chevy equinox

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[SIZE=3]Maximum Midsize[/SIZE]

By John DiPietro
Date posted: 07-20-2004
SOURCE: EDMUNDS.COM

After years of taking it on the chin from the imports in the slugfest known as the automotive marketplace, Chevrolet is finally getting in a few shots of its own. Its recently revamped Malibu may not be the most handsome sedan around, but it's hard to argue with its combination of performance, versatility and value. Now the company has turned its efforts toward the crossover SUV segment. The new Equinox offers the same core virtues as the Malibu but wrapped up in a more stylish package that we imagine most would be proud to show off to family and friends.

Based on the Saturn Vue platform, the Equinox offers a few advantages over its cousin that are immediately apparent — such as a roomier, classier cabin — as well as a few that may not be as obvious at first glance. Although some folks might assume that the Equinox competes against compact SUVs, such as the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute twins and Honda CR-V, it's actually sized more like a midsize 'ute. With a generous 112.5-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 188.8 inches, it's virtually the same size as a Toyota 4Runner.


Take a gander at the Equinox's mug and there's no mistaking it for anything but a Chevy. Chevrolet has forged an identity for its trucks and SUV lines with those almost angry-looking headlights, split grille and big horizontal chrome band that bisects them. It works very well on the Equinox, as the proportions seem spot on. The rest of this SUV is attractive as well; a crouching stance and muscled-up wheel arches are complemented by the (optional) sharp alloy wheels that, unlike what we usually see on most Chevys, don't look like plastic wheel covers.

Auto journalists have been griping about Chevy's overly plastic interior décor for decades, and it seems that the company is finally getting the message. Unlike the Vue, the Equinox's cabin boasts an attractive look and feel, for the most part. Metallic accents that are all the rage these days are found on the doors and center stack and, along with soft-touch dash and door trim, give the Equinox's interior a quality look and feel. But although it is near the head of the class for 'utes at this price point, the Equinox still trails the class standard, the Kia Sorento, in this respect.

With firm cushioning and good back support, the front seats proved comfy on a few hours' drive. Still, we had a few complaints: Although we appreciate the lumbar support, the manual-adjustment knob (located in front of the seat) takes way too many turns to affect any change. Additionally, the bottom cushion could use some side bolstering for more support in the turns.

Plenty of legroom, reclining backrests and ideal under-thigh support make the rear seat easy to take should you not shout "shotgun" quick enough. Dubbed the Multi-Flex rear seat, it slides eight inches fore and aft — a great feature that had us thinking, "Why didn't anyone think of this before?" Either legroom or cargo capacity can be optimized by moving the seat up or back, depending on the inseam of those riding in back.

Getting into the spacious cabin is easy, thanks to a relatively low step-in height and large rear door openings that aid ingress and egress. Still, our shorter staffers thought it could've been even better, as they noted the lack of grab handles.

Available in two trim levels, base LS and luxurious LT, the Equinox can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. Most folks would probably be happy with the LS, as it provides plenty of standard niceties such as power everything (except seat adjustments), a CD player, keyless entry and 16-inch wheels. Spring for the LT and antilock brakes (also standard on AWD LS models), upgraded cloth upholstery, deep-tinted glass, cruise control and alloy wheels are thrown into the mix. Pricing starts at $21,560 for the two-wheel-drive LS and goes to $24,900 for the AWD LT. Our tester, an AWD LT, was loaded up with options like leather seating, the OnStar system and XM radio, making the bottom line $27,875.


Regardless of trim level or drive configuration, there is just one powertrain offered in the Equinox — the workhorse "3400" V6 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Say what you will about "antiquated" pushrod design, this 3.4-liter V6 has plenty of punch and feels more robust than its relatively meager output rating of 185 horsepower might suggest. Yes, the Vue offers Honda's 3.5-liter, 250-horse V6, but the difference in performance between a V6 Vue and the Equinox is much less than you might think, considering the 65 hp and 32 lb-ft advantage that the Vue has. In fact, the hard numbers generated at our test track show the Equinox hitting 60 mph in 8.7 seconds compared to the Vue's 7.9 seconds. We're talking less than a second in that benchmark test. Both SUVs are rated to tow 3,500 pounds, but we'd recommend the Vue for that duty as its additional torque would probably minimize the loss of performance after a heavy trailer is hooked up.

Although the smooth and quick five-speed automatic gearbox can hardly be faulted, we were perplexed by the gear selector. It's pretty much standard fare if you just plunk it into drive, but look at the selector and you'll discover that it doesn't allow you to hold certain gears, such as third. Fortunately, that was a nonissue as the smart gearbox was never found out of step.

Scanning the spec sheet, you may notice that the Equinox is lacking disc brakes all 'round. With drums in back, we expected mediocre stopping performance. But like its acceleration, the Equinox's deceleration surprised us. At the track, our trio of panic stops from 60 mph produced excellent numbers — 123, 125 and 131 feet. Yes, there was some fade, but overall, the brakes turned in a top-notch performance and felt good doing it.

Tuned more for ride comfort than twisty road acrobatics, the Equinox's all-independent suspension should please most folks shopping this segment. Putting some serious miles on the Equinox is relaxing, as the suspension swallows up the bumps, and the lack of intrusive wind and road noise makes for a tranquil cabin. Running the Equinox through the curves reveals some, but not excessive or off-putting body roll. The electric power steering is the chief fun-sapping culprit, as it's too light and a little slow. Although we don't expect Corvette-like reflexes from an SUV, we do think that Chevrolet's engineers could beef up the steering feel and perhaps give it a slightly faster ratio.

At the end of the day, the Equinox scores high on most counts; it's peppy, rides nice and quiet, has a spacious cabin with a few trick features and is reasonably priced. So the handling may not paste a grin on an enthusiast's face. But really, do people buy SUVs so they can strafe apexes on canyon roads or do they want them for more practical reasons? If the answer is the latter, then Chevrolet should be happy with its latest creation.

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[SIZE=3]Test Drives:
2005 Chevrolet Equinox[/SIZE]
Charles Dubow of FORBES.COM



The question people might ask when they first see the Equinox is, "What is it?" But the answer is not as simple as saying, "It's an Equinox." The question also reflects what might be confusion over what kind of vehicle is the Equinox. Is it a SUV, a crossover or just a cool-looking wagon?

While Chevy calls it a "compact SUV" and places it in the same category as the Ford Escape and the Jeep Liberty, unlike these vehicles the Equinox strikes us as more of a crossover. Even though it shares with the Saturn VUE the new Theta platform--which is also expected to be the underpinning for the upcoming Pontiac ******* SUV, as well as models intended for the South Korean and Asian markets--the Equinox doesn't come across as a vehicle to be taken off-road. That impression is intentional, however, according to Chevy.

"The Equinox is intended more for a big workout at Costco than driving on the beach," says Carolyn Normanden, manager of product communications at Chevrolet. The rationale is that over the years SUVs have steadily morphed from being rugged, truck-based 4x4s to being more drivable, upmarket family carriers that still offer four-wheel drive for the occasional snowy day. To that end, the Equinox comes in two variations: front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the former ignoring all pretense of being a SUV.

While the more expensive AWD option will probably be popular with many buyers, for most people it won't really matter. That's because--unlike the Escape or the Liberty, which target a younger, predominantly single demographic--the Equinox is designed to be a family car. Seen in that light, despite its SUV DNA, it really should be stacked up instead against cars like the more expensive Nissan Murano and Chrysler Pacifica, or even the less expensive Pontiac Vibe.

The vehicle that in many ways might be closest to the Equinox in looks and concept is Cadillac's relatively new SRX. Cadillac calls the SRX a midsize SUV, but, like the Equinox, it comes only with optional AWD. Overall dimensions and length are also very similar; the SRX, built on GM's car-based Sigma platform, is only marginally longer and wider.


The SRX is considerably more expensive. This is thanks in part to the luster of its nameplate, but also because it comes with such extras as genuine wood interior trim and traction control, as well as options like a 4.6L 320-horsepower V-8 engine, third-row seating and a DVD player. These goodies don't come cheap, though. Fully loaded, the SRX V-8 edition can cost almost $55,000, or more than twice the most expensive Equinox.

This only underscores what a good deal the Equinox really is. For people used to sitting in other GM SUVs, the interior of the Equinox will come as a surprise--probably a pleasant one. Unlike the acres of bland vinyl that cover everything from the Tracker to the Escalade, the Equinox has incorporated the bold, pseudo-industrial styling that has become associated with sleek German cars like the Audi TT. With round, retro-ish gauges and lots of faux chrome, it looks a lot better than anything we've seen from Chevrolet (with the exception of the Corvette) in a long time.

It's not all about appearance, though. Despite this stylish treatment, the plastic still looks and feels cheap, as does most of the rest of the interior. There is, after all, still a MSRP of $21,560 car for the LS model, so it is unrealistic to expect it to have the polish of the more expensive European and Japanese cars it is imitating. (Nevertheless, we recommend the pricier LT over the LS trim for the Equinox, which comes with leather instead of cloth seats.)

Where the Equinox scores real points is in length and cargo volume. At 112 inches, the Equinox has a longer wheelbase than the Escape, the Liberty and even the Vue, with which it shares a platform. It also has more head room. Best of all are the sliding 60/40 rear seats that can be adjusted to give aft passengers more legroom if needed, or pushed forward to accommodate bigger loads. With the rear seats folded down, the cargo volume is a best-in-category 69 cubic feet.

(One minor quibble: There are no grab handles over the passenger doors. While one doesn't need these to climb in or out of the Equinox as one might in a larger SUV, such as the Suburban, it does feel a little strange subconsciously reaching for one and gripping nothing but air. At least the designers still managed to create hooks in the cargo area from which people can hang garment bags, dry cleaning, etc.)

Despite its interior space, however, the Equinox lacks a third row of seats. While this is hardly surprising, given its size, it may matter to potential buyers with more than three children. What is also lacks, for parents who care about such things, is an optional DVD player. To be sure, there are outlets in the back so that a portable DVD player can be hooked up, but a comparably priced Kia Sedona minivan, for example, offers seven-passenger seating plus the optional DVD. The Equinox may be a family car, but it's definitely one for smaller families.

As befits the majority of family cars, don't expect to have a lot of fun behind the wheel. The 3.4-liter V-6 engine puts out 185 horsepower and 210 foot-pounds of torque, but this hardly makes for an exciting ride. We'd have liked a little more torque, because the Nox feels a little anemic when accelerating--even if it can still tow a payload up to 3,500 pounds. The power train, which is actually made in China at the Shanghai General Motors Automotive Co. Ltd. as part of GM's global production strategy, is standard on both the FWD and AWD versions. It comes only in five-speed automatic transmission. According to Normanden, there are currently no plans to offer a V-8 model.

Our hunch: If the Equinox is the success that Chevy hopes it is, and that we think it will be, expect to see more variations and trims--sport packages, turbochargers, limited editions--coming out in years to come.

Unlike many radically new cars, the Equinox does not leave us wondering who will buy it. Chevy has clearly designed it with families in mind. As either a primary or secondary vehicle, it is easy to grasp this car's appeal.


First, appearance: The car looks great. From its handsome grille to its raked exterior lines, the Equinox is a prime example of Vice Chairman Robert Lutz's promise to make GM cars cool again.

Second, cargo space: The Equinox is deceptively roomy.

Third, price: With a base price of $20,995 for the LS model with FWD, this car is a great deal. Of course, we would definitely opt for the LT model with leather trim, standard ABS brakes and AWD, raising the price to $24,900, including a $565 destination charge.

It is important, however, to bear this competitive price in mind when critically comparing the interior or the driving performance to that of much more expensive vehicles. There is a reason, after all, why the Equinox can charge the sticker price it does. If you want a Mercedes- or Audi-quality interior, prepare to pay Mercedes or Audi prices.

Yet it is also important to note that most drivers will find themselves comparing the Equinox in many ways to these upmarket rides because, frankly, it looks so good. In such rarefied company, the Nox will probably suffer in comparison--but not as badly as one might think.

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[SIZE=4]EDMUNDS.COM Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005[/SIZE]

[SIZE=5]Most Wanted SUV Under $25,000:
2005 Chevrolet Equinox[/SIZE]
SOURCE: CLICK HERE(EDMUNDS.COM)
Midsize in dimensions but compact in price, the attractive Equinox is one car-based SUV that families will want to put on their shopping lists. Its greatest asset is its roomy and comfortable interior, which offers a fair amount of supple materials along with tasteful aluminum accents. The front and rear seats are equally accommodating, thanks to the backseat's 8 inches of fore/aft travel and reclining back cushions. A standard V6 provides ample power in just about any situation while returning respectable mileage. And the softly tuned suspension delivers a smooth ride that's perfect for long road trips. Best of all, the Equinox comes with a starting price in the low-$20Ks.

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[BlueBimmer]

ai caramba! andami!

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[SIZE=3]CHEVROLET DONE IT RIGHT!
By: Martha hindes of ROAD AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE[/SIZE]
SOURCE: CLICK HERE (ROAD AND TRAVEL.COM)

Thank you, Chevrolet, for getting it right.

2005 Chevrolet EquinoxWith a few minor exceptions, we think you nailed it with the new Chevy Equinox for '05 that now, after a year or so of anticipation, is finally out on the road.

When ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine editors first slid behind the controls of this smallish, five-passenger, car-based sport utility vehicle our initial reaction was "nice." Good looking inside and out. A lot of intuitive feel for how it was laid out. An easy step in to our out of the vehicle, no matter where one was sitting.


Then other things started to make a lot of sense. When the kids' lanky basketball buddies want a ride home from practice, they won't feel scrunched up in the rear seat. When we go overboard buying flats of those gorgeous, fragile impatiens at the local garden shop, we really will have a place to set them down during the gentle drive home without the danger of having them mashed by a tippy bag of groceries.

It's things such as that, we'll detail a bit later, that make us go "aah" instead of "naah" when we put our vehicles to use. We could call it all a part of what makes Equinox a thinking woman's sport utility, set in a handsome, edgy package with definite hints of the crisply-defined, authoritative GM family DNA most evident in Chevy's relative, Cadillac.
2005 Chevrolet Equinox

After logging in a test in the all-wheel-drive LT version, ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine's Publisher, Courtney Caldwell, had high praise for the Equinox, which she cited as being, "well laid out for the needs of women." To which she added, "I like the exterior a lot. I thought it was very cool and edgy. It seems to possess a similar elegance, at least in style, to the baby Lexus SUV."

Little surprises alone in the Equinox should win kudos for this long-awaited crossover. With creature comforts and lifestyle amenities taking center stage, the Equinox is a vehicle designed to pamper as well as protect, and with its longest-in-class wheelbase (at 112.5 inches), handle easily as well as hustle.

Chevy has a definite advantage by introducing this more populist sport utility at a time "smaller," and "less gas hungry" should get attention from American consumers numbed by the stratospheric cost of filling up just to get from here to there.

While at press time we hadn't tested, long-term, Chevy's mileage claim, we logged in a respectable number of miles without needing a petrol boost every few gas stations. On both the LT front-wheel-drive and on-demand all-wheel-drive versions of our test vehicles, powered by the only engine Equinox offers (a 185-horsepower, 3.4-liter, V-6 with five-speed automatic), Chevy claims average fuel economy of 19 miles a gallon for city driving and 25 miles a gallon while out on the road. Those stats are far more respectable than the low teens that are the best mileage numbers some larger sport utilities can muster.


As any errant male can probably tell you, women who often are the human tote-bags for entire families not just themselves, tend to carry lots of stuff. There's grocery stuff, and handbag stuff, and gloves, scarves, umbrellas stuff. There's a need for holders for coffee, soda or a bottle of imported Evian or domestic spring water. There's a need for DVDs, video games and even swat room for shushing down the second-row terrors who can turn a calm ride into temper tantrum territory when young, worn-out bodies are past their bedtime.
2005 Chevrolet Equinox

With Equinox, Chevy has gone to great lengths to accommodate such needs. Among little surprises are small or larger storage areas that seem to pop up in unexpected places. The passageway space between front bucket seats, for example, is designed to securely stow a heavy-duty handbag or briefcase out of the way, while still allowing armrest comfort. There are sensible cup holders and a couple of accessible 12-volt power outlets.

A winning feature among early Equinox owners is the vehicle's unique seating system. The front passenger seat folds totally flat to allow rest stop desk space for the business traveler with laptop computer, or perhaps a crossword puzzle dabbler during a boring, river crossing car ferry ride. Chevy has dubbed its movable rear seat, that slides backwards or forwards a total of eight inches over a flat rear floor, "Multi-Flex." (Basketball families or oversized fans can relate to the voluminous rear legroom that results.)
2005 Chevrolet Equinox

In addition to an expected cargo net, Chevy has added a special cargo-area transport feature: Side notches hold a vehicle-wide tray to be positioned at different levels for an added layer of storage above the cargo floor (such as flats of colorful impatiens plants riding safely a level above a load of grocery bags). The tray, normally part of the cargo floor, is reversible and has a pull-down support beam to accommodate heavier objects. Second row seats fold forward to expand cargo room.

For a price sensitive sport utility (at just under $26,000 as tested) our LT test version included premium interiors, with a breathtaking list of standard features. There's the expected keyless remote, outside power mirrors, deep tinted glass, body-colored bumper, luggage rails and door handles (for a smooth, classy appearance), fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The LT options on the front-drive version (adding just over $2,500 to the tally) include 17-inch aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror that posts the temperature outside, and six-way power seats. It also includes GM's OnStar security communications system and XM satellite radio.

On the ride side, Equinox handles as smoothly as many autos, without a sense of unstable top-heaviness sometimes associated with sport utility models. Based on mostly city driving (the kind many Equinox owners would be expected to do), it was responsive, easy to park and had enough "oomph" to merge in and out of traffic with ease.

Safety comes in a dual front seat airbag system, child LATCH seat anchors and side guard door beams. As with all GM vehicles, Equinox sports daytime running lights (a safety mandate cast in stone by GM engineers). And, thankfully, the Equinox lets you turn off the interior lights when the doors are open if you prefer. That's a definite safety feature for women driving alone at night who might not want to be bathed in light if traveling in a less-than optimum area.

It's only fair to mention an oddity Chevy might consider looking at in the future, when it gets ready to "morph" to a next generation version, perhaps. On the "wish list" side: Moving the floor-mounted power point forward a bit so a cell phone power cord doesn't fight for space with a large handbag or package.

Equinox comes in four different trim flavors, from the low $20K to a shade above $29K range, in front- or all-wheel-drive models. Its name, by the way, refers to the bridge between seasons, when the sun crosses the equator and all days and nights are perfectly balanced, the same attribute Chevy designers give their namesake. Chevy wants you to know it's pronounced "EEEquinox," as in "equal," or "EEEEEKKK!" (if you happen to see a mouse).
2005 Chevrolet Equinox

We can think of a few other "E" words for the vehicle, as in easy to handle, excellent for the details designed into it, ecstasy for the realization it will serve our needs in comfort and style. For all that, we'll give the Equinox a solid "A" for the anticipation that owning it will be a joy.

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[SIZE=3]SUV New Vehicle Reviews:
2005 Chevrolet Equinox[/SIZE]
SOURCE: CLICK HERE (AUTOMOBILE.COM)


Chevrolet has ditched the small and crude Tracker and joined the SUV mainstream with a unibody, front-/all-wheel-drive entry: the Equinox. Based on the Saturn Vue, the Equinox is far removed from the trucklike, off-road-ready Tracker in its construction and also in size. The 189-inch length not only dwarfs the Tracker, but it's 7.5 inches longer than the Vue and bigger than a Blazer as well. In fact, the Equinox casts a shadow nearly as big as the standard-wheelbase TrailBlazer's.


Pricewise, however, it's a different story. A sticker thousands less than a TrailBlazer's instantly makes the Equinox the far better choice for anyone other than heavy-trailer haulers or off-road poseurs. The Equinox also is less expensive than the smaller Vue V-6 (and that's before you and your Chevy salesperson start wheeling and dealing, something that doesn't happen at a Saturn store).

One justification for the Saturn premium-aside from the group hug when you pick up your keys-is that checking the V-6 option box on a Vue now gets you a 250-horsepower, SOHC Honda engine, while the Equinox makes do with GM's OHV 3.4-liter (although it's standard equipment, at least). It eats the dust of the hot-rod Saturn, but the 185-horsepower V-6, working with a five-speed automatic, hustles the Equinox from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds, pretty good for an engine that can trace its origins back almost to the dawn of internal combustion. And while the 3.4's engine note isn't likely to be sampled on the next Jamiroquai CD, it's not nearly as raucous as the garage-band sound of the Duratec V-6 in the Ford Escape.

Before the Equinox came along, there really were no compact SUVs that were thrilling to drive, and there still aren't, but the Equinox handles curves as well as the much-vaunted Escape does. Its strut front suspension and multilink rear also deliver a more comfortable ride, at the cost of body roll-a notion exaggerated by poor lateral support from the convex-feeling seats.

About half of the Equinox's parts are shared with the Vue, including its electric power steering. Chevrolet, however, uses a slower steering ratio, which means that, unlike the Vue, the Equinox does not need constant minding to track straight at highway speeds. In fact, the Equinox's steering feels pleasantly hydraulic during most driving. It only gets strange and video-gamey during parking-lot wheel winding (which you'll do a lot of, given the 42-foot turning circle).


Chevrolet has stretched the Equinox's sheetmetal (note that it does not use Saturn-style plastic body panels) over an extra-long, 112-inch wheelbase. The long wheelbase may impinge on maneuverability, but it pays off in interior space, particularly rear-seat room and rear-seat access. The Equinox's back bench slides fore and aft eight inches; it also reclines. In its rearmost setting, it offers enough space for the lankiest teenagers in your car pool. Those ferrying kids at the opposite end of the size spectrum might appreciate that there are three LATCH child-seat anchors.


The Equinox cabin clearly was developed in a different era from that of its platform mate, and it benefits from GM's newfound interest in interior fitments and its increased willingness to spring for decent materials. There's nothing here to send Volkswagen into a cold sweat, but it's far better than we're used to from GM.

"Better than we're used to" describes the Equinox overall, particularly considering the source from which it has sprung. It's not just a Vue with more room; it's a wholesale improvement.

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