The Chevrolet Equinox aims straight at the popular compact SUV segment, with its high-tech features, accomplished road manners and generous interior room. However, it doesn't quite deliver on its promise of good performance and fuel economy from its standard engine, and the interior is rather drab.
The base engine is a bit of a letdown; the 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder doesn't pack a lot of reserve power but delivers a decent 25 mpg. The transmission isn't the slickest -- you do feel some shifts -- but it's not annoying. The standard gas-saving stop/start feature is unobtrusive. The optional diesel engine, which we also tested, boosts fuel economy to 31 mpg overall, tying the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as among the most fuel efficient SUVs. Note that the Equinox diesel posts 41 mpg on the highway as opposed to 36 mpg for the RAV4 Hybrid, and the latter has an edge in city type driving and is free of the diesel tradeoff of more engine noise and vibration at low speeds.
To its credit, the Equinox is roomy, has a quiet interior, absorbent and controlled ride, and responsive handling.
The front seats have eight-way power adjustments, including two-way power lumbar, and they're comfortable over a long commute. The rear seat is generous and folds flat, providing a large cargo space. Visibility is quite good except where the rear three-quarter view is compromised by its thick pillars.
Even though there are some soft-touch materials and a bit of chrome scattered about, the overall feel of the interior is a bit on the cheap side, reminding us of a cut-rate rental car.
We're pleased to see the availability of GM's MyLink infotainment system -- one of the better systems around. It's easy to use and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Our midlevel, all-wheel-drive LT came with popular options including a power rear liftgate, a huge sunroof, heated seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control as well as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. As such, this is a few grand more than a better equipped Honda CR-V for instance, which is a better choice. We're a little dismayed that forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are available only on the top-trim Premier model. We think these should be standard on every model -- as they are on every new Toyota RAV4.
The Equinox is a pleasant enough entry in this popular segment and it now competes on equal footing with the heavyweights of the class. It has an edge in terms of ride comfort, quietness, room and easy controls, but interior quality, performance and the value proposition are its weaker links.