Chevrolet Equinox SUV Review
SUV Reviewer
Now in its second generation, the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV has become one of the better models in its class of compact SUVs. It sports a more distinctive look with refined detailing on the outside and greater legroom and space on the inside. A bevy of standard features enhance its competitive edge along with a smooth and high quality ride that one would expect from a larger-sized vehicle. A choice of engines both provides excellent acceleration and reasonable fuel economy.
There are three trim levels for the Chevrolet Equinox SUV. The base model, the LS, offers cloth upholstery, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear seats that slide and recline, full power accessories and an audio system with six speakers, a CD player, and satellite radio. The mid-level Chevrolet Equinox SUV, the LT, has two models, the LT1 and the upgraded LT2. The LT1 features premium cloth upholstery, a steering wheel wrapped in leather, tinted rear windows, outside mirrors that are heated and an upgraded audio system. The LT2 model adds automatic climate control, front seats that are heated, fog lamps, driver seat with eight power controls and an audio system with eight Pioneer speakers. The high end LTZ trim level includes a power liftgate, leather upholstery, automatic headlights, memory settings for the driver seat and parking sensors for the rear. Other optional equipment for the Chevrolet Equinox SUV includes a navigation system, a choice of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels clad in chrome, and a forward collision/lane departure warning system.
The standard engine in the Chevrolet Equinox SUV is a 2.4-liter with four cylinders that can produce 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Also standard is front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. There is an option for all-wheel drive. Fuel economy for this engine with front-wheel drive is 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. Adding all-wheel drive reduces the fuel economy to 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. The LT and LTZ trim levels of the Chevrolet Equinox offer a V6 with a displacement of 3.0 liters which can produce 264 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for this engine combined with all-wheel drive is rated at 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined.
The interior of the Chevrolet Equinox SUV features a stylish two-tone color scheme that stands above others in its class. Passenger space is expansive with second row seats that slide and recline to give passengers more than enough legroom. Cargo capacity is rated at 31.4 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and expands to 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. In government crash tests and test run by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevrolet Equinox SUV earned the highest rating of "Good".
Deciding which engine to purchase will play a major role in your selection of a Chevrolet Equinox SUV. The four cylinder engine has good fuel economy and reasonable acceleration while the V6 performs better on an overall basis and increases the towing capacity of the vehicle from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. Both will give you a comfortable ride and quiet cabin which are good features for long road trips.
There are three trim levels for the Chevrolet Equinox SUV. The base model, the LS, offers cloth upholstery, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear seats that slide and recline, full power accessories and an audio system with six speakers, a CD player, and satellite radio. The mid-level Chevrolet Equinox SUV, the LT, has two models, the LT1 and the upgraded LT2. The LT1 features premium cloth upholstery, a steering wheel wrapped in leather, tinted rear windows, outside mirrors that are heated and an upgraded audio system. The LT2 model adds automatic climate control, front seats that are heated, fog lamps, driver seat with eight power controls and an audio system with eight Pioneer speakers. The high end LTZ trim level includes a power liftgate, leather upholstery, automatic headlights, memory settings for the driver seat and parking sensors for the rear. Other optional equipment for the Chevrolet Equinox SUV includes a navigation system, a choice of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels clad in chrome, and a forward collision/lane departure warning system.
The standard engine in the Chevrolet Equinox SUV is a 2.4-liter with four cylinders that can produce 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Also standard is front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. There is an option for all-wheel drive. Fuel economy for this engine with front-wheel drive is 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. Adding all-wheel drive reduces the fuel economy to 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. The LT and LTZ trim levels of the Chevrolet Equinox offer a V6 with a displacement of 3.0 liters which can produce 264 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for this engine combined with all-wheel drive is rated at 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined.
The interior of the Chevrolet Equinox SUV features a stylish two-tone color scheme that stands above others in its class. Passenger space is expansive with second row seats that slide and recline to give passengers more than enough legroom. Cargo capacity is rated at 31.4 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and expands to 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. In government crash tests and test run by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevrolet Equinox SUV earned the highest rating of "Good".
Deciding which engine to purchase will play a major role in your selection of a Chevrolet Equinox SUV. The four cylinder engine has good fuel economy and reasonable acceleration while the V6 performs better on an overall basis and increases the towing capacity of the vehicle from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. Both will give you a comfortable ride and quiet cabin which are good features for long road trips.
Leaving a 4WD, 6-cyl, high-end TB it takes a little time getting used to the 4-cyl, eco-button AWD. The front seats are an incredibly uncomfortable change (not being able to sit up straight)but the back seat area is huge! I get 27mpg if I baby it, 26-26.5 if I don't and 25.5-26 if I turn off the hesitating eco-button. A bit of a bumpy ride if you are not used to a short wheel base. I would change the driver's seat and put in 4WD and jack it up a couple inches for those WI winters.
I like the reliability of my 2007, surprising after owning a 1998 Blazer that needed repair every 1,500 miles. However, the comfort for the driver leaves MUCH to be desired. I use a Roho cushion to soften the seat surface. Also, finding anything in the mess which is the center console, is a nightmare. This is worst design feature I've ever seen on an suv. Finding the lighter socket, my gps, cds, or anything else stored in the console area, especially when I have drink/cup in the holders, is a real pain. But, I am impressed with the fact that I have 155,000 and no major repairs. The sensors (front tire air pressure and the stabilatrak) are always going off, even when there's nothing wrong. This is a problem in that it costs $89.00 everytime I have to have the sensors reset at the dealership. PLEASE GM, fix the annoying stuff so that economic patriots, like me, can eagerly anticipate purchasing a new American made suv. I have reluctantly bought Toyota products for my wife for the past years due to trouble with our GM/Ford products. We WANT to buy American, please make it easy for us to do so. We ain't Bill and Melinda Gates. We need to spend our money carefully.