
The Equinox offers excellent rear storage with 63.5 cubic feet when the second row seats are folded down.

A MyLink infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay.Ĭhevrolet also raised the arm rest and made it flatter and wider, which could help a sales rep who needs to jot down information or fill out an order while sitting in the parked vehicle. The spacious cabin includes several upgrades, including a new 8-inch center screen that's angled to 11 degrees for an optimal viewing angle. We mostly drive Premiers that retail for at least $30,790. Part of the route included the Blue Ridge Parkway, a windy, scenic drive near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the N.C.-Tennessee border.Ĭhevrolet is offering four trim grades, including L, LS, LT, and Premier. Fully modernized with all-turbo powertrains, more functional interior, and up-to-the-minute tech options this Equinox does indeed signal more seasons of success for Chevrolet.We had a chance to drive the Equinox with the 1.5L engine about 200 miles from Greenville, S.C., to Asheville, N.C., and back during a two-day ride-and-drive with other automotive journalists. Leaner, but certainly not meaner the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has gotten itself into fighting shape, ready to battle it out with all comers in the compact crossover segment. Note, an Equinox with the 2.0T and 9-speed more than levels the playing field.Ī slight increase in base price over last year puts an Equinox L at $24,525. The lack of urgency is consistent throughout the 1/4, accompanied by momentum-killing shifts from the 6-speed auto.Įventually, the ¼-mile ended in 16.7-seconds at 84 miles-per-hour. Engine noise is, however, well-subdued for a 1.5-liter turbo. There’s not much in the way of guts off the line, taking us 8.7-seconds to hit 60, or more than a second slower than the CR-V. Things weren’t quite as thrilling in the straight line, however.

For an average Energy Impact Score of 12.7-barrels of yearly oil use, and 5.6-tons of CO2 emissions.ĭespite the lower weight and smaller engine, the Equinox still drives stable and comfortably, and everything feels a bit more responsive than before.Įven at the higher speeds of our slalom course, it didn’t feel cumbersome at all displaying only moderate hints of both over and understeer, with minimal computer intervention. We averaged a very good 28.0 miles-per-gallon of Regular. A 1.5-liter turbocharged engine comes standard and produces a stellar 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque this powertrain gives you more power than. Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the all-wheel-drive 1.5-liter are 24-City, 30-Highway, and 26-Combined. A 252-horsepower 2.0-liter I4 with a 9-speed automatic is the upgrade, and keeps max towing at 3,500-lbs.īut, most interesting, is a 137-horsepower 1.6-liter I4 turbo-diesel, arriving shortly after launch a first for the segment.įront drive is standard, with a new selectable all-wheel-drive system available, that fully disconnects the rear axle when appropriate to boost efficiency. of torque connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This 1.5-liter I4 is standard, with 170-horsepower and 203 lb-ft. Available safety includes automatic braking.īut, you’d better like small displacement turbo engines, as that’s all that now powers this Equinox. All techno goodies you might need are available on either a 7 or 8-inch MyLink touchscreen. Rear seat room is plentiful for a compact ute, and seat comfort is equally good.
#2018 chevrolet equinox driver#
Up front, the driver enjoys a fairly high seating position with good visibility, and pronounced comfort from the back and lower cushions. The seat-folding design is much improved it’s easier to use and allows for a flatter load floor. of space behind the rear seats, with a max of 63.5. While the last generation of the Equinox slotted in as a small mid-size SUV.

It looks smaller too, and indeed it is, by about 5-inches in length yet with more efficient packaging, overall passenger volume is actually up, with cargo room about the same. The Chevrolet Equinox is the manufacturers new compact crossover SUV model. Getting on board with the GM weight loss plan means it’s about 400–lbs. So, the all-new 2018 Equinox is well timed. And it didn’t take long for the Equinox to get right in the mix for sales, even beating both rivals on occasion.īut that segment is much different now, with more modern rides, and many more of them. When the Chevrolet Equinox first arrived for 2005, it was GM’s answer to what Honda and Toyota had started in the late 90’s with the CR-V and Rav4 and what has become one of the most popular of all vehicle segments, the compact crossover. So let’s find out if it will signal continued four-season success for Chevrolet. Well, an all-new 3rd generation has finally arrived. With crossover utility sales being what they are, you shouldn’t be surprised that the Equinox has long been Chevrolet’s best-selling vehicle that’s not a pickup truck even though it hasn’t really changed that much since its gen 2 redesign for 2010.
