It's rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds (compared to 1,500 pounds for the inline-4) and should give most families what they're looking for from the segment.īoth engines can be paired to all-wheel drive, and that drivetrain adds roughly 100 pounds to the overall mass. The V-6 makes 301 hp and 272 pound-feet, and it's considerably thirstier than the inline-4. It's one of few V-6 options available in the segment competitors are choosing turbocharged 4-cylinders rather than bigger V-6 engines. The 3.6-liter V-6 is the pick for towing, hauling, or performance-if there is such a thing in a compact crossover. Passing requires some preparation-even with passengers on board-but our only real gripe with this engine is that its direct-injection-related clattering is more prominent than in competitors' engines. That's in the same ballpark as the Honda CR-V, a car that also does packaging better than performance. We expect far more V-6 buyers will opt for AWD, which is rated at 16/23/18 mpg. The EPA rates the 3.6-liter V-6 at 17/24/20 mpg for front-wheel-drive versions. Four-cylinder models are equipped with an "Eco" button that dials back accessory power draw such as air-conditioning operation, optimizes shift points for better fuel economy, and locks up the torque converter earlier for efficiency. Make the move to all-wheel drive (AWD) and those numbers drop to 20/29/23 mpg. Those numbers make the base Equinox one of the better performing non-hybrid crossovers in the segment. We expect many of those features to become more available for 2017.Īccording to the EPA, the base inline-4 manages 22 mpg city, 32 highway, 26 combined when paired with front-wheel drive. The 2016 models also received newly optional active-safety items that bring the Equinox in line with its competitors. We are happy to report that Chevy has made standard a rearview camera on all trim levels for 2016, which somewhat alleviates our previous complaints about the poor rearward visibility. We expect both ratings to carry over into 2017. This year, the Equinox managed a four-star overall rating, including four stars on frontal- and rollover-crash protection. The IIHS only gave the optional crash-mitigation systems in the Equinox a "Basic" score.įederal testers weren't as kind. In testing, the agency gave the crossover top "Good" scores in all categories, including its small-overlap crash test. The Chevrolet Equinox was designated as a Top Safety Pick last year by the IIHS. Chevrolet offers tablet holders that attach to the rear of the front seats. You also get plenty of cubbies for smaller items, as well as a deep center console and two wells, a retractable cargo cover, and a stretchy net for grocery bags between the two deep cargo wells in back. Additionally, the seat backs are adjustable for rake, bringing even more comfort to second-row passenger. You'll have 31.4 cubic feet of space in the cargo area if you leave the rear seats in their upright and locked positions, but that increases to almost 64 cubic feet if you drop down those second-row seats.įront seats provide an excellent, car-like driving position, while back seats offer enough space for two sprawling adults. The plus sizing also makes the Equinox an ideal family vehicle, enhanced further with a sliding second-row seat. The Equinox is still distinctly more car-like than truck, and fits alongside the brand's sedans with good-looking proportions and sharp, careful details.Ĭhevrolet Equinox comfort, safety, and featuresĬlassed as a compact SUV, the Chevrolet Equinox is slightly larger versus other vehicles in the segment, translating to a great balance between cargo and passenger utility for those seeking a bit more space. The Equinox is a little chunkier, perhaps with a few more styling elements stolen from Chevy's trucks and wedged into its more upright flanks. To us, the Equinox reads from the outside more like a scaled down version of the big Chevrolet Traverse, which isn't a bad thing. All-wheel drive is available on every trim, except the base L. It and the optional 3.6-liter V-6 are paired to six-speed automatic transmissions. Its base 2.4-liter inline-4 with direct injection boasts a 32 mpg rating from the EPA, making it one of the most fuel efficient compact crossovers money can buy. The Equinox's selection of engines and drivelines is a copy-paste from last year, which is totally fine by us.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |