds. The drivetrain has adequate power for lesser demands, with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission and little engine noise below full throttle. That also means the standard four-cylinder can feel overtaxed in uphill stretches and during highway passing. Part of the blame goes to the SUV’s hefty weight its bigger size adds as much as 500 pounds versus some competitors. None of that straight-line composure helps when the road gets curvy, where lethargic steering, mushy brakes and a body prone to leaning blunt the Equinox’s nimbleness. The car exhibits minimal bounciness over broken pavement, and the suspension handles ruts with clean, polished reactions. At highway speeds, road and wind noise are hushed. In a parking lot or back alley, that’s bound to annoy.įive years in, the Chevrolet Equinox is still a champ in terms of composure. Its turning circle, at 40 to 42.6 feet (depending on wheel size), is as much as 7.8 feet wider than the RAV4’s. At 187.8 inches long, the Chevrolet Equinox is noticeably larger than competitor compact crossover SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazdfa CX-5 and Ford Escape. Still, the size is bound to turn away some shoppers. It’s aged well since it debuted in summer 2009, and next year’s 2016 face-lift will change little (click here to see early details). The Equinox’s face courts little controversy, with Chevrolet’s familiar two-bar grille and perky headlights leading into a plus-sized profile. We tested a midlevel Equinox 1LT against six competitors in ’s $28,000 Compact SUV Challenge, which you can see here. The Equinox’s multimedia system gets subscription-based Wi-Fi for 2015, but other changes are minimal. (Chevrolet and GMC are sibling brands under parent company GM.) Click here to compare the two, here to stack up the Equinox’s trim levels or here to compare the 20 Equinox. The same is true for the Equinox’s corporate twin, the GMC Terrain. The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox remains a half-size larger than most of its competition, which makes for better ride quality and comfort, but its poor visibility and lack of driving fun will turn off some shoppers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |